Part II

The same day as my accident I had to go for a mammogram/ultrasound. I've been having some pain and it's been two years (I know, I know-not good.)

They found two cysts & then called the Dr. in to check it out & do an additional ultrasound. As I layed there, I prayed & thought, "Oh my gosh, please don't let it be breast cancer."

Finally she said, "It's benign. We will see you back next year."

TWO miracles in one day...how lucky can a girl be?

I know I've spent years trying to control everything in my life. So what's a girl to do when things start spinning out of control? Pray, Pray Pray!

Remember to count your blessings each day because you never know when things can spin out of control.

I'm one grateful person!

Very Scary...Do You Believe In Angels? (Part 1)

Yesterday it was raining really hard here in So. California. I usually don't think much about it because I used to live in Utah & I'm used to snow, white-outs and black ice, so rain is really more of a bother than anything.

That was until....

I headed to work in a downpour, was on the freeway almost at my exit when the rear end of my Navigator started to hydroplane (slide out). Since I'm used to dealing w/ black ice, I didn't panic. I took my foot off the gas (hitting your brakes will send you into a tail spin) and slowly tried to correct it. The back end then slid the other way, I corrected again. This continued two more times...my back tires wouldn't grab. I finally slid off the freeway at 55 mph, missing a pole, hitting an embankment completely sideways.

I remember thinking, "Oh no, I'm going to roll over." My next thought was, "This is how it happens, people are on their way to work & the next second they never see their family again."

I skidded up onto the side of the hill, bracing myself for the flip. But it never happened! My car slid, spun around through the shrubs & bushes, then came to a stop with my front end facing the freeway, halfway up the hill.

I sat there shocked, frozen, thinking, "I'm okay, I can't believe I'm okay! What do I do now, I'm not hurt, I don't need to call 911."

A lady, came running down, through the pouring rain & bushes from the top of the hill. I opened my door and walked towards her. She grabbed me, hugged me & said, "God was watching over you today." I said, "You're right, I can't believe I didn't roll over." By this time a man also came down the hill. We all three examined my car & decided I could just drive it out back onto the freeway. As I headed back to my car, the woman hugged me again & said, "God was protecting you."

The man pushed me & as I slowly made my way back onto the freeway I looked back at the woman still standing in the pouring rain, she blew me a kiss. I blew one back to her & slowly made my way into the traffic, still in a daze & wondering about the woman.

Do you have a story where you feel like you were watched over & protected?

There's more...Part 2 Tomorrow

Thankful Post!

Yesterday I got a call from my sister that our two boys were in an accident. I was working & had my phone on vibrate so I missed the call.

Lesson #1- NEVER put your phone on vibrate when you have children!

Lesson #2- Always remember to ask the Lord to protect your kids & family members EVERYDAY! (√) -did this one thank goodness!

My son Josh was the passenger & my nephew, who was driving was cut off, swerved, lost control, spun across the freeway, hit the guard rail head on & spun back around. Had the guard rail not been there, they would have gone over the side of the mountain. Josh hit his chest on the dashboard (wasn't wearing his seat belt & no airbags).

But since this is a thankful post...I'll let ya know that I am SO GRATEFUL that they were both okay & were able to walk away from this. It could have been really bad, considering this is what the car looked like & had to be sold to a salvage yard.

They are really sore & banged up but they're OK, and my heart is full of relief!

Controlling the Control Freak

I tend to be a bit of a control freak...anticipating each and every possible scenario and looking for ways to shape it into the ideal situation. I usually am only like this with my immediate family.

I don't know, I think it's a protection thing...a mother's instinct.

When presented with certain trials, I work out all the different angles in my mind and then try to figure out the best course of action. I know that I can be a bit overbearing at times, but I just want to spare my family any unnecessary hurt and pain.

My son had to meet with some people today and I was a little leary of the whole thing due to a recent situation that happened leading up to this meeting.

I sat at home last night before the big meeting worrying the entire situation to death in my mind. At one point letting my emotions bring me to tears.

How can I protect my child if these people decide to hurt him emotionally?

A part of me wanted to call the whole thing off. Avoidance sometimes seems better than the unknown, endless possibilities that your mind can create when left to it's own devices.

I'm lucky to have such a wonderful husband. Who offered me his words of wisdom.

Lis, just let it go. It's out of your hands. There is nothing you can do, it is something that your son wants and needs to happen. Let go of all of your fear, hurt and what if's...turn it completely over to God and let him handle it.

He prayed with me & can I tell you how much peace I had immediately! The weight was lifted, I knew that the Lord heard our prayers and would work it all out.

I then continued to pray for the people who were to meet with my son. I prayed that they would open their hearts & minds and see what an amazing person he is.

He called me after it was done to say that it went well and that he thought they were really nice. He could tell they were just as nervous as he was.

I've decided to really work on controlling the control freak in me. When situations seem unbearable, when I feel myself losing it, I'm going to stop and immediately pray.

It's amazing how the Lord comforts and lifts the burdens.

Flip Flop Vs. The Wave-Prayer Request Tuesday

After you read my true FLIP FLOP vs. THE WAVE adventure on Sunday...leave your Prayer Request~It's Prayer Request Tuesday. There is no better way to start your week than releasing all your worries and cares. Turn them over to the Lord today and allow others to pray on your behalf.

THE FLIP FLOP Vs. THE WAVE
By: Lisa Petrarca

“Oh no! Not my brand new flip flops!” Carefully setting the sandals on the highest part of the mini sand cliff, away from the pounding surf. I stood with my feet in the water, waves crashing up, soaking my board shorts, as I struggled to keep my camera away from the massive spray that proceeded.

I left the house in the morning planning on having a great day at the beach watching the Hurley US Open of Surfing Competition. The crowd was packed close to the water, trying to catch a glimpse of the final top two surfers, our local HB boy, Brett Simpson and Mick Fanning from Australia.

The tide began to rise along with the size of the waves. I struggled to get a good shot, fighting the surf and crowd. Before I new it a gigantic wave hammered towards us. I held my camera straight up over my head, looking back to check on my shoes, watching them spin inside the churning water, unable to grab them, they were washed out to sea.



Five minutes later, one shiny silver sandal appeared in the sand. I rushed to grab it…I no longer cared about who won the competition or my pictures, I wanted my other flip flop. We searched and searched…the other one never turned up.

The sand was blazing hot, I ran to the trash can to throw away my one flip flop. Next I attempted to make it from one shaded area to another as my feet started to blister. I wanted to cry it hurt so bad! Finally I couldn’t take it anymore so my husband took off his large flip flops as we reached the scorching asphalt. I didn’t care how they looked…3 sizes to big! I was in pain and needed relief.

How many of us try to make it through life by ourselves? Handling all of our problems, finances, worries and cares alone. Saying, “I can do it, I’m a strong person, I don’t need anyone!” But the troubles mount, the pain begins to build, we can no longer cope with things alone. We need help, running for one shaded area after another…temporary relief.

Sadly, what we don’t realize is, just like my single flip flop, we are not meant to work alone. I could not make it across the mile long stretch of sand with one shoe, just as we cannot make it through this life without our Lord’s help. He sent His son, Jesus to be an example, to die for our sins and to teach us to turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer and supplication for EVERYTHING!

Don’t hop through life alone, He is waiting for you to ask for His help!

The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit O Lord my God.
Jonah 2:5,6

Prayer Request Tuesday

I wanted to remind everyone that it is prayer request Tuesday. Once a week I am inviting everyone to send in their problems, burdens, concerns and anxiety's. Let others pray for you during your time of need. You can never have enough prayer!

FEELING SHIPWRECKED?

"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
Jeremiah 32:27

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Jeremiah 33:3

LET THE LORD RAISE YOUR SAILS AND GET YOU BACK IN THE RACE FOR THAT WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU!

Teenagers,Graduation and Flab

I said goodbye to Jullien this morning as he heads off to New York meet with his agent at Red Model Mgmt and for several photo shoots and a fitting with Calvin Klein to possibly walk in his show or Prada's (see him on Models.com). He's been driving me crazy lately...when he gets nervous, he doesn't sleep and he gets edgy. We've been going at it all week, TEENAGERS! I was a little worried about letting him go, he missed school all last week because he was sick. So he has tons of work to make up, and now he is missing Friday-Wednesday. Graduation is on June 11th and it's coming down to the wire. He needs to keep his grades up!

Josh is doing a LOT better...he should be getting his license back at the end of this month. I'm SO happy about this because adding one more person to my daily "bus" schedule has been killing me. He also filled out all of his financial aid papers to start Cosmetology school. For those of you who just thought, "Oh he must be gay," he's not, but his cousin makes TONS of money as a hairstylist so he's all about the BIG BUCKS!LOL! He's working downtown at a punk clothing store and is happy to be getting his life back in order, me too! Thanks for ALL YOUR PRAYERS FOR HIM!

Elijah is doing great in school and track. He placed 2nd by 1/10th of a second in the 400M and 3rd in the 200M at the Orange County track meet, that's without practicing. He's a teenager now and that means he's LAZY! But he has been killing everyone in his school track meets. I told him he needs to practice before the So. CA Championships...but he still says, "OK MOM, LATER!"

Natascha & Dillon are working all the time at the church so we don't get to see them as much as we'd like. They came over for Mother's Day and brought me a card and beautiful flowers.

Adam is working hard trying to earn a starting spot on Edison's JV Football team. He is a GREAT wide receiver...soft hands, but he's a little short so he has to overcome the "football stereotype."

As for me, I've got 3 1/2 weeks to get this flabby body in shape. All the family is coming in from out of town for the graduation and they are going to want to go to the beach...YIKES! I've got some major work to do. I'm definitely a last minute person, I've been planning on working out hard for the last two months...but it takes that final hour stress to push me into action.

Now I just need to find a way to squeeze in gym time. Wish me luck...it will take a miracle!

A Big Step on Easter

My husband received a message from the Pastor of our church last week and said, "I wonder what John wants." I thought he was going to ask him something important because he doesn't call us that often. I just told him, "I don't know, just call him back and see."

He goes downstairs to call and a few minutes later opens the door to our room where I'm happily updating my Blog...his eyes are like saucers, "He wants me to share my life story/testimony on Easter. I don't know if I can do that. I'm not the type of person that can talk in front of people."
I told him, "Well, obviously they think you are the perfect person to talk on Easter Sunday. They would never have asked you if they didn't feel that your story would make a huge impact on someone. You have to do it!" He said, "I'll think about it." I knew he would end up saying yes, so I said, "Just pray about it."

Well guess what...he's going to do it. He's really nervous about it and has been working on it for a couple of weeks now. His story is amazing and I'm not just saying that because I'm his wife. If I had actually met him back when he was so wild, I don't know if we would be married right now. I will post his story on my Blog after the service. I don't want to spoil it for some of my friends who will be going to our church and who may read my Blog.

Please say a prayer for him that he will not be nervous and that the Lord will use him to touch someone's life.

A Day of Change

I came home from work just as Josh was getting ready to leave for his interview. I had to leave to go to Elijah's basketball game and waited for his call. For those of you who don't know Josh...he is a man of VERY FEW words. It's like pulling teeth to get detailed information. He said that he thought it went well...that's about all I got. I don't want to be a meddling mother so I left it at that.

Thank you all for your prayers...he needs a job so bad! He is really depressed right now, this will help him to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I got home from the game, Jason (my nephew) had just dropped Josh off here. He has nowhere else to go and doesn't want to stay here at all! He was crying and said that he doesn't want to talk to me. He's still angry with me about something that happened a year ago that disrupted my kids lives. His dad continually filled his head with a bunch of negative things about me.

Needless to say, our relationship has been a surface one. He spends time with me but it's usually a little strained. I tried to tell him that we can use this time to get everything in his life straightened out and then he can eventually get an apartment. He is too upset right now...he wants to live at my sisters with his cousin. Luckily my wise brother-in-law put his foot down, (my nephew and son are not good together and bring each other down) he told him he cannot live there and needs to go home to his mom.

We'll see what happens...lots of prayers are needed right now! Change is always hard, but necessary for growth.

Our Family Needs Your Prayers

As our family struggles with recent news about our dad’s health, I received this e-mail and found it very inspirational as we strive to stay positive.

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalms 117

Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalms 119

Q: Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?

A: Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

Q: What is the center verse in the Bible?

A: Psalms 118:8

Q: Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!

Psalms 118:8“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”

Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?

I would like to ask all my friends to please pray for my dad, Dave Bolda who was diagnosed with Lung cancer. We are all having a very hard time but we will put our trust in the Lord.

Stepping It Up...Can I Do It?

I came up with an idea to help raise some money for our friend who's husband passed away in his sleep. Basketball season is approaching and Mike Burk was a coach for Pacific Coast Hoops League. I thought maybe we could do a pot luck style luncheon/Opening Day. Everyone bring something and then charge $5.00 a plate, with all the proceeds benefitting the Burk family. I mentioned it to my husband and asked him to tell Kandie (the person in charge of the league) and see what she thought.

Well, I guess she liked the idea and wanted to have a meeting about it. When we showed up, she said, "Thank you so much...I don't know how you want to work it but I have the high school cafeteria available in two weeks." She handed me the list of the entire league and asked if I could let everyone know. So, I guess my idea was a hit!LOL!

I'm really trying to step it up and do things to help other people...but I'm used to being the idea girl/helper...not the person in charge. So here I go getting stretched again. It's funny how whenever you pray for God to use you...he REALLY answers your prayers! So I have a week and a half to make flyers, contact an entire league, interview Mike's wife Karen (get more specific info, stories and pictures of Mike) for the newspaper article I need to write and submit to be published in time to let the public know about the event.

I'm in charge....hahaha...this should be interesting!! Wish me luck!!