Walking On...A Walk of Faith!

What’s up Ya’ll?! Hey, Ellee here, practicing my new southern lingo, no big deal. Since I lived in the country of Bulgaria as a missionary’s kid for the first half of my life and then also last year, lingo has been a bit of a diverse area of my life. I think I’m liking the low and slow Lynchburg twang. It has been such a blessing to be down here at LU. Everything about college is new and different and I love it. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is my love for basketball.

After having played the beautiful game all through my life, and even last year on some Bulgarian teams, I couldn’t see myself just dropping it cold-turkey once I headed off to college. I figured I’d just try out for the team! Without knowing how beastly the team was or what a Division I team is really like, I contacted the coaches and showed up on tryout day - typical freshman move. All I knew was that this was my one shot, and I would regret it forever if I didn’t just try.

‘To God be the Glory’, the coaches saw potential in me and accepted me onto the team! It has been such an adventure so far and I am so humbled and thankful for the opportunity. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it’s all still real - and then coach sends us to the end line to run a 22 and I realize it’s quite real! Even the hard parts like running and lifting are a joy -they may not be pleasurable in the moment, but to train under such dedicated coaches and alongside such talented teammates is an honor and privilege.

Walking on is still a walk of faith every day as I try to contribute and give my best to help the team. I have a different sort of role on the team which can have it’s unique challenges, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m learning so much and making great memories! The best part has been the chance to represent God by having an ‘Audience of One’ whenever I play and giving Him the glory no matter the outcome at the end of the day. What an opportunity...I am so thankful! Catch ya’ll later!

Go Flames!

Ellee

The Lady Flames' Motto

Every year the Lady Flames choose a specific motto or chant that is stated after practices, weights, and games. Some of these phrases include, “No excuses, rise above,” “Together,” and “Earn it”. Each year is different and we try to make a statement that will motivate, encourage, and provoke energy.

Well, in the past we have included “To God be the glory” as a phrase for the post-game prayer. The saying is chanted with opposing teams after games as a witnessing opportunity and to remind teams who we are TRULY playing for. However, this year we say it at the conclusion of every practice, weight session, and game. This statement is more than just a declaration of being a part of a Christian University, but a message of recognition to the Giver of all our gifts and talents. Coach Green reminds us all the time that it isn’t about us, it isn’t about me; it is all about our Savior. John 3:30 says, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” WOW! It isn’t about me, isn’t about my performance, or my reputation, but truly about God and bringing Him glory. This past season, our team has gone through some mountaintops and valleys. However, despite all the questioning and uncertainty, we have learned that we must give Him the glory, no matter what. As a Lady Flame, I am constantly reminded of how blessed I am to be a part of this program and team. For me, it is relieving to know that it isn’t about me, but truly about something and Someone bigger than myself.

How easy it is to forget the simplicity of this principle in the midst of our busy and crazy lives, long season, and hectic school schedules. But, with a constant recognition of our Source, we have the opportunity to take the focus off ourselves/our issues and onto Him.

Lastly, I want to share with you a specific verse that has been encouraging me lately. Romans 9:17 says, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” This verse has been so uplifting to me this year. As students and basketball players, we are called by Christ to display His power and to make His name famous. How cool is that?

To me, this isn’t a phrase that is consistently repeated after weights, games, or practices, but a lifestyle of myself and the women’s basketball team of Liberty University. It is a motto and prayer that we wish to live by every single day.

To God be the glory... A phrase chanted since my freshman year, yet a lifestyle a Lady Flame tries to live by everyday.

-Brittany Campbell, #30

Pranks!

Hey! Kendra here! I have to tell you all about what I did last weekend to Steve and Matt's hotel room. I really wanted to pull a prank on them and mess up their room, but I had a hard time getting them to leave their room. Finally, I got my chance. We had a Super Bowl party in their room on Sunday night and since the Patriots lost, Matt had to run through the hotel's hallway screaming, "GO GIANTS!". While Matt was running around and Steve was watching him and making fun of him, some of us ran into his room and locked the door behind us. They saw us run in, but couldn't do anything because we locked the door!

For the next 15 minutes, Katelyn, Ashley, Emily, Reagan, Catherine, Terika, and I ransacked their room. We turned all the furniture upside down and put forks and knives in their beds. We toilet papered their bathroom and put bagels on their lights. My favorite part was the finishing touch - we stacked a Bible on top of the chair that we stacked on the bed!

...The only problem was that Terika's and my room was across the hall and we hadn't locked our door so Steve and Matt ran in and messed up our room too! We came out to find our room with our bed completely stripped and our clothes shoved under the bed. Next time we need to plan ahead better...it's all in the details!

It's all good, though. The next day we beat High Point and took over first place in the conference!

Go Flames!

-Kendra, #1

Sarah's Shout Out

Hey Everyone! I get to work with some great people here at Liberty, so I’m going to tell you about the people that I have come to know in the past few months that make this place special.

Coach Green
During my first week in Lynchburg, Coach Green took me fishing. He had two poles and would bait one and give it to me. I would drop it in the water and catch a fish, and he’d take the fish off and hand me the other poll, already baited, so I could continue fishing. This cycle continued for at least an hour, and he got quite the workout, because I caught so many fish! Now, this says a lot about Coach Green; he loves fishing and didn’t get to fish at all, because he spent the entire night making sure I had a great time.

Alexis Sherard
The daily banter that comes with sharing an office with Alexis and Sam is highly entertaining. When you throw Alexis’ kids in the mix, life gets even funnier! His son Elijah has been known to profess his love to both Reagan and Theresa via Coach Green’s marker board (he bawled his eyes out once when Kendra erased his message!), and his daughter Iyana can be heard singing in the shower from several hotel rooms down the hall! And even though sometimes I can’t find my stapler or tape because they’ve been in my office, I appreciate them being around, because it creates an awesome family atmosphere.

Andy Bloodworth
I knew Andy before I came to Liberty and right now I rent a room in the townhouse that she shares with her ever-loving dog, Honey. We have plenty of pictures of me on the couch with Honey walking all over me or sitting on my head…the dog likes to be really close to people! We aren’t roommates on the road, but we do have a great hotel tradition where we find the hot tub and relax the first night when we check into the hotel.

Heather Stephens
Heather is really sweet and cares so much for the people around us. She is always willing to do anything to help anyone. I was blown away when I first got hired, because Heather came into my office, asked if she could help me with anything, and sat there for the next two hours and answered all of the questions I had. Her willingness to give up two hours of her day to help me understand our workflow and team made my transition to Liberty so much easier.

Sam Choi (Graduate Assistant)
Everyone needs to follow Sam on twitter (@samjchoi). He is one of the funniest people I have ever met and there is never a day in the office that he doesn’t make me laugh. He self-professes to have a pea-sized brain, but he is really very smart, wise, and a good friend. And…in reality his head is huge to the point where he refuses to take pictures with his girlfriend (who happens to have a very small head)! He jokes that as a couple, they have a very average-sized head!

Katie Garlick (Secretary)
Katie and I have similar TV interests and enjoy a long, detailed discussion about the happenings on the latest episode of The Bachelor every Tuesday. For the record, we are not the biggest fans of this current season (come on Ben, make it more exciting!), but we still watch it just because we are addicted! Don’t judge her because of her TV preferences - she is super helpful, nice and has helped me so much in my transition to Lynchburg.

Steve, Matt, Carley, and Laura (Managers)
I really enjoy our managers; they are unbelievably helpful and make my job so much easier and more fun. Carley and Laura and I can find the smallest things to entertain ourselves with, while I play basketball with the guys every week. I will also forever think of Steve when I see the scratch on my brand new bocce ball set, because he mis-fired and the ball smacked down on the pavement two weeks ago at Charleston Southern. Good thing I won!

Paul Carmany (Sports Information Director)
While we are on the topic of bocce ball, let me just say that Paul is really talented; he clobbered Steve, Jamie, and I. Paul is also unbelievable; not only does he know the answer to any question I could possibly ask him, but he never gets mad at me for asking, even if it’s something I probably could of found out on my own. One of the best parts of my week is when Paul, Steve, Matt, Jamie, and I play basketball with some other guys in the athletic department. It’s not the highest level of basketball around, but it’s really fun to get out on the court and compete with friends.

Jamie Hall (Radio Announcer)
Jamie is our radio announcer and we share a similar sense of humor, which has made for long conversations on the bus and at shootaround. Granted, every conversation with Jamie is long, because he never stops talking, haha. Seriously, I have been at many restaurants with Jamie and not once have I seen him eat more than half of his food – he always has to take it home because he is talking too much during the meal and runs out of time to eat it!

Theresa Hoinsky (Athletic Trainer)
Theresa is my roommate on road trips and we share the same sentiment about our love for the warm weather in the state of California (she is from the Los Angeles area). We also love spending our nights chilling at the hotel, watching Say Yes to the Dress, and critiquing each dress the girls try on. Theresa also loves swimming and last trip Ashley, Emily, and I went to the YMCA with her and did one of her pool workouts. Thank goodness the pool closed 10 minutes after we got there or else I’d of been too tired to walk back to the hotel!

I get to work with some pretty special people and I hope you can come to our games and cheer all of us on!

Go Flames!

Sarah