Thanksgiving day with bogi: Epic Fail!

I had a great time with my family on Thanksgiving and the day before thanksgiving. One thing did kinda put a damper on the morning and that was the fact that mom and I were going to meet aunt patty at the ice forum to see the thrashers practice but little did we know the jerks in the front office failed to give fans much notice of the change of time! A practice that was going to start at noon started at 11am and what time did they announce it? 10:30 am that morning, I know right? Gaw I was SO mad! The one good thing is I got to see some of my boys as they left in their very awesome cars and got to see Kaner's daddy for the 1st time. A lot of them drove escalades (Including big buff and Kaner) all I could think is did they get a team discount? But then good Ole Boulton rolled up in a truck with a leopard print car seat in the back seat! Oh it was so funny! So the next day I slept and did a little shopping and worked out. The real fun came Saturday when I had a girl's day out with mom. We started off at thrashers practice which we actually got to see this time. Practice was normal except me and mom stood just on the other side of bogie for some of it. Then we stood out side to see the boys (and their cars). I saw something that out did the caddies and that was my boy Ondrej pulling up in a wicked 2011 Porsche wearing an Atlanta braves hat, oh it was love! I looked back at mama and said "Mom look! Look at Pav's car!!!!" She looks and just kinda nods saying "well he can afford it!" She doesn't want to be a goalies mom why? Ondrej is pulling out in a Porsche! Seriously you stand in goal and face 40-50 shots a night and roll of in a ride like that? DUDE! I went up to say hey and I was so surprised I didn't blurt out something stupid seeing as how I was smitten with the boy and his car. I said "Hey Ondrej!" He looks up quick and smiles saying "Hey how are you?" I smiled and said "Good you?" He kept signing like it was no big deal that a dozen people were around this beautiful car and of course he said "Fine thank you" he looks at me like he knew I was going to say something more, he was right. "Ondrej?" ~~~~"Yeah?"~~~~"After what happened opening night I've been praying for you" He smiles "oh thank you! keep it up!" Smiled and said "see you later" and giggled as I headed to mom so surprised he didn't call me out on being a girl about it! So the fun continued as I got annoyed with waiting for Burmi and went to my gym as mom went shopping. Then we went to get some stuff for me to take back to job Corps and get pics developed and headed to the glads game.As soon as I walked in to the game I saw mama Linda and went running over to her. When she saw me she freaked out and hugged me and I could tell she wanted me home and NOW! We got a picture together later that night. I got to the seats and I headed down to the glass for warm ups. I needed to see Michael and I needed for Michael to see me. When he did see me he looked so happy, he had a HUGE smile on his face. I placed my hand to the glass and he put his hand to the glass in front of  the glass in front of my hand. I laughed, of course leave it to us to have a dork moment. I got back to my seat and I couldn't stop smiling. My mom knew something was up and so she asked, "Did he see you?" ~~~ "yeah of course totally dorked it out though." The game was good we won! I was happy and the one boy coach said was hard nose scored a couple of goals and I was impressed. After the game I went to see Andy Brandt and Tim Miller and got my picture taken with Miller he's so awesome missed that kid! He's one of my favorite and I got to see him a lot last season. Sadly seeing him, Michael, mama linda and my family made me wanna stay!

The problem with last games and practices

The problem? After that that's it- no more weither or not you're in playoffs. Last games are hard on coaches, players, staff and fans. I went to the last game for the Gladiators on April 3rd. It was kinda sad because this was the 1st time in the 7 year history of the team that there would be no playoffs. It was time for goodbye. I went with my friend Kelsey-who is awesome by the way- and on the way we kept talking about how sad it was that this was the end. What made it easier was I knew coach wouldn't get rid of everyone, he might but it was unlikely. The boys were playing the stringrays for at least the 2nd time that weekend. It didn't feel like the last game, it just felt like a game. I was happy to see Krystal since wasn't at the last game I went to so I went over to say hey-I absulutley love her, she's awesome. I told her since I had gotten to be friends with forney and a couple of the other guys that I may cry and she told me that if I cry she's cry too. I was good during the game- I didn't cry. It was an aweful game though, my boys didn't try. They had somewhere around 10 shots on goal where as the stringrays has about 40. David Brown, the goalie, was a rockstar letting only 3 in. There was some shoving matches but nothing too major. Chad Denny tried to insert hinself into the begining stages of a fight and ended up being the only one drawing a penalty for it. Now I love Chad and I love his rough style but why would you butt in on the begining of a fight? Sadly it ended being 3-0. That's right my boys got shut out in THEIR house, on THEIR last night. Over the season someone told me because I had prayed over them that the boys were now my brothers. So "my brothers" came and saluted the fans and the booster club president. It was then that I realized I had seen them for the last time. We stayed for the end of the season slide show thing and some of the jersey of their backs auction but it was time to go eat @ the after party!! We had gotten there, found a place to sit and ordered when Phil and 3 other boys came in, it was only going to be 4 there that night, it was then that I decided to go deal with a little problem me and Phil had. So I went to say hey to the boys. I went over to Phil and patiently waited for him to get done talking but he looked at me and smiled, "hey what's up?" I smiled and said "Hey! I justed wanted to talk but it can wait til you are done." SO he finished up and we walked over to his table, "So what's up?" So I told him what I had to say and he just smiled and said that it was ok I didn't have to apologize it was ok! He smiled again and can I just say that I love his smile, I don't get to see it much but I love it- it's sweet and simple. So I went back to Kelsey and ate. I felt sooooooo bad because I kept leaving her. I loved it (besides feeling guilty for leaving Kelsey) because I got to talk to Kelsey and my boys, I also met Liz (sulli's wife) and just had fun. At some point I looked a Phil then said something about him to Kelsey and she laughed and said "Did you just say something about his butt?" I laughed and leaned over saying "Well since you're accusing me of looking I am now!!!!" I know I know I'm running a ministry but I'm human. I'm not proud of it but I checked him out. It was pretty funny and I know Phil won't be offended. At the end of the night I went to say good bye to the 4 boys and Liz. I went to Pat 1st and he hugged me. I about cried when he told me he MAY see me next season then I had the same situation with Jason. What is it with my boys wanting me to cry?? Then I went to Phil and he was the only one not to hug me or even really say goodbye. It was then Sulli's turn and he hugged me and told me that he'd see me at camp over the summer if I came to help out. So after I talked to Liz for a while we left. I got home at 1 and Kelsey and I sat and talked for a little bit. Finally at 2:30- 3:00 I was getting ready for bed and at 4 I was falling a sleep. Getting up for church was hateful. The wednesday after the game I went to see bogi practice for the las time. So practice went on as normal nothing too exciting. Bogi came off the ice and I told him I'd see him in september. Then Evander Kane and Ondrej Pavelec came out from putting their gear up to sign some autographs. I told Ondrej I wanted to be a goalie because of him and he seemed shocked (and kinda delighted) that I wanted to be a goalie but humbled that it was because of him that I made this desicision. He's a really amazing goalie. When Evander and Ondrej tried to get back in to the locker room they were locked out. I walked behind them to go to my car and I didn't feel like I had just said goodbye to them. The next day they had their last practice and I didn't go I had just got done with 1 house sitting job and was on my way to another. While unpacking my stuff from the 1st job I was unpacking the stuff that I wore to say goodbye and the stuff I had signed. It was kinda sad because it was like it was really real that all the in person stuff was over. I watched the last 2 thrasher games on TV. The 1st one they lost with Pavs in goal and the last one was a shut out (and a win) with Moose in goal. I guess I picked the wrong goalie to look up to. So it's all over and all I have to do is wait until I know who may be coming in for next season and write blogs.

Hockey Monday,Saturday, Friday, sunday and friday

Monday March 8 I planned on putting in applications then go to the gym and then to the game. Grandma had a bad feeling for me to go to the game by myself so I wasn't going to go until I found someone who was available last minute. Then mom called me telling me that she had some tickets from work. I had to call Grandma to say that I was going w/ mom and someone she knew from work. She was happy that I was going with someone. When we got to the game we walked around for a while which turned out to be a good thing because I saw mama Linda. Mama Linda is the team mom for the Gladiators and she is awesome. I guess I'm one of her adopted kids. When we got up to the suite warm ups were almost over so I went to the end of the suite to watch. As I stood there I felt important, like I was the owner or at least the owner's kid. The boys looked good, strong and confident. When the game started coach met their confidence. I get so worried for coach during games and I don't know why! It's like I'm his daughter or something. It started out good with the my boys scoring a goal. In the 1st and 2nd periods Michael Forney got a penalty one for hooking the other for interference. Also not to be out done or forgotten Tim Miller got a penalty in the 1st and 2nd, one for roughing and the other for fighting. It's no suprise that he got those penalities, he's a bad boy but I love it! Then the Cycolones answered back with a goal. Then in then in the second both teams scored twice. Not to be defeated Mr. fancy pants, Tom Zanoski, scored a goal. My boys won 4-3! That saturday I went with Grandma and Aunt Patty to see the Gladiators practice. Practice was almost over when we got there but we still got to see my boys. After practice I got some of the boys to sign a hat for a girl at church. After a few signed I found my way to Michael Forney. When I found him he had his mouth gaurd hanging out, typical Michael. When he saw me the mouth gaurd went in and he said "Hey Christina!!" Grandma and Aunt Patty turned to see who said hey to me as I answered him. We talked for a while then I called Grandma over to meet Michael. He was so cute when I called her over he was like "Yeah grandma come say hey to me." I smiled at him as he wiped off his hand to shake hers. Grandma kept asking him all these questions about their road trip and the bus. After each question he'd ask me a question or try to say something to me. It made me feel special that he cared enough about me and my work out to want to know more. After I talked to Michael I went to get Phil to sign the hat for the girl at church. The following friday I went to check out bogi and Chris "Cheli" Chelios. Bogi looked up to Cheli when he was younger. Cheli was so sweet with bogi, playing around with him and laughing. I gave Bogi an early birthday card at the end of practice. Sunday I went to church then to the game. It was awesome but it almost wasn't. They played the Devils for the second time that weekend and both teams scored in the 1st then the devils pulled ahead in the 2nd. I was so hopeful that my boys would win and sure enough in the 3rd my boys tied and pulled ahead of the devils! It was 4-2!! Dan "Sulli" Sullivan about jumped in his team mate's arms after the last 2 goals. We won!! YES!!! So the devils went down IN Georgia and started a fight on the ice after the game ended......sore losers!! The following friday I went again to see bogi and Cheli, this time Grandma went with me. My boys were playful that day. Slava Kozlov knocked Arty's stick out of his hand and skated away laughing only Arty wasn't laughing. Then Max hugged (yes hugged) one of his teammates while laughing. What the crap is happening with my boys? Then Bogi was chilling by the bench box with coach Rob when the rest of the boys came rushing by. Coach told Bogi to jump into the bench box he did but he messed up the landing and I was left looking at his stick and the top of his helmet. Grandma asks "he's ok right?" I started laugh harder then composed myslef long enough to say "yeah his egos just bruised." Yes Ladies and gentleman my beautiful baby boy fell in front of his hero and his fans. Then after I composed myself coach had them run another play but he stopped them to yell and curse at them. Then they seperated the defense men from everyone else. I asked Grandma if she wanted to go with me to the far end of the rink where bogi was and she said no, she recognized Max from the Olypmics so she stayed with him. I went to be with bogi . Toby enstrom and Johnny Oduya were there too. I love Toby he's so precious and sweet, quite but sweet. Toby looked me up and down while I was watching Bogi but I caught him and gave him the confused puppy look. He continued to look at me and then skated away. I watched them work on drills for d-men. I mainly watched bogi- he did good but he went to hit someone (full body) but spun last minute to avoid contact. After a few drils the boys came off leisurely and grandma got to see them close up.

Prayer and Closure

What a difference a week makes, I guess you could also call this blog a tale of 2 Thursdays. The thursday before last (the 18th of Feburuary) I got to pray over the Gladiators. This was no spur of the moment thing either, I had been emailing coach Pyle about praying over the boys for a while then on Monday or tuesday the week I went to pray I got the email from coach saying that I could come thursday to pray over them after practice. I was so very excited. So on Thursday I got up, got ready and left about an hour before practice started. When I got there I saw my friend Amy so I stopped to talk to her, all of a sudden I hear "Christine!!!" UH-OH I'm in trouble! "Yes Coach??" I walked over to coach and my hands were shaking. I wasn't in trouble he said he didn't know I was going to be there so early and he asked if I would like to pray over them before pracatice and I said yes. I also told him that I had scriptures for them. He seemed kinda relieved that I was there early. So I walked behind him until Scott "Miffer" Mifsud caught my attention. I talked to him for a little bit and told him about his prayer partner. He's so awesome and precious!! Then after that I said hey to some of the other boys and headed into the rink. Coach had the boys skate around for a while then opened the gate and I got really nervous. He yells "boys, bring it in!! Bring it in!!" He looks at me and tells me to stand on the board the gate rested on. So I got into place as the boys settled into their semi circle in front of me. I smiled as I saw Michael Forney move his eyebrows at me. "Crazy boy- loving women's attention a little too much" I thought. Then I looked over and smiled when I saw Phil Youngclaus standing to my left looking at me as he just realized he reconginized me. As I looked over the boys I realized something, I had no reason to be nervous because these were my boys!! I've loved this team (maybe not these excate boys but the team) for 2 years as of January and I've known at least some of these boys for a year and a half now. I looked over and there's Chad Denny, my sweet Miq Mak I love the heck out of that boys!! He smiled at me, so sweet. Coach spoke to the boys introducing me to them saying that I was there to get God on their side for the rest of the season. So I shared a few scriptures with them about strength then I asked for prayer request--none-- and so I prayed for everything (strength, safety, wins, wisdom, and anything else I could think of). I peeked around and for the most part all of them had their eyes closed and their heads bowed. When I got done coach leans over and says "how about 'Lord help them to listen to coach'?" I smiled and said "Well Actually there is scripture that says to respect your authority" He kinda laughs and says "very good, thanks" and fist bumps me as I got of the wood. I also heard the boys yell thank you, even though it wasn't in a vey excited tone. I stayed for practice and to talk to the boys afterward if they wanted to or needed to talk. I eneded up staying until Danny, Dan and Drew left (they were the last to leave). I did talk to all of the boys and Danny was very chatty and silly. I did end up getting a smile out of Phil, I love seeing that boys smile!! While I was there all the boys were fist bumping me thanking me and I felt like I was suppose to be there! So the next day I went back bright and early to see my boys and of course I was early so I watched some of the figure skaters until my boys showed up. I said hey to Chad Denny- sweetheart but not really talkative.Then Danny Taylor walks in, now the fun begins. Danny is pretty cool so we talked for a while when he said something simple and sweet, but awkward, "pray for Jamie's head." It took all I had not to laugh "ok I will and I'll tell his prayer partner." Poor baby got a concussion. I stayed for the whole practice and until Danny left. I love those guys but sadly they lost their 2 games after the prayer. Coach didn't blame the prayer, he said it actually helped. After that I have emailed him about praying over the boys again and it might actually happen. After Friday I thought I'd have a nice break from hockey until I decided to deal with Bogi or go to a Gladiators game. I was so wrong!! I woke up saturday and went to my gym and as I was on the tredmill I saw Chris "Thor" Thorburn of the Thrashers. I finished my stuff and I saw he was on the bike and that there was an open 1 by him so I went over to talk to him, he's pretty cool. After we talked he asked me if I was coming back to cheer for them and I told him I would come back to practice as soon as the break was over. The following thursday (1 week after the prayer) I kept my promise and went to the forum to deal with Bogi. Practice was half over when I got there but I saw Bogi so I was ok. While I was watching him I saw something I missed, his little smile and I heard him laugh. As soon as practice was over and the boys started to come off the ice my heart started to pound. Bogi came off and instantly was being asked for autographs so I crossed the aisle and got close to the dressing room doors. "Zach?" He smiles and says hey. I told him what I had to say and that I would be there when he wanted me there. He smiled and said something sooooo mature but in his own 19 year old way "You're fine you're good you don't have to apologize don't worry about I'll see ya later!" Oh I am so proud!! He is such a good boy!!