September 14, 2009
What a weekend! God showed me how real and faithful He is once again!
I have been praying since April to be able to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame introducing Michael Jordan. I have been in contact with the Hall of Fame since then about a possibility of performing at any of the Enshrinement events. Just a week ago I found out that they definitely did not a "fit" for me and my presentation. However, I just had this feeling that I REALLY wanted to go. I kept praying and God had me check out the schedule of the Enshrinement events online. I found out that one event on Friday, September 11 was free, open to public and was similar to Hoop City at the College basketball Final Four. I decided to suggest that would be a great fit, and asked for a recommendation from Amber who run the Final Four in Detroit last April. She did, but I still got no response from the Hall of Fame. I kept praying, and God told me to just go to the free event anyway. I was not sure it was really the thing to do, but told Matt I made my mind and asked him to watch the girls. He said "OK", but he also "it will probably be waste of your time". I said I will go and see...It was only a four hour drive.
Went to the Pep Rally (the free event) - started spinning my basketball, and had all kinds of kids and adults around me non-stop. I had them also spin, with my help, of course. They liked it a lot.
After that starts the great part... Went to the actual introduction of the inductees part at the pep Rally, sat next to a nice lady, started talking about how I felt God wanted me to come even though I did not have a ticket for the main event. The lady (Rita) listened to me, had tears in her eyes and said, "Yes, Lord did want you to come", and gave me a ticket to the Enshrinement and the afterparty. I was thanking God - I was really overwhelmed. I could not believe it just happened! Rita said she was from Phoenix, AZ and had her daughter and two kids fly in from NC. However, one of the kids was terrified of flying and did not come. So, she had an extra ticket. What is the chance of me sitting next to Rita, talking to her, and her having an extra ticket and actually giving it to me!!! Not only that, Rita invited me to meet them at the hotel and go to the event together. In the hotel lobby I met couple gentleman who offered me tickets for the next day's event -Saturday at Mohegan Sun Casino. I said no, because I thought I would meet Michael Jordan on Friday... Did I mention Rita gave me tickets to after-party as well? Met some other nice people in the lobby, and then Rita came and we went to the event in a LIMO! How cool is that?! I have never even been in a limo before.
Had great time listening to all the inductees at the ceremony - loved Michael's sense of humor. He is funny. At the after-party met some more very nice people, especially Dave Cooks. But no Michael Jordan... They said he left - so I decided to track down the gentleman who offered me tickets to Saturday night's event. Being so close to meeting Michael, I had to give it another try:) And that I did... Got the tickets went to a hotel. Next morning drove to Mohegan Sun In CT, and went looking for a perfect dress. Went to several stores - nothing. Decided to go right to Casino. They only 2 dress stores there - nothing good. Then checked this tiny little boutique store and found a bright red dress that fit just perfect! Awesome, thank you God once again!!! Went to do my hair as well - had the same hair dresser that Michael Jordan's girlfriend had the night before. And with my heals on, I looked good!
Went to the Saturday nights event in a red dress, high heals and a black basketball. Started spinning it, and had all kinds of people come up to me - the Hall of Fame stuff had to move me several times for crowd control - they were not too happy with me. I did not do that on purpose. Then one of the Trustees from the hall of Fame came up to me and told me how happy they were that I was there! All of a sudden, the stuff let me bring my basketball in, and sat me at a very close by table to all the action. That was cool. However, I did not spend ANY time at my table, not even sure at all what food was served. I was constantly spinning basketball - people were asking and taking pictures. Got to meet more very nice people. The night went great. However, my hopes of meeting Michael Jordan did not come true after-all. Came close, but the couple guys who promised me to introduce me to him did not come through...Oh, well. I had a great time, really had fun and met nice people. I am so thankful to God for His faithfulness and blessing.
By the way, if I were to buy the tickets for all these events, it would be over $1,000...
September 28, 2009
Have had a very difficult time again communicating with my Dad. He is not saved, neither is my mom or brothers back in Latvia. I have been sharing the Gospel and talking about Jesus, God and the Bible to them every chance I got for the last 5 years (since I got saved). However, my dad seems to get more and more hard hearted towards everything spiritual. Today was the last straw I could take for a while. After denying that God even exist, and that Jesus is the Son of God, he told me that I should only share my experiences when I get 30 years older, learn anything about life, and achieve anything of any significance in life... How about that from your own father? It's hard. I am asking God to help me forgive once again, but I will step aside and not communicate for a while with my family. Please pray for me, and most importantly, please pray that my dad, mom and 2 brothers come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Even through all this, I know God is control and will work it all out for His Glory. I love Him.
September 28, 2009
Wow... I am doing great. Just had about 1 hr exchange on Skype email with my brother's girlfriend in Latvia. My brother and Laura have a 4 year old boy. She is very "curious" about God, but keeps inventing god in her own head. She got quite disturbed when I implied that she does not believe the Bible is God's Word. I said, OK, i guess you do... But then we came to the point in the conversation where she just could not agree with me that Jesus in the ONLY way to God, and that Christians should go to church. I said, it is not my OPINION - "thus says the Bible". "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 I told Laura - if you do not believe that Jesus is the only way, means you do not believe that Bible is God's Word and Truth. No response. The only saving grace is, I remember I was the same way before the grace of God saved me... So, please pray for Laura as well. Of course, my whole family in Latvia needs to be saved...
God is faithful. He is giving me more opportunities to witness to my family.
September 30, 2009
I am thinking of putting together an instructional/motivational/inspirational video. Looking for your feedback. Thinking of something that would have basic drills on it for use in Upward Basketball practices, as well as the motivational and trick parts of my presentation, plus advanced tricks section (3-6 basketballs) for older kids, teenagers and possibly adults.
I put first 10 min DEMO of some dribbling drills on youtube
So, I am thinking of a video something like this:
Play for God:
Right Attitude; Basketball Basics and Advanced tricks
Part 1. 20 min Motivational Show – show highlights:
Tricks one song
Talk about putting God first
Talk about work hard
Tricks to another song
Talk about having fun, enjoying life
Tricks and volunteer eating pudding while a ball spins on a spoon
Talk about never give up
Volunteer spinning 5 basketballs
Talk about a balanced life – Loving God, Loving people
Part 2. 45 min Basketball dribbling basics
footwor for offense and defense
how to dribble a basketball –stance
1 ball drills
2 ball drills
dribbling with 1 and 2 basketballs in movement
basic chest passes
shooting position
games to play (follow the leader; knock-out; duck, duck, goose, passing game, etc.)
Part 3. Advanced tricks
dribbling 3, 4, 5 and 6 basketballs
spinning one basketball
spinning tricks with one and two basketballs
juggling 3-4 basketballs
balance board and tricks
October 3, 2009
Got some new AWESOME songs on itunes "Let The Waters Rise" by Mikeschair and "He is" Mark Schultz. They join my number 1-2 songs right now: "Born Again" Third Day and "Alive again" Matt Maher. I LOVE K-Love. I love to just put on the songs, dance and worship in the livingroom. Our girls have gotten used to it :)
Decided to go on America Got Talent - pray for audition to go great November 1 in NYC. Use it all for the Glory of God in Jesus name. Looking forward to church tomorrow and performing at youth rally at North Syracuse Christian Church. Praying for Harvey and his grandmother.
October 4, 2009
Just came home from visiting, performing and sharing with a youth group at North Syracuse Christian Church. It was very intimate, just 20-30 people, great. Saw Jelena and her parents who adopted her from Latvia couple years ago. That's another God story... When we first got to Syracuse in 2003, I started practicing the basketball tricks every day after having 2 baby girls. To be able to keep practicing without pain, I started going to a chiropractor Carrie Goettsch, DC, who kept me going ( and still does - she is the BEST, and her father is in Basketball Hall of Fame). Couple weeks ago one of Carrie's office managers said I looked like I was from Eastern Europe because I looked like Jelena, a girl who went with her on a mission trip to Ukraine. I thought to myself for a second: there cannot be that many Jelenas around, and I knew "my" Jelena had been thinking about going on a mission trip to Ukraine last Spring. I put it all together and said - I know Jelena, I kind of helped her parents to get her adopted to US! So, the office manager whoes name is Thea told me her husband is a pastor at North Syracuse Christian Church. That's how I got to go to their youth group kick-off event! God works in miraculous ways and somehow gets it all done just right :)
We could not event these stories if we wanted to - it's all God! Thank you, Jesus.
October 26, 2009
I have been practicing very hard for the last month to get ready for the America Got Talent audition (see audition I am preparing here) that I will go on November 1, 2009 in NYC. They gave me an appointment time of 2:45pm, but I am not sure how close to that time I will actually get to audition. I have been reading some other performer experiences at the auditions, and almost all of them said that they were VERY late in getting to audition - one person had appointment at 2:00pm but got to audition at 10:15pm! I have a 5 hour drive to get home after the audition, so I am praying that i won't have to wait longer than couple hours. Decided not to bring girls with me because of the long drive and uncertaint wait times. I will bring a DVD with them performing with me. I really hope to make it on the show, so pray for me, please. I have put all other projects and marketing efforts on hold for now to see what God has in plan with AMG.
November 2, 2010
Went to America Got Talent audition yesterday, November 1 in NYC. It went great. The car ride only took 4 hours, so I arrived before my appointment time. They took me in right away, avoiding all the lines and wait time. The first audition went great and they sent me to audition with the executive producers. That audition went good as well. Hopefully i will get a call back, however, won't find out until January. Saw a LOT of singers and dancers there - may be they will give us a chance just because we are so different :) I did not bring the girls with me but brought a video tape of them - the producers really liked the girls dribbling 2-3 basketballs. If I make it to the next round, I will bring the girls with me. I already told them last night that they will have to practice at least 2-3 time a week until January to be ready. They are excited!
I am also very excited that I might get a chance to travel with SU women's basketball team to Cancun, Mexico end of November and perform for their tournament there. It would be a great break from the Syracuse weather and from the little Boobin (our19 months old baby) who is very "screemy" lately because of her molars coming in. Life if great because God is great and faithful! Thank you Jesus.
November 13, 2009
Getting ready for a show tonight in Trumbull, CT. A last minute booking. Our baby kept us up AGAIN last night, so it will be very challenging today - I have to drive 5 hours to the show, present at 7pm, and then drive 5 hours back. Pray for us. Marika is coming with me (7yr. old), and we will have the presentation porfessionally video-taped to include in the video I am trying to put together. Never knew how EXPENSIVE it is to produce a professional video. Want to put something together that Upward basketball coaches and any other beginner basketball player coaches could use, as well as include clips from our shows and advanced trick section for older kids. I got an estimate of $5,000 to produce that... I do not have even one thousand. As a matter of fact, we are in big financial trouble as probably a lot of you are. If God leads you and you are interested to invest in this video project, let me know. I figure we could make up the investment in couple Springs when I perform for the Upward basketball (www.upward.org). Email me if you want to hear more about this video project and want to be part of it.
November 14, 2009
God showed His faithfulness once again. Drove 5 hours to Trumbull, CT yesterday. On the way there, saw a BAD accident where a van went off the road into the opposite side of the road, into the ditch and knocked down a telephone poll. I pray that nobody got killed or seriously injured. About 10 min after we passed the accident scene, we heard an announcement on the radio about it and that the road was now closed. We must have passed just minutes after it happened. We could have been in the lane as the van crossed over and drove into the telephone poll. God kept us safe and got us to the show on time. Had a lot of kids remembering me from last year's show, and had a great response to the Gospel Invitation. Children have such open hearts that are not yet hardened by the world. Jesus said "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them. For it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs." Matthew 19:14
God also got us home on a fast drive, I did not have to stop once even though we started the 5 hr drive home at 9pm and the night before I did not get much sleep at all because of the baby. Marika came with me, and did a GREAT job dribbling 2-3 basketballs and helping out. We also had the show video-taped by a local professional who I contacted just a day before. He came to the show right after his father-in-law's funeral... Which I just found out yesterday. I pray that he and his family open their hearts to Jesus in this hard time, so that God can help them heal and show His purpose even through pain.
We never know who God is going to bring into our lives, and what is going to happen the next day. But God is in control and He is faithful and good, always.
December 4, 2009
Have been working hard on the Christian Basketball Instructiona Video. "Play for God - Right Attitude, Basketball Basics and Advanced Tricks". Have been going to the gym with the girls and their friends to video tape and come up with what we want to put on it. I also put together highlights from our last professionally video-taped Christian presentation, and would include 20 min of that in the video. I think a lot of youth coaches and players could benefit from this video.
If you are interested to sponsor me to make this video professionally - let me know. Have a nice Christmas season!
December 13, 2009
Have been working very hard on the video. Have been also going through some older videos, and having fun watching them. Check them out below. God Bless you, and have a Merry Christmas!
December 28, 2009
Hope you had a Merry Christmas! We just got back from spending time with family in Vermont. What a wonderful time! Thank you, Jesus and Happy Birthday! We are snowed in here in Syracuse today, so working on cathcing up with computer stuff. We are supposed to find out if we made it on America Got Talent sometime in January. Please pray that we do, it would be great exposure and God could use us to reach more people.
December 28, 2009
Have had quite the time with all the snow and cold we just got in Syracuse. Looking forward to a show or two in "warm" states :). Let me know if you are interested. In January will come for just travel costs, especially to Florida. Here is a video from the last half-time we did right before Christmas at SU women's game (on the right). SU women are ranked in top 25 in the country but Syracuse fans have not cought up yet, so not many in the audience yet. We will perform for them again January 30 against Notre Dame, and February 24 against Connecticut.
January 15, 2010
Happy New Year! Time fies! Still working hard on the Christian Instructional video - had most of the video taped last week and will have the rest taped tomorrow. Then will send it off to edit at Breakawaytv.com. Hoping to have it ready for March shows, God willing. Check the promo I put together on the right.
Have been praying for everyone in Haiti. What a heartbreak! God is still in control, though. Makes me appreciate how good we have it...
January 30, 2010
Had a great basketball day today. Coached my girls at Upward basketball game this morning at North Syracuse Baptist Church. And then we did a half-time show for the Syracuse vs. Notre Dame women's basketball game at the Dome. It was a high-school day at the Dome, so had over 3,000 people in audience. You can check the show out on the right. Iliana did great singing and dribbling, as did Marika and their best friend Giana. Boobin came out at the end again and brought the crown down spinning the ball on the finger. Just being CUTE.
February 12, 2010
Feeling a bit dissappointed. Got a GREAT offer to go and juggle in Israel, but then it turned out that they were looking for someone over 50... Never in my life did I think being 50 was something I desired :) Have been thinking how great that would be to go to the birthplace of Jesus. Oh, well. God must have a reason. Seems like lately that's what has been happening - I get the "glimpses" for great opportunities to perform, and then they all fall through... If I did not have faith, I would be depressed... But I know that Romans 8:28 says "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." So, I am not depressed, I am HAPPY and BLESSED to spend more time with my three beautiful daughters. Looking forward to busy end of February-March with Upward celebrations!
March 2, 2010
Back from several Upward Basketball presentations in MO, TX, CT and TN. Wow... God really showed me once again how great and faithful He is. Had smooth travels everywhere, bags arrived with me everywhere as well, except TX. However, there I got to hang out with some great Christian guys who helped us pull all the equipment together before the show by making a new spinning board, new balance board and getting some basketballs. I am just so amazed how God used me again to have many kids make decision for Christ. There is NOTHING more satisfying to me. I love the Lord and am so THANFUL He uses me and still let's me play with basketballs :) Some more Upward shows coming up. I also got a chance to offer the Insturctional video I put together at home before breakawaytv.com does the professional one. If you got one of them, let me know what you think.
