“ I can do all things through Christ you strengthens me.” Philippines 4:13. Sometimes we don’t know why things happen for a reason but they do. All that we can do is just accept them and move on with our lives. If we weren’t given any bumps in our life we wouldn’t be where we are today. We also really have to pay attention to who comes in and out of our lives; and who to keep close and who to keep at a distance.

The biggest bump in the road that I have ever run into this year was when I hurt my knee only four weeks into the cross country season. This is not only a strength test it is also a mental test to me and how well I handle my situation. Before the I found had my whole diagnosis of the situation I am in and what I would be going through; I had mentally prepared myself for the when the day would come when he would tell me what he thought and what actions need to be taken in order to get me back on my feet. Now, shortly after Doctor Semani told me that I have Plica again but in my right knee this time and that If I don’t get it taken care of I could really damage the rest of the athletic career. My heart felt like it had just been brutally stabbed and is being torn out of my body. I knew that was my biggest possibility to my knee pain but I wanted to keep on refusing that this was happening to me and was going to have to have knee surgery. Shortly after I finished crying and blaming it all on the Lord for the way he built me; I soon came to realize that this is my bump in the road for this year and in order to make it through I am not only going to need to be strong for myself but also my family. I felt like this was important because if I didn’t show and keep a positive attitude towards my family they would feel helpless and like I am going into depression like I did before. I was 100% determined to not let that happen again. I didn’t want to dig my self back in a deeper hole like the one I had finally just gotten out of. The hardest moment that I struggled with was telling my best friend who is like a sister ever since we were in kindergarten as well as my cross country coach. I am not sure why I cried telling them. At home I realized the reason I cried was because I have an emotional connection with them and I all want them to see is me succeed not fail. 

Within a blink of an eye It was Tuesday morning and it was the day of a life changing event, it was my knee surgery. The morning was filled with a roller coaster of emotional rides. I could not really grasp the fact that one this was happening and two I will get to run again soon. Unfortunately my surgery wasn’t until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I was so made but happy at the same time. The  whole reason why I was mad was because I could eat all day and having to go to lunch with 100’s of others kids eating infront of me was humiliating. I could not stand the smell of all of this food. The only good part that I got out of the day was that I got to go to most of my classes which i s such a huge bonus because missing one day of school is like missing a whole years worth or stuff. So, finally it was time for my and my mom and dad and head the hospital for my surgery. With in 45 minutes I was in and out of the operating room faster than you could say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. When I finally came around I was ready to get out of there and go get something to eat. Finally after the long and excruciating drive back to clarkston we had stopped at leo’s to eat something. I ate like a pigs last feast I ate so gosh dang much I thought I was going to explode. I had their famous Farmers Omelet, Chicken Finger Pitta, and a chocolate shake. My parents watched in aww as I pounded my food like a vacuum cleaner cleaning up dirt. By the end of my amazing feast I was fat and happy and ready to go home and watch a movie and sleep off the pain. At this point the only thing going through my mind was you already have one step of many done. You just have to believe that you can do it and go kick some butt in PT and get back on your feet and to the game you love. I made up my mind that there is one of many ways that I am going to keep positive thoughts going through my head and that is to write a new positive thought or quote on a sticky note and post them around my room and in my car and in my gym locker. This whole new positive feng shui  only last for about two weeks then I got caught up in the daily high schoolers buzz and my sports again.  During this time I had began to talk to a guy as well so that also kinda sorta kept my positive daily thoughts, but boy did he change my world. He kept me positive all the way up to my surgery, after and even now. I am proud to say that he is now my boyfriend. I knew from day one of meeting him that if he stuck through my emotional train ride up to the surgery he would be a keeper. He happened to be more encouraging than anybody that I had ever meet; other than my best friend from toddler year till now who I consider my sister. The best part was I had no clue what his name was for a while nor had I thought to gain his number to my contacts. Till about week and a half after my surgery he had texted when I was cheering on my friend at his soccer game and ask “Hey Kelsey would you like to the girls Varsity Volleyball  game with me tonight?” Probably about millions of different things went through my mind. One “Who is this kids.” Two “He Obviously knows me.” Three “Whats his name?” After talking to him for about 30 minutes I finally had the courage to ask what his name was I had  sheepishly said “I know this is going to sound really stupid that I didn’t ask this in the beginning but what is your name?...” He replied with “LOL Josh Pierce.” After he said that it was like a light bulb went off in my head and my first text back was “OMG I know who you are now.” Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go to the volleyball game, but just a few short days down the road of recovery he again asked if I wanted to got to another girls volleyball game. I was supper excited and said “YES YES!!” Right then I knew that things were going to take off with our friend ship from there. There are so many words to describe how our friendship continued to bloom like a beautiful rose at the beginning of summer from being tended and cared for. I know this sounds really corny but he is the one that is keeping my mind off all the negative aspects of my knee surgery and what I can and cant do.  I love him to the moon and back for what he has done for me as his girlfriend and has put up with the basic white girl drama and upsets by something really stupid.

Now that I am reflecting back on my recent past I can really thank God for putting this bump in the road and placing Josh in my life. If he would have never been put in my life I would have not realized how much someone I just met cares about me and realized my true potential for being such a big role model to the Girls Cross Country Team.