Christmas in Utah

I was informed that my work will be closing down for the holidays (Dec. 24th - Jan. 4th). I decided that we would all go up and spend Christmas in Utah. It's been 14 years since I've spent Christmas with my family. I told my mom and dad and they're both very excited. As my dad battles his illness, we will all be together for love, support and the joy of spending time together as a family.

This will be the best Christmas ever...I'm already starting the countdown, I haven't had a vacation in 3 years because as an independent contractor, I don't get paid when I'm off. We received a recent gift from an AMAZING family that will make this trip financially possible. I will tell you all about it in a future post. It brings me to tears every time I talk about the love and kindness that people have shown our family!

Please continue to pray for my dad, Dave, for a miracle healing. Thank you all so much for your care and concern.

"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Matthew 21:22

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.

STOP AND ASK

As I left my step sons football banquet at about 6:30 p.m. (it was over earlier than usual), I started to go my usual route home but then the light turned green so I took a different way. It was already very dark outside...I hate the time change. I pulled up to a light and was waiting for it to change, when all of a sudden I see an elderly woman walking across the street. She had a walker that had a seat on it, which currently carried her purse and a bag of groceries. She was very hunched over and slowly making her way across the street. The light turned green but people had to wait for her to finish crossing. I looked around to see if anyone was with her and just lagging a little bit behind...nope, she was all alone. I consider my town pretty safe, however I don't even walk alone at night. I drove through the light and then decided to turn around and see if she needed a ride. I thought she would probably be a little scared and not accept...but I decided to stop and ask.

I pulled up along side of her, rolled down my window, "Do you need a ride somewhere?" She pushed her walker closer to the curb, leaned forward, trying to get a better look at who was offering and if she thought it would be safe. "Oh, God bless you, I had to walk all the way to Walmart and now I'm still only halfway home." I said, "Well, I'm more than happy to give you a ride." I got out and started to load her things into my car. She told me where she lived and I was shocked that she had walked that far (about 2 miles each way)!

Then she proceeded to tell me that she was 93 years old! My 13 and 14 year old kids wouldn't even walk that far! She said that her husband had died three years ago and he drove her everywhere. Now she rely's on her nephew who lives with her for free. He unfortunately had to go by some parts to spruce up his car and told her he couldn't take her (nice, huh).

She was so sweet and spry...she even knew how to get in the back way to her house when I missed the turn. We pulled up to her house and she said, "Oh look, he was nice enough to leave the porch light on for me." I wanted to get out of the car and go smack her nephew in the face! But since I've gotten so much better at holding my temper, I helped her out, set up her walker, put her things in, and gave her a hug. I also handed her my business card and told her what time I got off work and to please call me if she ever needed a ride because I'm always out and about running errands. She thanked me again and told me how much the Lord has blessed her. I told her, he definitely loves you! She smiled and said, "I know"! With that she slowly headed up the driveway.

I wanted to share this story with you, not to have you think..."Oh look how nice Lisa is!" I hope to try to inspire EVERYONE to NOTICE the needs of others around you and STOP AND ASK if you can help them. Let me know who you find to help today...I would love to hear other peoples inspiring stories, no matter how small or insignificant...PLEASE SHARE!!

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Matthew 22:39

It's Done

Well our season is done, they chose Bishop Amat for the final spot. I'm pretty upset and can't believe that it's over just like that. Jullien isn't really talking about it too much right now. I'm hoping he will continue to play in Jr. College. The Santa Ana coach contacted him and really wants him to come play for his school next year. He went and met with the coach and received passes to go down on the sidelines to watch one of their games. He will be going to Santa Ana College to become a fireman. I told him that as long as he is there, he may as well play football too. We'll see what happens...I just don't want to stop watching him play. He is such a gifted and talented player.

WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO!

Tonight's game was a DISASTER! If we beat Esperanza, we would be sole Sunset League Champions. If we lost...it would be a 5 way tie for first place and would come down to pulling out of a hat to see who goes to playoffs. WE LOST!!! We all hurried back to Edison, and waited, held our breathe and hoped for good luck. Only 3 teams would receive a playoff spot...two would be automatically out depending on what number they pulled out of the hat. Edison pulled spot #4...this leaves us with a slim chance that the CIF officials will pick our league to receive the "At Large Berth" tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.

It was terrible...Jullien and the seniors were DEVASTATED! He didn't get to play in his last high school game, on his birthday and this might be the end of his season. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that the CIF officials will choose our school to be the final playoff spot!! I haven't seen him this upset in years. He has worked so hard to earn a starting position and make it to the playoffs, to have it all come down to LUCK is hard to swallow.

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY JULLIEN

Today my little Juju is 17 years old! The years have flown by and he is almost an adult. I took the day off of work and Jullien, me and Anthony all went downtown and ate at the Sugar Shack, took pictures and he got to open his BIG present so he can wear it down on the sidelines tonight as he sits out this final league game. Good news, his headaches have disappeared so he should be able to play in playoffs next week. I'm off to my stepsons football game and then the varsity game, so I will be back later to tell you about the rest of the day.

Another Trip To the Dr.'s

Jullien's still getting headaches after his concussion. The CT scan came back clear that we had done at the emergency room, which is a good thing...but I was concerned that the headaches aren't going away at all. So, I decided to take him into the doctor's today for a re-check. She said it's normal and it'll just take time. However if the headaches don't go away by next Monday, she wants us back in again for more tests.

He has his final league game and 17th birthday on Friday...he wont be able to play obviously, and is pretty upset. The next game will be CIF, but the doctor said he can't play until 7 days following a complete PAIN FREE day. I think he's hoping that everything will clear up by Friday so he can at least play in next weeks game.

I feel so bad for him...this is his senior year and he has to miss the last league game, poor guy!!

Edison vs. Fountain Valley-What a Game!

Edison had their big cross town rival, Bell Game last night. This is always a HUGE event...with this years game having a Sunset League Championship on the line. With a sold out crowd of 9,000 people, the boys stepped onto the field, into a college/pro game atmosphere. The noise was electrifying, the stands were filled, people shoulder to shoulder, kids sitting on each others laps trying to squeeze in. Edison started the game very flat, the defense spent the entire first half on the field. Fountain Valley's blitz was killing our quarterback (we're primarily a passing team). Sack after sack, we would hold our breathe, hoping Matt Viles would get back up. The defense, tired but determined to stop Fountain Valley's Kyle Middlebrooks (averages 8 yards a carry) played with all heart. Jullien came up with a big play...reading the hand off to Middlebrooks, he tackled him for a loss of 2 yrds (see 7:27 of Varsity Times Blog). It's 0-0 heading into the half, Fountain Valley held us to only 18 yards in the first half.

Our offense looked defeated...we waited through half-time hoping that our NORMAL Edison team would return to the field. Without an offense, our only hope was to hold them and score on defense. The defense stepped up continuously throughout the 3rd quarter and held them again.

In the fourth quarter, we fumbled and the crowd sat down, quietly awaiting the inevitable. Fountain Valley took this opportunity along with help from several Edison penalties to move the ball down the field and punch it into the end zone. The game had taken a turn for the worse...now we would see what this team was made of. With Luke Gane attending his first game since his bone marrow transplant, the team had a determination far and above the Bell and Sunset League Championship Title...they were playing for a fallen teammate. A brother who has been going through the battle of his life.

The FV touchdown seemed to breathe a new life into Edison's offense. Edison used a trick play, straight out of the Boise State play book. Viles pitched the ball to Davion Orphey who faked a sweep...Orphey then tossed it back to Viles, he threw it 38 yards to Will Andrew. The offense was finally ALIVE. With 5:38 left to play, we scored on a short pass to Jordan Zumwalt. The crowd went crazy, the noise was deafening, the team was fighting back. We had momentum and didn't waste it.

The defense stepped onto the field, flapping their arms, signaling the crowd to make more noise. This strategy would drown out the quarterbacks count and cause an offside penalty, it worked! Holding them once again, they proudly stepped off the field, now confident that they could rely on the offense. They were not let down...with 1:36 left in the game, Mikey Rivera caught a touchdown pass, 14-7 Edison.

The kickoff would then be returned 88 yards for a touchdown by Middlebrooks. A flag in the backfield signaled a Fountain Valley penalty, the touchdown would not count. The defense came out determined to finish the task. With seconds left, Jullien went helmet to helmet and stayed down hurt, he stumbled to get up, 2 seconds left and FV on our 20 yard line. As Jullien made it to the side lines, he passed out, as the trainer tried to carry my 6'4 son. Final play, a deep, desperate pass thrown into the end zone, sailed past the intended receiver, we won! The team grabbed the Bell and hoisted Luke onto their shoulders...carry both to the center of the field with pride.

Jullien was on the sidelines repeating himself, trying to stand up to return to the game, unaware that it was already over. He had received a concussion. He walked over to shake hands in a daze, went and took pictures with the Bell and Luke Gane. The trainer followed him around, foggy he asked over and over again, "Did I shake hands and take pictures with the Bell?"

Our night ended with an incredible high and a trip to the emergency room...WHAT A GAME!!

Check out the Varsity Blog Insider live report of the game. View game on IBNSPORTS.com (click on demand, then Edison HS @ Fountain Valley) (Edison is in white-Jullien's #9)...WHAT A GAME!