[Pics from Associated Press]
McKenzie called us one night and slowly unfolded the struggle she's had this soccer season. She agreed to let me journal it on the blog.
She said lately she had been feeling the weight of Elle's death, but especially on the field. "Remember that competition season the Spring after Elle died and how I just couldn't play? It's been happening again."
On the soccer field she feels vulnerable. Keeping it together and under wraps off the field doesn't work when you have to let go and give everything to the team. She couldn't manage to get a decent shot on goal. Her play time decreased. Rob and I heard on Live Stats she wasn't in the starting line-up anymore.
Sunday at a sacrament meeting on the road in California, she broke down. The speaker was talking about two kids whose mom had passed away... McKenzie couldn't stop crying. Even in the middle of it, she said it felt so good to let it go.
The very next game in California, she scored BYU-H's only goal. We drove 4 1/2 hours to see her in the Dixie game. She sat on the sidelines for the first 25 minutes. BYU-H was down 2 – 0 after Dixie made a penalty shot and we missed one. When MK subbed in, the momentum changed. We scored. Then, MK made the assist for goal #2 in the last ten minutes. She never subbed out of that game or during two golden goal overtime periods. The next game, she started. And she finished... scoring the winning goal in the last 5 minutes of the game. That earned her the Final Five all-conference award for Player of the Week.
MK's littlest fan
Uncle Craig and the cousins wouldn't miss MK's game.
[above] Our Hawaiian in Dixie, flanked by two future missionaries. [left] Kim's on her way to New Jersey, Spanish-speaking, and [right] Sara will serve in Mexico.
Grandpa is our self-appointed sports photographer
Mikes wanted in on the Hughes family, haha
Life goes on but grief remains a presence. I guess the challenge is to manage it before it manages you.
We're so proud of you, Kenz.
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