LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE

I know that God has His own timing, but yet it continues to amaze me every single time.

This time it's about the Daily Devotional of Bob Gass (www.bobgass.com) that I usually read everyday.

While we were in Russia I wasn't able to read it, so when I went back a couple of lessons today, I found out that the topic of the past couple of days has been "learning from experience".... Isn't this ironic? That's exactly what I talked about yesterday.

Please join in to read this "Food For Thought."

"The Lord gives wisdom." Pr 2:6 Contrary to what you may have heard, experience is not the best teacher - evaluated experience is the best teacher! Everybody has some kind of experience; it's what you do with your experience that matters. We all begin our lives as empty notebooks. Every day we've an opportunity to record new experiences. With each page we gain more understanding. Ideally, as we progress our notebook becomes filled with observations. But not all of us make the best use of our notebooks. Some of us leave the notebook closed; we rarely jot down anything at all. Others fill their pages but never take time to read them, reflect on them and gain greater wisdom. But a few of us not only make a record of what we experience, we linger over it and reflect on it. Reflection turns into insight, so that we not only live the experience,
but learn from it. We all know people with lots of knowledge, but little understanding. They have the means, but they don't know the meaning of anything. What's the problem? Their life experience is void of reflection and evaluation. When twenty-five years go by they don't gain twenty-five years' experience, they gain one year of experience twenty-five times! To win in life you must turn your experience into wisdom. So:
(1) Slow down. Wisdom is gleaned over time, not overnight.
(2) Drill down. The treasure is there, but you have to dig for it.
(3) Get down. Yes, get down on your knees and talk to God, because "The Lord gives wisdom."

So as I'm sitting on the bus right now to Sf. Gheorghe I am still not 100% able to completely forget about the loss in Kursk... but I trust that at the end this disappointing experience was meant for SOMEthing good! I hope that we each individually will take some time to reflect and grow from it- to then come together again and fight as a unit for the remaining titles left in this season.

A unit thas it stronger, closer and unbeatable.

Let's go MCM!
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RECAP-REARRANGE-RETHINK

First of all, just to make it clear to everyone: I, Linda Frohlich, understand that basketball is just a game. I am thankful for every moment I have in it, but I also know that basketball is not who I am and not what defines me. God defines me and His eternal love drives me each and every day.

However I am still a competitor, I play basketball for a living!
And that competitor in me is now going to write this blog:

It felt different when I walked into my apartment last night after the 18 hour trip ... why?
Well, my apartment seemed different. Did somebody rearrange it while I was gone? NO! Well, what was different then?

Ever since I had stepped foot into this city, I was determined to do one thing... and that was to bring the FIBA Cup to Targoviste. Everything I had done, everything I had said, everything I had dreamed of was to get this little cup.

I saw it. I felt it and for some reason I knew that we could win it all.

So when I walked into my apartment this time, it had been the first time since I had been in this place, in this city without this self-proclaimed purpose anymore.

Less than 24 hours ago, in just 40 minutes, I had been robbed off this one dream, robbed off what I thought was our team's destiny.... and... was left with an empty heart.

It was this change of heart is what made me feel a difference.

The apartment felt colder than usual, even though all the snow had melted in the week that we were gone, and the temperatures were up again.

The apartment felt lonier than usual, even though I had always been by myself out here and believe me, ever since my heart has been empty, I've been getting a lot of visitors: like Mrs. Anger, Mr. Disappointment, Little Miss Disgust, etc... who of course then bring along their Uncle Negativity and Aunt Nausea!!

Today we have a day off, and it leaves a lot of time to think, to sulk and... re-focus.

Fact is, that we have another game coming up this Sunday in Sf. Gheorghe.
Fact is, the Romanian season is still going on.
Fact is, there's still a Romanian Cup and Title out there to win.
Fact is, life goes on.

I see the facts, but just the thought of the circumstances continues to sicken me and it hurts; and it will probably remain like that for a while, and always be one of those memories that leave a sour taste behind.

I want to apologize to all the fans and supporters, to all those who believed alongside of us, and couldn't do anything about it. You have been great and I hope you will continue to come out and support us.

Oftentimes we learn much more from our failures than we do from success, and I hope that that's what we'll all do... learn something from this loss/situation, and let it not be invain.

Let me finish this off with these two Bible verses that have been on my mind today.

Hebrews 12:10-11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"

HAPPY TO BE IN KURSK

After leaving for the airport at 7am this morning (Bucarest time), we have been officially on the road for 17 hours now.

It's 1am local time here in Kursk. We just landed, got our bags and are on the bus to the hotel now.

We had some serious layover time today at the airport in Moscow (it probably ended up being approx. 7 hours, I think).

Luckily Shay brought some cards and taught Tina, Samba, and me how to play "Taki"... the Israelian version... Of course didn't reveal all of the rules at once so she could keep the upper hand at all times ;) but seriously, those cards probably saved us today, because "time flies when you have fun".

Now I am ready to stretch out my body and get some "horizontal rest"... Where is the hotel???

Are we there yet?

LINDA

This was our "private plane" from Moscow to Kursk... We barely all fit on there:


The baggage claim in Moscow had a surprise for me waiting: my Fenerbahce girls were there, too... on their way to play against Spartak Moscow in the Euroleague....

WIN IN ARAD

It wasn't a pretty one today, but we pulled it off: 68-53.

When we came into the gym of BC ICIM Arad the atmosphere was great: the opponents were like race horses in their boxes, ready to get the game started and the gym was packed with Arad fans who were anticipating a good game.

Their team came out and didn't let us get anything easy.
After a long fight for 40 minutes we luckily- and skillfully, came out on top at the end of the night.

To our surprise we had a busload of fans who had come all the way from Targoviste to support us on our away game.... which was awesome, because those 2000 Arad fans were no joke :)!!!!

Unfortunately I don't have actual pictures of today's game yet, but I just wanted to post a couple of photos of our great supporters, who have gotten on the bus today to come out to Arad and cheer us on.... on a one-way12-hours-busride.... TWO THUMBS UP!!!
Thanks for your help... we love you all!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALE!!!!!

Happy 21st birthday!!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

FIRST ROMANIAN GAMES UNDER MY BELT

Well, this week I had my premiere in the Romanian league, and I can proudly report two wins.

One game was on Thursday and the other one was today.... both of them were at 11 am, which is really really really early in BPT (=Basketball Player Time)... as we usually like to sleep in.
I confidentally generalize and use the word "we", because I personally know of many players who would agree with me *wink*

The thing I liked about having early games is that I've had some time to relax afterwards while the sun was still out, or should I say, while it was still daylight... the sun has only come out sporadically in the last couple of weeks here in Romania.

Now we will have tomorrow off before we'll head into a tough and busy schedule in the next couple of weeks. Starting with our new opponent in the FIBA Cup, Dynamo Kursk, who are coming to Targoviste next week (on Wednesday): they have proven to be a good team in the previous rounds and we will need to bring our A-game in both games to move on to semifinals.

I trust in our staff though, and believe that all of us we will go out on the court and play well prepared and with a lot of heart on Wednesday.

I am looking forward to seeing (and hearing!!!!) all the fans again... so make sure to bring a friend, and join in the MCM experience!!! See you there.

Go MCM!!!

FEBRUARY 10TH, 2010

Happy Birthday, Tina!!!

FEBRUARY 8TH, 2010

La mulţi ani, CHUCKY!!!!

Click on the picture to follow a link to a video of Fibatv.com
George Bucur came to Targoviste last week to meet some of the team, and it came out really really cool.

WELL DONE GEORGE. Two Thumbs Up!

GOOD MORNING GRAN CANARIA

When I woke up this morning for "voluntary" breakfast, I was tempted to take a peak outside of our hotelroom... And let me tell you, the best intuition I've had since signing with MCM Targoviste ;)

Thank God for this beauty (not me... But the nature...lol)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

LAS PALMAS HERE WE COME