An Open Letter to my High School Best Friends

I recently read this post and thought why not write my own letter.
Because I'm gonna be honest. I. Miss. High. School. So. Much.

These girls were my everything. My support, my laughs, boy talk, pizza lovers, terrible dancers, and adventurers.
So here's to them and their beautiful futures.

The Laughs

Thank you for the endless laughs. The last minute sleepovers and girls nights. For helping me eat an entire pizza & cheesecake. For passing out on the couch because it was past 1am and we had just finished a dance party. For the "hot tub of truth" where we told our secrets and trusted each other to never tell anyone.

Memories

Freshman to Senior year - you girls are apart of my favorite memories. Color coordinating our dresses for Snowdaze. Taking pictures together before Prom. Dominating an entire lunch table Sophomore year because we didn't want to sit with anyone else. When we were the most athletic girls in gym class because we actually took the ridiculous "volleyball session" seriously. Always trying to sit next to each other in choir so we could actually learn the song correctly. Making signs for our friends and holding them up in the stands when they won their section title game.

Opportunities

Getting to go on my senior trip and enjoy every part of it with you by my side. Graduating high school with all of you in the auditorium with me. Learning how to drive and getting our first cars to carpool every where together. We made the varsity team together and played side by side on the court. Celebrating our birthdays, first jobs, first kisses. I'm thankful that I got to experience the best moments of my life with you girls.

What I Missed

Sorry I wasn't there for you when you broke up with your boyfriend. Sorry we only hung out once over the summer because we were "too busy". I'm sorry I missed your last high school basketball game. I wish I was there when you found out you got into your dream college. I wish I could have punched the guy that broke your heart. I wish I hadn't missed so much.

For the Future

So. To your beautiful journeys ahead. I wish you the best. I hope you can reach a 4.0 gpa. I hope you find new friends that make your heart happy and make you laugh. I hope you're never afraid to hold back and to fight for what you believe in. I wish you the best 4 years in college; I know you'll do great, just like you did in high school. Drink lots of coffee, buy lots of clothes, go on as many adventures as you can. I know you'll achieve great things.

Dedicated to the girls that stood by me in everything. My life wouldn't have been as exciting or fulfilling without all of you as my sidekicks.

xoxo,
~Michlyn

Snowdaze 2015

Last month, my friends and I spent too much time getting ready for our last snowdaze dance altogether. Some of my friends (including my sister) who are juniors, will still have next year to go to, but for us seniors it was our last one. Senior year is already half way over and these last events have really been bitter-sweet.

So on January 31st, 2015 I attended my last snowdaze dance with my best friends and we danced all night long and had a blast!

Love these girls with all my heart! 

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Volleyball 2014 Recap

Ok everyone...I'm officially done with high school volleyball. The last week of October ended my last season. Senior volleyball season has by far been my favorite and most memorable season ever! This year, we had a whole new coaching staff for all teams and that was such a blast. What our coach taught us is incredible and she did such a phenomenal job of turning our game around.

It was my second year being a captain for these girls and I loved every bit of it. My co-captains were Hannah and Monica and it was such a blast leading the team with them this past season. Since Monica and I are both seniors, I'm super pumped to see Hannah continue to lead the team next year.

Some high lights of our season include:
Second place in tournament #1
FIRST PLACE TROPHY from tournament #2
3-5 in conference record
Finishing with .500 or above from the whole season
2 of our players made the all-conference team (My teammate Annelise & I)

I could go on and on about my last season playing for the panthers. I'm ecstatic to see how far the girls will go next year and for the years to come! We played our hardest girls...proud of each and everyone of you! Now for the pictures...

Captains :)

The first trophy the volleyball team has won in years...Such a proud moment! First place!

Seniors - Love these girls :)

Oh I would do anything to go back to this moment!

Senior Night

 PANTHERS VOLLEYBALL 2014

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Volleyball {so far}

I thought I'd do a quick post on my volleyball team/season so far. This year we got a new coach and she's amazing. She's taught us so much and we're really blessed to have her skills and knowledge coaching us everyday. So far our conference record is 2-1 and we got second place in our first tournament of the year!

These girls are my best friends and I'm so excited to see how far we will go this season! 

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Liar, Liar

Oh boy, where do I begin? :) I always say "I'm coming back guys, don't worry" "I'm going to start blogging more again". Haha well if those aren't lies then I don't know what is.

My life is always busy, there's no doubt about it. Friends, family, church, volleyball, school, work...The list goes on and on. Thought I'd do a little catch up on my life since I've got some actual free time today!

School - This year I started my first year of college classes. I'm doing PSEO (Post Secondary Education Option) through my high school. Which means I'm still in high school but I'm also getting free college credits at the same time. My sister did PSEO with me this year and we have a lot of friends from school doing the same thing, so it's been really fun and a little more flexible. I'm also a senior in high school, which means I'm making the most of everything I can. :) Senior trip, school dances, sports games, etc...It's been a blast so far!

Work - I only work weekends because I have school and play a sport as well. So once volleyball is over, I'll get back to working more and making a little more $$$. I love my job and everyone I work with is really nice and fun. Really blessed to have an opportunity to work there :)

Volleyball - I am one of the captains on our varsity volleyball team this year. I have the pleasure of sharing the "title" of captain with 2 other really great girls and our small varsity team of 11 girls always knows how to make me so so proud in all that they do! They always make me laugh on my worst days and we're like one big group of sisters. :) I'm sad that it's my last season with these girls, but I know God has great plans for all of us in the future.

Summer went by way too fast and senior year is in full swing as we're already at Homecoming Weekend! I'll be posting some catch up posts on summer and scheduling some posts on my life currently, so get ready for those. Thank you to everyone who still stops by and reads about my life and leaves sweet comments. You guys keep me going!

xoxo,
~Michlyn

My Volleyball Girls

So you usually see us in our jerseys, sweat dripping down our faces, and us diving across a volleyball court...But every once in a while we like to look a little prettier. At Snowdaze this year, the volleyball girls decided to take a picture together and well...I just love these girls!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Volleyball Banquet

My volleyball banquet was in the beginning of November, so I'm posting this a little late but I wanted to go back and look at the memories we made. :) The girls are my second family and some of my best friends...the teach me life lessons, make me laugh, and work harder than a lot of girls I know. When ever I felt down or upset, one of my co-captains noticed and could always make me feel better. The bus rides to away games were always my favorite and we always had conversations that made us laugh until our stomachs hurt.

Looking back and thinking about the banquet not only makes me smile but brings tears to my eyes. I'm sooo proud to be one of the captains of this team and to see how hard they worked this past season. I LOVE YOU GIRLS SO MUCH!

Here's to the 2014 season!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

"Start Strong...End Stronger"

This season's motto for our volleyball team was "start strong, end stronger". Because no matter what happens, how many mistakes we make or don't make, if we win or lose...we want to play with our chins up and our confidence high. Because playing like you're going to lose or being mad at your team is going to get you no where. Absolutely no where. So throughout the season and before every game we came up with a team goal and encouraged each other and talked to each other on the court. We had such an incredible season and I love my teammates so much!

And of course we enjoyed our time off the court too - together at taco nights, celebrating the seniors, doing killers, and with our fans! I couldn't ask for a better season and I'm so pumped for next year! 

xoxo,

~Michlyn

When I Look in the Mirror...

Sometimes when I look in the mirror...

I see beauty. I see uniqueness. A daughter specially designed by our King. Flawless.

And other times...

I see scars. And bumps. I see the flaws. The imperfect skin and hair.

When really, all I want to see is that girl who is perfect in the eyes of her Father. The one who has no mistakes or flaws on her body. Who's hair is always in place. She doesn't need makeup to feel pretty. Who doesn't have to cover those spots of past breakouts to see the beauty.

That feeling isn't always there though. There is only that very seldom day where the mirror and I agree with each other. I know that Jesus is looking at me every morning when I get ready. When I add the color to my eyes and cream to my face. And I'm sure he is sometimes shaking his head and saying "You're perfect just the way I've made you". 

But's it's hard to grasp that concept. As girls we are pressured into wearing clothes that are "in style", to get that new nail polish color, or to be bold with a new hairstyle.

He sees the way I dress. He sees the frown on my face when I look at my stomach and legs. How I think they protrude more than they should. The self-consciousness that creeps up and is there to ruin my self-esteem.

Then I realize that this feeling can change. I can pray all I want for God to "make me skinnier" or "please let money fall out of the sky so I can go buy that new accessory". The thing is... it won't work without your effort. You have to start to make a change.

To get dressed and smile because you're happy in your own skin.

When you skip the concealer and accept your small scars.

To go for runs and give your body some motivation.

Look up to the sky and say "Thank you Jesus for making me who I am"!

And when you look in the mirror with that attitude...You're gonna see the girl you've been waiting to see. The happy, bold, and proud girl that's been dying to come out.


Because she's behind the mirror...I know she is...You've just got to search a little harder because she's beautiful no matter what!

Treat yourselves well girls! You're worth it.

~Michlyn

Volleyball...is over :(

I said in my last post about volleyball that our season was now over.

I was so sad.

I miss it a lot but see my teammates all the time.

Here are some high lights from our season.

This was at our first tournament called the "Spike-Fest". We are "crunching", which means if the other team is blocking we should all be close to get the ball. It was fun yelling "CRUNCH" because no other team knew what we were talking about - it was our own word. 

That would be me in the white jersey, passing the ball to our setter.

This is us praying...we would always start praying when there was about 1 minute left on the clock for warm-ups. I don't go to a Christian school but I am so blessed to be on a team with this amazing group of girls.

This was us doing our line up, to begin the game. They announce the starters and we each have our own little action to show the crowd. My friend Monica's was to do the "tebow". :)

This is the varsity team - we all did our hair the same this game (we actually tried to do it the same every game) and all wore our sweatshirts. I'm the one in the red jeans :)

One of my VERY favorite pictures from the season. It was a small group of us that were laying down after a game at our tournament. We had left the school by 8 am and were really tired - but pyshed at the same time!

I AM SO THANKFUL I GOT TO PLAY ON THIS TEAM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO 2 MORE YEARS! ALL THE CRAZY LAUGHING, INSIDE JOKES, AND MISCHEVIOUS PRANKS WILL ALWAYS BE STUCK IN MY HEAD AS MEMORIES. I LOVE YOU GIRLS! 

~Michlyn

P.S. Here is a video that we took of our "let's get pumped"! We would do this before almost every game, and since this school had showers...we decided to make it a little more interesting. :)

I tried to make it smaller, but it didn't work.

Powder Puff 2012

Last week, my sister and I got on the field.

It was her first year of Powder Puff.

She's a freshman and I'm a sophomore.

It's a yearly tradition at our small charter school.

Like always, it was {freshman and seniors} against the {sophomores and juniors}.

Definitely a BLAST!

Right when the game started - Wasn't too cold, especially if you were in long sleeves and running most of the time.

Close to the end of the game! :)

The Pink Ladies - Sophomores & Juniors

VS.

The Avengers - Freshman & Seniors

Looking forward to next year, where Erin & I can be on the same team!

~Michlyn

P.S. To read my post on Powder Puff 2011 - click here.

Sleepover Fun

Went to a sleepover.

Made some memories.

With some of my best friends.

Laughs. Popcorn. Barbies. Just Dance. Girl Talk.

Pure fun!

I love nights like that.

~Michlyn

Guest Post: Self Worth

Show some love for Brooke! She wrote this post, and I loved it! Most of you know I did the series "Through the Eyes of a Teenager"... well this post is really similar to one that I did. Thought I'd share what she wrote.

Right now more than ever, the world screams at us how to be perfect. How to lose 15 pounds, How to get flawless skin, Buy the newest fashionable clothing, Go along with the crowd, Get swept up in fads, You have to have a boyfriend to be cool...on and on it goes. We start believing it. Suddenly we are fat and ugly. It hurts-this I know.

We give into it. Because it's so hard. We deprive our bodies of food and feel like a dumb wannabe that just is not good enough. It rules our lives-the need to be perfect, good enough, and wanted.

It eventually breaks us down. We don't gain;we lose. But it is a secret. Because when you have a problem, you are "not cool". We bottle it up & fake it.

You don't need a boyfriend to be cool. You aren't perfect, but no one was except Jesus. You are gorgeous. You do make mistakes, but you are human. YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN GOLD!!

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.-2 Corinthians 4:18. You are just right in His eyes. Jesus loves you beyond comprehension!

By: Brooke at Endless Grace