My Munchkins

Well Blog, we meet again. It sure has been quite sometime, but you know- sometimes life can be a bit hectic :) As I sit here writing this, I look back on pictures of one of the things (or 10 I should say) that have kept a smile on my face for the last couple of months. When things got rough and rocky, I could count on these 10 vibrant little things to make me laugh and brighten my days. It never fails- how fast time can fly when you really are having fun. I can no longer call these little ones munchkins per say, I have watched them grow not only as AMAZING volleyball players (mind you, they are only 11 and 12!) but wonderful young ladies- they now prefer to be called "balherz".. don't ask me- they just do :). Well, they were wonderful young ladies to begin with, but it is just crazy to me how fast people can change as they begin to find their little niches in this so called game of life. I always go into the seasons thinking to myself "what will I need to coach/teach this year?" But, I never ask myself, "what will I learn this year?" I watched friendships grow between 10 individual hearts and minds, I have learned to believe in myself and my values- and to stand strong when they are threatened, I watched the confidence levels rise amongst those who never thought they could, and the most memorable of all, I have grown very fond of these 10 little ladies for they have taught me things I could not have imagined to learn from 11 and 12 years olds. I have made 1o little special spots in my heart this last year- and I will cherish the memories always.

As the season came to an end, tears filled my eyes instantly. I walked down the long hallway to the team area, clenching my jaw to hold myself together. At the end of that hall were 20 little eyes, 10 smiles, and 20 stinky little feet waiting for me- now, it was even harder to hold myself together. We sat together that afternoon and remembered the things that brought us all close together and the struggles we faced to get there. We remembered the times we could not stop laughing and the times that they all wanted to punch me in the face for all of the running they may have done that day- or the abundance of sit-ups and push-ups given. Before we left the gym, the girls asked to tell the team their favorite part of the season.

Munchkin 1: "My favorite part of the season, was meeting all of these new and wonderful friends that I know will be there to have my back" (ok.. this holding it together thing is not working)

Munchkin 2: "My favorite part of the season, was learning the game of volleyball and having the most fun coach ever!"

Munchkin 3: "I wish this season wasnt over. At school, I am quiet and it is hard to make friends, but I am leaving this season with a new family- a volleyball family. Thank you coach for making us a volleyball family. I cant wait for next year."

Ok, that is it.. the waterworks had busted a cap and it was all wet and wild from there. I couldn't help it. I never realized how much more these girls were really learning than just basic skills and the rules of the game. The beautiful hearts and minds of this little ladies were all I could think about that day and how much of an impact volleyball had on their little lives. It truly was an amazing feeling to see that new volleyball skills were not the only thing they were walking away with- they were walking away with new friends, and everlasting memories.

Team Yakima Black 2009-2010 :)

"We like to put the wiggle, in Wiggalo- yo!"

Little do they know, I owe them the Thank You.