just like the old days

What a weekend! My week was good too, but the weekend was off the chain!! First off, I spoke at the Donor Services Monument to all the families that had someone that donated either their loved ones or their tissue, eyes, bones or organs to someone like me. It was a pretty emotional ceremony, but I sucked up the tears and shared my story and my gratitude towards my donors families.  What an amazing gift to give someone, really though what else out there, can you give someone that can save and change someones life. No words to express how blessed and over my head, thankful I am for my ticker. It was so great to see everyone that came to support not only me but everyone that participated and those that had given the Gift of Life to someone. In the Intermountain area there were over 500 donors this year and think how many people were saved? I was saved!! Whoot Whoot!

On the same day that I spoke which was Saturday I went to go kick the ball around with Real Salt Lake Women's team. The season is over, but they were playing a local game. So I show up and end up playing. Don't worry, I already asked my doctors if I could go kick the ball around and they said yes but to wait and play. But they didn't have enough player to play or they would have to forfeit. No way, Jose I was not going to let that happen, so I put on my shin guards and stepped onto the field. I wasn't thinking about how happy I was to be back out on the field. I was more worried about how I was going to get my body up and down this huge butt field. In the end, I was able to get my body up and down the field, but not in a way that I wanted it to. Dang, it sure does takes it out of you when you have the ball at your feet and there is a player on you and oh ya, you then have to pick up your head and find your teammate to connect without losing the ball. Also too, making runs up the field... self explanatory. Played the entire game grated we only played 35 minute halves, but I will take it any day anytime and the whole time I had a smile from ear to ear even when I was huffing and puffing. Good thing my #1 fan was there, my mama cheering me on and making sure I didn't kill over by giving me water and Gatorade. This moment, who would have thought would ever happen to me. I'm kinda upset that when I was first diagnosed with my heart problem and I moved back home I totally gave up soccer. I gave all my soccer shirts to my cousins, put all my cleats in a closet that no one ever goes in and didn't watch soccer. I didn't think I was ever going to be able to get back out there and the feelings that I felt after the game was incredible, unbelievable, ridiculous, and unimaginable. I was riding on cloud 9 for the rest of the evening. Oh and yes we won even though we were down 0-2 at half. We pulled it together and ended 4-2.

Lindsay my good ol' soccer buddy back in the day and I after the game.

Today Idaho State University played Westminister at 2:30. I even got to sit on the bench with Coach and the team. Coaching is no joke FYI being a player is a whole lot easier. Any who, we lead 1-0 at half time, but they came back and tied it up in the second half. Regulation time ended and over time was about to start. The whole time I was standing there observing the players and listening to Coach communicate with her assistants. I had this feeling or urge to go and talk to the team before over time started. So I took a deep breath and walked over to the team and this is what I told them, "Hey guys I know you are all tired, but this could be your last game, you never know. Because I never thought that it would be my last so go out there and play like it is your last." Then we WON!!! Love it when that happens. I was thinking about what I told the team and how that can be effective in all of our lives. No matter what it is that we are doing, do it with everything that we got literally because who knows it might be our last time.

Coach Gibson and I after the big W

I am eternally grateful for these moments that happened to me over the weekend and can't wait for more of these moment to come into my life and family. Thank you for all that you have done for me. I can truly feel your prayers, love and support even if it is a thought. Thank you, you are the BEST!!