“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

                      -Anne Bradstreet 

      It’s finals week.  We are preparing for final exams and final games before break.  I can’t believe it’s already Christmas.  I’m getting old, and fast! 

      If you didn’t already know, we are now 10-1.  We suffered our first loss to Seattle Pacific a couple weeks ago.  It’s taken me a while to be able to put that on paper, well I guess this isn’t paper but you get the drift.  It was a hard loss, mostly because it’s the first, and we didn’t play to our potential which is always disappointing. 

      We came back and had two great wins over Simon Fraser, a longtime power house in Canada, and George Fox University.  We hosted the Wells Fargo Invitational and Ashley made the All-Tournament Team and Aundrea was the tournament MVP.  I don’t know another team where the guards are All-Tournament one weekend, and the posts are All-Tournament the next.  It just goes to show what a great team we have and how well we play together.  

      This last weekend we had a few days to rest and study for finals.  This week we play home versus Fraser Valley, and head home for Christmas on Friday.  Thursday, our little family will have a gift exchange in the spirit of the holiday.  We each have a “secret Santa.”  It’s always fun to see who coach picked, because you never know what gifts he might bring this year. 

      This chapter of our season is coming to a close.  We are more than halfway done with our practices.  It’s crazy to think that we have already had over 50 practices.  No wonder the old bones are aching.  It makes me wonder how many practices I’ve attended in my life.  Interesting...sorry, my point is it is passing by quickly.  This team is something to cherish.  Hopefully we will make an impact this second half that will shake the record books for years to come. 

      On behalf of our team, I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year!  Drink lots of eggnog sing a few carols, eat some fudge, and maybe get a little crazy, who knows.  We extend our love and warm thoughts this season to all our fans, friends, and family!