23

  So, I just needed to make a quick blog post in dedication to my team. We are doing so great and working so well as a team. Our current record is 19-3! That's pretty awesome. Also, we have now made it in to the Top 25!!! We are 23rd in the nation!! It has been 5 or 6 years since this last happened. We are so excited to see that our hard work has been paying off!

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2012-01-23/byu-ap-poll-first-time-’06

Check it out!!!

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/hays_graham/month/january-2012

We are number one in our conference!!! We have a lot of basketball left to play but, we have put ourselves in a really good position. Hopefully we can keep it rollin'!  

BYU vs. Portland

After we beat Utah!!! Won the Deseret DUEL!

Keep on supporting the Lady Cougs!!!!! 

LIfe Lately..

   I really don't even know how I could begin to explain these past couple weeks. They have been busy, new, exciting, stressful, productive, slow... and so on. I've just had a bit of everything. We are in the thick of our season and we are doing pretty well in conference play. I'm in L.A right now, so I really can't complain about that. Since we have been in this new conference... our travel schedule has been pretty dang nice. Laramie, Wyoming or Malibu, California??.... Yeah.
   Last week, Sir Travis came for a visit and it was wonderful. As always! It was his birthday on the 12th, so it was nice to be able to celebrate that with him. We went swimming and had a really yummy dinner and cake at Kaufusi's. You know what makes this guy so great? Well... many things do but, there is one thing in particular. The night that we were celebrating Trav's birthday, I found out that we had to hand out season tickets for our games to promote our team. We were asked to hand out these tickets to people in married housing (a different breed of people, I tell ya). Well, Trav being the great sport he is, joined a long and pretty much took control of the whole thing. I was able to see his missionary training come into play! It was fun watching him be able to talk to anyone! Not only that, it was fun to see him interact with the people that weren't overly enthused with the thought of women's basketball (90% of them). He did very well! I was impressed.
  On Friday, our team had to leave for San Diego for another away game. The initial plan was for Trav to go snowboarding with one of his converts from his mission and then to go home. However, Trav decided to stick around for one more day until I got home from my trip. Even though were able to spend a few more hours with each other, it was well worth it! We went to Temple Square and had a really good time. I love spending time with him!!

Such a cutie.

Love him! Such a great time with him. He won't tell me when I get to see him next... I'm such a brat when it comes to surprises. He can't give me any hints or I will interrogate, badger and annoy him until I get answers. 

I just can't get enough of the Salt Lake Temple. It's so beautiful!! 

When we were driving back to Provo, there was the most beautiful sunset. You can't really tell how pretty it was in this picture but, i felt it was post worthy. 

I'm going to the Lady Antebellum concert on Valentines Day and I cannot wait. I love them!!

Random but... I came across this picture the other day and it made me sad. I miss my horse and my little donkey and my old home. I know that Billy now has a nice home and that Max is... well, we still don't know where Max is. But, I miss them and wish I didn't take all that time that I had with them for granted. I really look forward to the day when I can have my animals again!!! 

Whirlwind..

   I feel like it's been a while since I've blogged because so much has gone on in these past few weeks. I've had exams, games, practices, going home for Christmas and more games. It's been pretty busy but fun nonetheless!
   The day I came home for Christmas, we had a game in the afternoon. We played Nevada and beat em'... which meant that the Christmas break was going to be that much more joyous. After our game, I was eager to go back to my place to shower and finish packing for my short trip to home. I didn't get into Calgary until about 11:30 at night and was greeted by my mom at the baggage claim! Her flight got in at about the same time as mine. After I got my bag I was happy to see my dad and my Travis!! It was such a relief to finally be home.
  I had such a great break! As short as it was, it was really awesome. I was able to see a lot of my family and spend some good time with Travis. It's just so funny how Christmas has changed for me over the years. It used to be all about Santa and the toys I would hopefully get, but now it is so much more than that! I value it in such a different way now and it has quickly become one of my absolute favorites times of the year. I am a lucky girl to have a beautiful home to come to visit during the Christmas season! I am even more blessed to share it with the people that I love.

My grandma rented out one of the rinks in Calgary and all of the family were able to go skating. Trav also joined and it was really fun!! I love skating and it felt good to go on real Canadian ice. 

Such a doll!! Trav really spoiled me for Christmas! He always spoils me. I'm a very lucky girl! It was sad to only see him for a day but, it was most definitely better than not seeing him at all. 

I loved being home!!!! 

Joy

Oh JOY!!!! Exams are finished and the countdown to home is now bearable. As of now... I will be home in 4 days!! I cannot wait to see my family, Travis, eat delicious Christmas treats, be HOME, see my mom's beautiful house and decorations, to relax, watch some Christmas classics.... the list could go on and on. I absolutely love this time of year. I've been listening to Christmas music the whole month and trying to get into as much of the Spirit as I can. Sometimes it's hard without all the yummy treats and beautiful decorations that my mom has always had! I've been spoiled.
   That being said... I am grateful that I have been able to recognize what the real reason for the season is. I'm grateful for my Savior and for the sacrifices He has made for me to be able to enjoy all of the things I have listed above. I'm realizing how important it is for me to seek for the things that will make me rich in the life hereafter and not in the world. I am so blessed- - and the things that make me so blessed are all of the simple things!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

Also... a shout out to my team!!!! We are now 10-2 and are playing really well. We won last night at Utah State and have one more game before the break. Keep supporting the Lady Cougs' so we can keep this winning streak goin'! 

BLONDIE

I got my hairrr did!

My good friend, Karin Cottle, was able to do my hair today. It was a wonderful break from all the exam studying and it was definitely a deed that needed to be done. She did a wonderful job and I am loving it. I think the last time I was this blonde was when I was a little girl! I'm loving it!!!

Exams = Brutal

3 more exams...

6 more practices...

2 more games...

9 more days...

and then....

I'M HOME!!!!!!!!

do you think I'm excited??

To Paradise and Back..

   It literally feels like yesterday that I left for Hawaii. I actually left a week ago and I am already back. I can't really figure out to to feel quite yet because it went by so fast. Obviously, I'm sad to have left a beautiful island with beautiful weather to come back to cold and snowy Utah. But, it is nice to be back in my own bed and be able to really focus on the things I need to without being distracted by the ocean and nice weather.
  It was a really fun trip! We won the tournament and played some awesome basketball. We really played well as a team and that is always a lot of fun. We beat some very talented teams, which is really good for us. It wasn't just all basketball (which I'm so grateful for). We were able to go to the beach several times, surf, shop, eat shave ice, go to a luau (amazing food), went to the Polynesian Cultural Center... it was fun! My parents were able to come, as well as my Grandparents! It was really fun to have them there since I never get to see them. I was grateful that I actually had time to see them! We are constantly on the go, but luckily I was able to spend time with my parents.
  We came home on the redeye flight last night. I will say this... those flights are absolutely brutal. Especially if you have a hard time sleeping on planes. I'm tall, so it is difficult to get comfortable and I'm a really light sleeper and the lady's overhead light that was on during the whole flight didn't make it any easier to get some shut eye. It was a long trip and a busy trip and I am exhausted!!

My grandpa and I at the Luau! 

Handing out necklaces at the Luau! So much fun! This was before I ate my entire weight in decadent food. The Hawaiians say... "Don't eat until you're full, eat until you're tired".... I took it literally. I could have fallen asleep at the table.

Mango smoothie by the beach? Yes please.

I would take the ocean for my backyard.

We beat the University of Arizona over in Hawaii and were lucky to have a lot of fans come out! Our football team was playing in Honolulu on Saturday, so a lot of BYU fans were on the island and came to support us. It was like a home-court advantage! Such a sweet win! 

   As much fun as I had in Hawaii.. I am glad to be back and to get back into the swing of things. That being said... SCHOOL is not one of those things. Just thinking of how much I need to do to stay caught up and have hopes of doing well, makes me quiver. Almost done. 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks, 2 more weeks....

  Also... I LOVE Christmas! I am really getting into the spirit of it now that I'm back and it feels like winter. I am loving pandora.com, listening to all the Christmas classics. I'm looking forward to all the movies, food and traditions! I don't get to be home this year for very long, so I'm trying to make the entire Christmas experience as joyous as I can, no matter where I am! It's a wonderful time of year. I can't wait to see all of my family and Travis!