Another Country, another team, another life experience to chalk up!

Hello hello! Long time no write as usual and a lot has happened since I wrote last. The Turkey experience I had was a great one with a few minor bumps along the way, but I made it through!

After my arrival and practicing with the team for a little less then a week, the coach had a change of mind and decided to bring in a different player, a bigger post player, more of a center position player. The management of the team also decided to release the point guard of our team. So it was a wierd situation that was all of a sudden, considering I was planning on being there until late April of next year. So I ended leaving Mersin a week after arriving there. I ended up getting my internet and fridge that I was supposed to have the day that I left Mersin! Sometimes you just have to laugh off crazy things that come your way!

I ended up going to my Turkish agent's home, which was not to far from Mersin, to talk things over and decide my options after that. It was a nice visit, with him, his wife and two kids. They served a wonderful traditional Turkish meal and was very delightful. His kids were facinated by my Macbook Computer and we took several pictures in the photo booth application, which was a lot of fun for them.

The next morning I flew from Adana to Istanbul because there was a team there that needed a post player and were willing to give me a look for a few days before signing me. So they put me up in an apartment which has several amazing stories behind it, one to mention a maid that mysteriously lived with my and enjoyed smoking freely wherever she pleased! More on that later.....

I practiced with them for a few days and started enjoying the city and getting to know my teammates a little better. I was also able to connect with several Americans that I was able to meet via email from the midwest! The city of Istanbul was truly amazing, with so much history and sights to see. Every day while I was there I tried to see something new or hit up a new part of the city. Istanbul has 15 million people in it and is a city that is spread out over several bodies of land with water in between. So the transportation is trams, buses, sea buses, trolleys, funiculure, and of course walking. Well after a few days of being there, they decided that I was a great player, but wasn't exactly the player the president of the club wanted. So they booked my flight home the next day. Of course I was bummed out that I wasn't going to stay in Turkey, but I was very thankful for the time that I had there and all the great people that I met. So, I changed my flight and left a few days later so I could do some sight seeing and be a professional tourist for a while! Which is also a great job!

Through all of this drama in the two weeks that I was in Turkey, I was still being reminded, to continually live by my faith and not by sight. That the Lord has my life and story all planned out, and that He is in control of all of it. Knowing that He is steady and unchanging has brought comfort to my life and really helped me trust where and what He will use me in next, whether home in the midwest combining corn with my family or in Turkey playing basketball on the mediterranean sea!!

More stories and pictures to come, but just wanted to let you all know what I was up to these days. I am back in Nebraska with my family, enjoying the cold weather and working on the farm! I will be home until after the holidays and hope to get a contract playing overseas after the new year.

Stay warm out there! It is freezing rain outside right now!!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Love you all,

Britt<><

Mersin team

These are a few pictures of me and my teammates from Mersin. Our manager Suat, did a lot of running around for me getting me my physical, groceries, etc. I got along with him great! Here are some pictures from the town too!! Enjoy!!

The trip over to Turkey.....

Hello Everyone,

I made it to Turkey on Saturday, I really enjoyed my trip over and got to sit by some wonderfully nice Turkish people on all my flights. The first cool people that I met was this group of politicians from Iowa. They were all going to Istanbul for some politcal exchange thing. They were all very nice, some from Marshalltown (knew one of my good friends) and also from Carroll, IA (they wanted me to tell you Shellie Moseman hello, i wrote their names down and can't find the paper now). Anyway, they were very nice and there tour guide was helpful on getting me to the right connection and my visa all figured out.

Next was the older man, Dundar on the long 10 hour flight. Which I ended up getting an exit row thank the Lord!) He was very kind, but spoke very little english. He tried to teach me some words and even gave me his pocket dictionary and a little converter (like a palm pilot) and you can type in the english word and the turkish one pops up. He was so kind and it was fun to try and communicate with him. I saw him reading his Koran several times (in case you don't know the Koran is the the holy book for the Muslim religion). It was very interesting to share a little bit of my faith with him, but very difficult with the language barrier.

On to Istanbul. Well i didn't see anything besides the airport, and that was nice. I stood in line to get a temporary visa to get past the passport control. The lady wasn't to please when I gave her my credit card but that was all I had. Then on the to next flight. Scored another exit row then too. I sat by these flight attendants, Derya, Onder and Duhan were there names. They were on a rest from there last flight and they were so kind and friendly. They were fascinated that I played ball and they said when I am in Istanbul they would come and watch and that they would show me around the city. At the end of the flight the nice flight attendant lady sitting next to me, Derya, gave me a beautiful clip for my hair and a pin with the famous leader of there country on it. She was very excited when I put it on and wore it out of the plane.

Getting to Adana airport was interesting, saw a few men with machine guns just hanging out at the airport. One man was kind and showed me where to go to claim my bags. I was picked up my the manager of the team, Suat. We then rode back to Mersin which is about a 45 minute to 1 hour drive. I was so tired at this point but forced myself to stay awake and talk with him.

That night he showed me my apartment which is very nice, all pink walls but very nice furniture and such. Well the Internet wasn't hooked up so I stayed with the other two Americans, Mistie Williams and Stephanie Raymond. I got there, checked my email unpacked a bit, called the family and went to sleep. The first night I slept great, a ful 10 hours!! The next day, Sunday I had an individual practice with the coaches and some of the younger girls on the team. I will fill you all in on that in the next email!! This is enough to read I am sure!! Sorry no pictures yet, I will try and take some at practice #2 of the day tonight.

Please pray for me and my patience. They are very slow on getting my apartment ready for me and found out that the fridge is not working, so I am trying to eat well and get good rest but have no place to keep food and no Internet. I am trying to be firm with them so things will get done, but also be patient and show Christ-like behavior at the same time. Also pray for Suat, we have had many great conversations comparing the Christian faith and Muslim faith. Very cool guy and just wants to learn more. Practices have been very fast paced because our coach likes the fast game, so I am trying to learn the plays and be sharp at the same time, so also pray for my transition into the team.

Ok I am going to get some rest before practice. Thank you for all your love, support and Prayers!!

Love, Britt<><

Leaving for Turkey on Friday!

Well we made a great run in the WNBA Finals against Detroit but unfortunately lost and took the silver. It was a great experience and made a lot of great friends along the way. Monday we flew back to San Antonio and I packed up my apartment and flew home yesterday morning on a 6am flight. It has been great to be home and got to hang out with my family last night. I am packing and resting the next few days and will be flying out for Mersin, Turkey on Friday!! Will write and post more pictures later. Please pray for my travels and transition to a totally different culture, team and country!!

Love you all!

Britt<><

WOW. God is great.

I just wanted to take this time and just thank God for all the blessings in my life.  Health, family, friends, opportunities, but most importantly the gift of Salvation through Jesus.  

Tonight, I got the opportunity to get together with some of my teammates and staff from my team and we just took the night to stop and praise and thank God.  We had some amazing time of worship and just praying for His light to shine and that He would receive the Glory as we continue to live, play in the Finals and be unified as a team.  

Just wanted to remind you all as God reminded me that we need to slow down, thank Him for all He is, for who we are in Him and His never-ending gift of love and forgiveness.  

WNBA Finals. WOW. Starting tonight!!!!

Hey hey!!!

Well it has one amazing ride these last few weeks being back on the San Antonio. We played LA in the Western Conference Finals and won two incredible games at home. In game #2 Sophia Young put up a 15 foot jumper when we were down by one point with 1.3 seconds to go and it banked in the basket and we won!!!! Then in Game #3 one of our starters Becky Hammon went off and had 35 points to help us clinch the title!! We were down by 4 with a 1:30 to go and we came back and won!!! We all rushed the court and the confetti fell. It was great and the WNBA president presented our team with the Western Conference Championship trophy, t-shirts and hats.

My mom, sister, aunt and her husband and my best friend were all there to celebrate with me!! While my mom was here we were able to hang out at the Riverwalk and go on a night tour and enjoy the night life of San Antonio.

I took my mom to the airport on Monday and she was sad to go but had a great time here and really wished she could stay all week. My sister flew home yesterday because she is done with her training for the National Guard, so she is back in Nebraska now too.

So now onto the Finals against Detroit Shock. Here is the game Schedule for the next 5 games. All the games are on ESPN 2. The * games are optional because it is 3 of 5 series. Also note that these times are all Eastern time. So 6:30pm midwest time folks.

As of right now i am still planning on going to Mersin, Turkey to play and will most likely get a few days at home after here and then fly to Turkey after. I am continuing to get excited about that new adventure in my life!!

Love and miss you all and hope all is well!!!

Britt<><

WNBA Finals Schedule Below:


Game 1: DET at SAN, Oct. 1, 7:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 2: DET at SAN, Oct. 3, 7:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 3: SAN at DET, Oct. 5, 4:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 4: SAN at DET, Oct. 6, 7:30 ET (ESPN2)*
Game 5: DET at SAN, Oct. 9, 7:30 ET (ESPN2)*

Western Conference Finals!!!!!!!

Hello hello!!

Well two days ago we played Game #1 in LA and we lost so now we are back in San Antonio.  It was fun being in LA, I got to hang out with a man that use to train me, Wayne Slappy. It was fun to got out to eat with him and he and his family came to the game.  LA was fun for the most part but just way to much traffic!!

Yesterday my mom flew in, so now my best friend Cass and my mom are here!!! So picked her up at the airport last night and came home and crashed cause I had three hours of sleep the night before.  My team caught early flight out of LA.  

So today we at 2pm on NBA TV against LA in Game #2. Now this is really for real do or die!! This is a must win game so we can play tomorrow in Game #3.  So cheer, watch and pray that our team plays with enthusiasm and unity!!!!    

So one of my other teammates Adrian and I rotate on suiting up and dressing up because in the WNBA only 11 players can suit up and two have to dress up.  So this game I am dressing up and hopefully after we win I will suit up tomorrow!!!!

Game #3.......do or die baby!!!

Hello everyone!! 

well we really laid an egg the last game and lost by 15 or so. I got to play the last two minutes of the game, ran a few plays, got a couple steals which i was excited about but sad we lost.  It was not a pretty game at all, but we are fired up and ready to go for game #3!!!  We play Sacramento tonight at 8pm on NBA tv.  Thanks for cheering everyone!! posted a few pics from the last game for you all to see!!!

Game #2 in San Antonio!!!!!

Hello everyone!!

Well we played in Sacramento and we won game #1 of the playoffs. It was great being in Sac again and seeing all my old teammates, coaches, co-workers and my family( you guys know who you are :) It was a tough game to win in Arco with the really big crowd but we squeaked out of there with game #1. We play game #2 of the series tonight at 8pm central time. This game I will be activated and suited up too!!! So if you want to watch you have to tune in on NBA tv. Ok, well off to get my game face on!!! Love you and miss you all!!!! Britt<><

Back in Sac-town!!!

I started a blog!! Yeah!!!! In the words of Kim Smith, "It's about time!!"