Hi from the Mile High!

Hi TEAM!

Truth be told I had to help my Mamacita with my Dad’s office party all day but now that it's nearly 9 for some of you we can pretend I was holding out to send it at 21:00 hours on the 21st. Anyways my sister gets home from Ecuador tonight and I couldn't be more thrilled to see that jet setter. It's been too long! I'm stoked for Christmas especially because we have no less than 12 (rein)deer in our yard. So festive! Still trying to convince my dad to shoot the 8 point buck for a mantle piece but he's not into it. Weird, right? 

The weather has been up in down in true Colorado fashion, so I've been right there with you Linds stomping on the treadmill! 

So here is something different that I think is a really cool concept especially for this team with a revamped outlook and mentality. I know it's winter break, but here’s my little history lesson… When Cortes landed in Mexico in the 1500’s he ordered his men to “burn the boats” so that they had no choice but to continue and commit to a new life in the new world. The fortune was still to be found and the land was still to be explored, but they burned the boats so that the only way was forward. Although there were no guarantees, they turned out to be extremely successful. I think we can learn some things from Cortes (besides the whole him killing off populations of people), but in all seriousness, there is something to be said when someone is willing to look toward the future and commit themselves to becoming great. We have learned from the past, but at this point all we need is what lies within us to go after what lies ahead of us. We, as a cohesive unit, have amazing potential, and although it won’t be easy, it will be so rewarding if we work to achieve the successes we are striving for. As my boy Ben says “Energy and persistence conquer all things” –Benjamin Franklin. I am all fired up hearing about how hard everyone is working and I am doing my part, too, because we have so much opportunity ahead of us!! Keep the faith! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Peace, love, and tebow.

Kenz

“And there’s a magic in the sound of their name, here come the Irish of Notre Dame…”

PS this whole blog thang is tight! Hopefully you can see my picture and with a little luck the format is legible. See you all in a couple weeks :)

Hello from Minnesota!!

I hope everyone made it home safely and is enjoying break so far! I know I personally am very happy to be home and am enjoying having a real kitchen once again. All our christmas decorations are up and I am in officially in the christmas spirit, even though this could be my first non-white christmas. Hopefully this picture of our tree works... its one of my favorite things about christmas. Its 11 feet tall and we have more than 200 ornaments from over the years. (I was going to put a picture of my dog in her christmas gear but I am fairly certain we will get our fill of dog pictures on the 12th)

After finals it has been great to finally relax a bit and spend some time with my family. We leave for Mexico in 10 days so hopefully I will be bronzed and happy when I return to school. In other news, this morning the nurse had to stab me 3 times in the arm and then dig the needle around to draw blood and I think my arm will be bruised for a week.

I hope everyone has stayed motivated to complete the training and stay on track so we are in a position to achieve our goals when we all get back. It is easy to set high goals, but the desire to really work to achieve them is what sets our team apart from others. One of my favorite quotes is: "Dreams don't work unless you do" and I think it really applies to our team. The reason we are going to be successful this season is because we are all willing to put in the work to be a great team. Thinking of how hard all of you are working has kept me motivated to do the same and not let you, myself or the team down! 

miss you all! 

with love, 

mich (or "shelly" as some of you still insist... :) )

Act as if it were impossible to fail and it will be

Hey Guys!!

I hope you all are enjoying your time at home with friends and family and recovering from that brutal week of finals. Some more than others..

(yes that is como)

I can't tell you how much I miss you all already! There have been so many things that have happened to me and I want to go run and tell all of you! The one thing that stands out in my mind is a little story I'd like to dedicate to Ellie and her bestfriend Kayla...

 My sister and I arrived home on friday for her birthday and we all enjoyed a great home cooked meal (including all of the food groups with sufficient, but not gluttonous, portions of each). The celebration wasn't over though, and my mom pulled out not one, not two but THREE cakes for the FOUR of us to celebrate with (one chocolate, one vanilla and one ice cream). Really mom? She said she wanted to satisfy all over our cravings... Ellie I think u'd be proud. 

Not too much else has occurred. A highlight of my trip back was when my mom surprised me with a new book about the Amish. I think most of you know by now I have a not-so-secret obsession with these humble people and their culture. If any of you saw how mesmerized I was by Margaret on halloween and how I literally couldn't leave her side, it was because I thought my dream came true and I was in a real Amish community with a real Amish girl...so thank you Margaret for that experience. 

Also, we went to the Giants game yesterday which was so much fun but unfortunately they didn't play so well...

I am actually heading over to work out now and I just wanted to give Grace a shout out for her motivation last night. I now know my image with the team and I am going to do everything in my power to uphold this image! 

And as we all go to lift weights I just want to remind you to have great form and PLEASE whatever you do don't look like these people (at least don't wear your Notre Dame issue if you do...)

On a serious note though I can't wait for February to come so that we can finally  show everyone what we are made of and what we have inside us. The strides we have made together, as one, in these last months have been incredible. We all have each other's backs and I can proudly proclaim that every one of you would carry me over the finish line if I needed you. This is what a team is and this is what we have grown to be. We have all come from different backgrounds and have different stories but we share one thing in common: we don't take no for an answer. I know all of you have been told and made to feel that "you can't" at one point in your lives whether it was within the last few years or in high school or both but you never backed down and you never listened. That's the attitude we need now more than ever. We are not going to take the easy road and we will never stop competing. So now is the time. This month we have at home is the time that winners are made and teams win championships.  We have to stay focused, push ourselves and reach limits. We have to break through walls and know that there are thirty other girls and three coaches behind us working as hard as we are. We have the opportunity to make a statement, to win it for ourselves, for each other and for Our Lady. Let us all be the leaders we are and come back stronger, fitter, and more mentally tough than ever. I want this more than I can tell you and I know you all feel the same way I do. 

Recently I've been following the story of Tim Tebow, one of the most decorated collegiate athletes in history. His story is truly inspirational and if you every have a chance to watch the ESPN special on him please do. It shows him training from 7-7, pushing and picking up cars, running in pitch black and lifting weights until he physically can't anymore. People told Tebow he wouldn't succeed in the NFL but he pushed himself harder than before and is now one of the best. Usually people just see the wins and the award ceremonies, but no one sees the work that goes into receiving the accolades. Let's all be like Tebow and push ourselves more than ever in this month! We can do it, we just have to believe and take the steps needed to get there. So, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes. It's simple but it had the strength to push me in some of my hardest times and I hope it will help all of you! 

Thank you for making me struggle,
Thank you for making me grind
I perfected my hustle,
Tell me the world ain't mine

I LOVE YOU GUYS! LIVE, LOVE, LAX and the AMISH! 

Julia 

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Hello from Rochester!

Hey guys hope you're break is going well so far and you all made it home (or to Austrailia) safely!  It is really nice being home with my family and not having to worry about school.  I haven't really done much since I've been home but I did start work again at Wegmans! (Best cashier in Rochester) jk...  But anyways it is good having something to do and be able to make some money because my bank account has been suffering.

I am really excited for the season to start and to see what our team is capable of this year!  While at home, I know that it is difficult to push yourself when working out alone (I have already gotten strange looks from people at the gym as I loudly stomp on the treadmill...), but think about your teammates and how hard they are working so that we all can achieve our goals.  I know that I am going to stay inspired this break to workout just because of the fact that I am so proud to be a part of the 2012 Irish Lacrosse team.  Knowing that I am on a team with 28 other girls who truly care about our goals and aspirations will encourage me to push myself while I am alone and hopefully you.  Again, I am so excited for this season and to be able to play with all of you!! Hope you guys enjoy the rest of your breaks with your family and friends!

GO IRISH!!
Love, Lindsay :)

sweet seventeen

HEYYY GUYSSS!!!!
sooo right now it's 10:20 pm here in Cali, so as we sit here and wait to board our flight to New Zealand I decided that I should share what's going on in my life right now. So we don't really have any interesting pictures or videos yet- the only interesting things that have happened is the man next to me on our flight decided it was appropriate to puke in a little paper bag while sitting next to me while the female to my left watched me sleep for 4 hours, Meg almost got hit by a bus, moms wearing her retainer in the airport and dad well he's being typical Gary. So all in all it's been a rather unproductive day but who cares because finals are OVER.
When I was thinking of what to write to you guys to portray my excitement for this season I am excited because no one knows what we are capable of and what hell we are going to raise in the NCAA's this year. Lets push ourselves harder than we ever have before because this is the last time us 30 girls will be together repping the ND lax uniforms. We will never have this season again with this team. the team of 2011. So screw the successes of the 2004 team because we are going to be the team that every future ND lax member aspires to be. hunter has sent us our packets, the coaches have laid out their expectations, and we have pushed each other. So let's use this break to re-motivate ourselves. Remember why you're here and what you dreamed of when you first began playing lacrosse. Bust your asses this break and let's kill it when we get back.
I wanted to provide a famous motivational quote but I couldnt find any that accurately portrayed my feelings so I made up my own and here it is: get ready to f*** some serious s*** up. get stoked!!
Well we are boarding now and that's all I've got for you lovely ladies,
have an unreal break and I'll miss youzzz!
Lauren

From Across The Pond!!

Hello All,

I just landed in London and I'm very excited to be home! I wanted to keep this short and sweet.. I know that some of you know this quote but I wanted to remind you of it and introduce it to the freshmen. When you wake up and it's snowing or raining outside and you don't feel like training remember what we want to achieve this season. I really want to be celebrating not only one Championship with you all in May but 2!

"Today you must do more than is required from you. Never think that you have done enough or that your job is finished. There's always something that can be done - something that can help to ensure victory. You can't let others be responsible for getting you started. You must be a self-starter. You must possess that spark of individual initiative that sets the leader apart from the led. Self motivation is the key to being one step ahead of everyone else and standing head and shoulders above the crowd. Once you get going don't stop. Always be on the lookout for the chance to do something better. Never stop trying. Fill yourself with the warrior spirit - and send that warrior into action."

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!