Winning isn't everything, but YOU get to find the prize!

Traveling internationally for a world event is quite the privilege!?Being invited by Orlando?Jimenez?as?"Mom" to go with his family and Team USA to Loutraki, Greece was such an amazing gift! He asked me to come support him during the Veteran's World Wrestling Championships and he made all my sponsored arrangements! HUGE!!! So I said YES!

Watching my "son," Orlando, compete in this setting reminded me of the old days in the gym at schools and wrestling tournaments all over the state. It brought up the same kind of jitters waiting for Orlando (OJ) to wrestle. He won his 1st match and we anxiously awaited his second match. Unfortunately he was injured with a hamstring tear and could not continue. OJ posted about this trial: "...injuries are part of the journey. They're like the trials we face, pushing us to our limits and testing our resilience. Each injury, each setback, it's all a part of the journey that shapes us into stronger, more fortified beings....We shed those tears, we let go of the disappointment, and we get back up, always ready for the next challenge. That's the essence of wrestling, a sport that demands not only physical strength but mental fortitude."? ?

The mindset we have through trials is going to make or break our future growth.

Our family group had fun there on the beach, then we moved on to Athens. OJ stayed in Loutraki to coach and support his USA team. Greece was a trip of a lifetime indeed! I loved being with this precious family throughout this amazing trip.?The beauty of the historical buildings in Athens is stunning! Roaming throughout the columns and marble structures speaks very differently, however, than walking along the sad streets of cement-walled, graffiti-adorned homes of the 100,000s of residents in town. The local vendors in the street markets were kind and sweet, sharing their details about the way they create some of their custom collectibles. They represent so many precious people there that love their city.

We did however, encounter a terrible scenario where we stayed. We returned from our lovely tourist day on Friday nite, to the apartment scattered with all of our personal belongings ~ we were robbed! Passports, cash, laptop, airpods, and jewelry, gone. We were in shock and dismayed of course. But I watched as this family pulled together to support one another. We took pictures, all did our best to recoup, & began to sort our belongings. The police came, and did nothing honestly, but the planners of our trip, Priscilla & Madonna, proceeded to calmly make arrangements for a new place to stay.

Everyone shifted at 12:30am to our new hotel and we all learned a tough lesson: keep all passports on your person and bring very little valuables when traveling. TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR PASSPORT & ID. The Embasy is closed on weekends. The customs & security at the airport finally agreed, after Madonna pleaded with so many different leaders, they utilized the passport pictures from our original trip there to Greece! A MIRACLE!! God answered our prayers also changing one person's whole flight so we were all able to fly out together on time Monday am. We were so grateful everyone was together and okay!

I share this as a true scenario and reminder that everything isn't always going our way!

We enjoyed time together for the rest of our weekend stay without our big 3-island boat trip. We walked again thru the city market places, ate good food, took more pictures, and all enjoyed our last nite celebrating the WIN of leaving the country safely and TOGETHER! ??We found the prize! Do YOU have a story to share with me like this? I'd love to hear it!!!