Performance Martial Arts Center (PMAC) Experience

Last week, I was invited to PMAC in Rancho
Cucamonga by my friend (from HS), Shonna,
who is almost a black belt!

One of her daughters, Madi (8), is Jake's age
and used to be in Martial Arts also.

I was invited to come and speak when she realized that
the owner of PMAC, Daniel Kim, and his wife, attend
the same church as me(Calvary Chapel Chino Hills).

Shonna told me Daniel loves the Olympics and had always
dreamed about being in the Olympics. She said now he
has this facility so that he can help others to reach
their goals and dreams of being Olympians one day!

She also talked all about his character and what a godly
man Daniel is. I love that when you truly love God, you
CANNOT separate your faith from what you do. It defines
YOU!

So the funny part of all this is that when I went to speak,
there was a 25 minute workout prior and they wanted me to
join! So I did. . .

and I realized how out of shape I am for plyometric type
workouts! I play soccer on Friday nights and I do some
sprints, but every time I do quick paced workouts (like
last year when I started P90X), I get sick the 1st time!

I had to walk outside because I was about to get sick.
I needed fresh air!

About 5 minutes later they were ready for me to talk to
the entire group. I went in and started sharing about
my Olympic experiences and what it took to become an
Olympic Champion. As I was talking, I started getting
light headed and feeling like I was going to get sick
again. I didn't know what to do.


Finally, I told them, I'm not feeling so well, I'm going
to pass around the medals and sit down for a minute!
They got me some water and I finished the talk sitting
down on the mat (a much safer place to be at that time!).

By the end of my talk and after taking some questions,
I felt much better and the color returned to my face
just in time for pictures! That was one speaking
engagement I'll never forget! Reminds me of the 1st
workout after having Jake when I threw up afterward!!!
Not a good feeling, but a reminder that endurance comes
from hard work!

Happy Heart

God, thank you for my husband! I am so thankful for
how he takes care of our family. I thank You that he
is a hard worker and wants to provide for us. I thank
you for the time you have given to us. We have both
learned a lot the past 11 years of our marriage and
we still have a lot to learn! I am so very thankful
for Tommy. I am most thankful for the faith we share
through Jesus Christ!

And thank you for the boys you have given to us! I need
your help to raise them God. I desire for them to grow
up knowing You and following You. I will have done my job
if they call you their Lord and Savior and walk closely
with you all the days of their lives!

Happy Easter

Dear God,
I know Easter is not about the Easter
Bunny, or the candy, but it IS about

Your Son, Jesus Christ, Rising from the
Dead and offering ETERNAL life to ALL
who would call Him Lord and Savior.

But, I do want to Thank You for the Candy
too!

Homeschooling Co-op Easter Party

We had a day at the park with our Co-op
Homeschooling Group. We made rockets (science) and
also salvation bracelets. We also did the
Resurrection Eggs with the kids. I've been
wanting to get these for a couple years now
and after Zsanae brought hers and taught them
to the kids, I went out and bought them. You
can tell the kids the Easter story through a
different symbol and Bible verse for 12 eggs.
You can make them yourself or buy a set at the
Christian bookstore like I did.
Then we had an Easter egg hunt. Here are a few
pictures from our day:


And they are off. . .

As I was reading Mark 8 in the Bible to Jake
this week, it hit me that these were good verses
for this week as we prepare to celebrate Good
Friday (the day Jesus was crucified) and Easter
(the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead).

These are the words Jesus spoke to his disciples
and the crowd:
vs. 34-38: "If anyone would come after me,he must
deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel
will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the
whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a
man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is
ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and
sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed
of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the
holy angels."

Jesus had just finished talking to his disciples
about how he would suffer and be killed and be
raised again (what we are celebrating this weekend)
and Peter pulled him aside and "began to rebuke"
Jesus the Bible says. Really- can you imagine
rebuking Jesus? And then Jesus says, "Get behind
me Satan!. You do not have in mind the things of
God but the things of men."

Those are powerful words!!! And so are the words
about losing your life and saving your soul. God
wants us to realize that we need to give Him our
lives by surrendering to Him. If we don't do that,
the Bible says we will pay for our own sins and
will have eternal condemnation. People try to
sugar coat the gospel at times, and although LOVE
is at the very heart of the message Jesus brought,
there is also the reality of the harsh consequences
of those who do not trust in Him as Lord. Jesus
himself said that if we are ashamed of Him and his
words, then He will be ashamed of us at His coming. If
that's not a reminder to be bold about God's Word
and Truth, I don't know what is! Who cares if you
gain the whole world but lose your soul? People
may not care now, but for eternity they will regret
their decision. Jesus wants us all to come to Him.
He loves us, He died for every one of us and He gives
us the right to be called His friends! Share the good
news this Easter: Jesus is RISEN!

Flying Newspaper

How do you keep a 2-yr-old busy at his brother's
Opening Ceremony for baseball when you are there
for 3 hours and there are MAJOR winds whipping
around?

Give him some newspaper and tell him that it
FLIES!

He can even learn the throwing motion that
will help him in baseball one day.



It will be sure to bring a smile to his face!

He was so entertained- laughing and running after
the paper and starting all over again!

Must Go: If you are REALLY Hungry!

I had heard about Gausti Homestyle Cafe in
Chino from some friends. On the sign it
says, "Home of the GIANT Pancake" and they
are right, it is GIANT! But so was the omelette
I ordered! If you are hungry, head on over!


Drew and Luke shared this and I had a few bites.
We took the other 3/4 of it home for left-overs!

Please forgive ALL my ACCIDENTS!

It never fails that whenever I have the entire
house cleaned (floors and all), somebody spills
something all over the floor. This past week was
no different. My mom joked saying she was going to
ask who had spilled right after it was cleaned, but
what wasn't a joke was Drew's cup of hot chocolate
ALL OVER the floor!

Pictures are theraphy. . .

and give me a minute before I have to clean it all up!

Oh, and this is just the toy of the day all over
the floor. Connect 4 on the FLOOR. We can't play
with our toys, we have to THROW them all over the
place!

Still trying to figure out what God is trying to teach
me through this???
That boys are VERY MESSY. . .
or that kids like to make messes but don't like
to clean them up. . .

OR maybe it's that I make messes too and He's
my LOVING Father ready to clean up my mess, and
tell me He loves me and forgives me and reminds
me that accidents are going to happen and we can
learn from our mistakes!
Thank you God!

Feeling Tired???

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord
is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends
of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and
His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the
power of the weak.
Even youths grow TIRED and weary, and young men
stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they
will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

Exciting things ahead

I'm getting excited for what lies ahead! Every
year is different. We are always busy with all
that is going on with the kids (homeschooling,
baseball, art, guitar, play dates, etc.) and
church, but each year for me is like a new
adventure to see what doors of opportunity are
going to open up.
I have run softball clinics all over and the
past few years have brought many new adventures
with motivational speaking and also sharing
about my faith.
Well, a couple things that are new on the list
and coming up soon are:
*Throwing out the 1st Pitch at the Angels' Game
(April 9)
*Speaking at Shoreline Women's Spring Retreat
with the girls from God's Call (www.godscallministries.com).
The theme is "Growing Deeper" and we are excited
to share all about how to have that "deep" relationship
with God and what that looks like! (April 30, May 1)
*A Jr. High/High School Christian Event that I am putting
together with a group of HS/College girls where
we will talk about all the things that are so
important to teenage girls (relationships, purity,
identity, how to deal with falling into temptations,
etc.) We are shooting for May, so I will definitely
be posting about how it all falls into place, but I
am very excited about this!
*An opportunity to share/speak about Sports & Faith
at my home church
*More Sports Commentating (the past two years I have
worked with ESPN on College Softball Super Regionals
and really enjoyed the opportunity. I was shocked
because the first time I did it was back in 2000 &
was convinced that I was horrible and would NEVER do
TV Games again. That all changed with ESPN- they are
the best and made my experience so enjoyable! Well,
this summer (June 12, and August) I will will be
commentating for the softball Pro League (NPF) and
the BEST of the BEST will be featured in these games.
Many of my teammates and many young and talented athletes
will be on these teams. I am so excited to not only
watch them in action, but also to be able to share my
thoughts about them across the country on TV!)
*Speaking at an NSA Softball World Series for youth
softball players in South Carolina. I have spoken
twice at this Worship Service just prior to the
Opening Ceremonies and they are expecting around 9,000
in attendance. I have had a great time in the past
and am looking forward to returning!

For my praying friends, I appreciate your prayers!
I just hope that God will give me the wisdom and words
to speak at each and every one of these events. He
opens the door and equips us wherever He takes us!
I am so thankful for that. . .and very excited for
what lies ahead!