#33 in your program, #1 in your hearts...

Saturday June 28th 2008

Tri-Cities Fever comes to Boise!

Our nephew, Tali Ena plays for the Tri-Cities Fever, and Saturday they played against the Boise Burn. So my husbands sister called to invite us to go with them to the game. We were so excited!!!

She has been trying to get us to come visit them for family get togethers, and go to games... but we have yet to even meet her husbands kids. We love him and know all about him through Debbie and Pat, they are so proud of their kids. And the teenager has followed him as he has played college and professional football, he even has him set up as a player on his playstation game. So we have fondly claimed him as "our nephew", or the teenagers "cousin"... but hadn't actually met him in person until Saturday. When they arrived into town, we went out to dinner at our favorite bbq rib joint.

Pat, Athey(sp? Tali's wife), and Debbie (I promised I wouldn't paste a bunch of pictures all over the Internet of my sis n law... sorry!... she hates getting her picture taken, but she was such a good sport... and this one turned out really cute.... so sorry, I am not to be trusted with pictures).

The ribs were so good... even Pat the rib King liked them.... and he was eating really good until we started talking about the game, then he couldn't eat anymore. Proud nervous Dad, it was really super neat to see him in this way. I had always picked up that he loved his kids and was really close with them, but to see it in action, was cool!

I think part of it is their culture, but part of it, is just who he is.... what a good example, my boys can hang out with him anytime!

Here we are... one happy family!

And here is the teenager looking on at the game...

Even more thrilling... he wears the same number as the teenager #33!

(the teenager picked it early in his baseball playing days because his Dad's number was always #3, and 33 was the number of days Jesus walked on the earth, so it was something very meaningful to him). We didn't get a chance to ask Tali why he wears the number #33 if it was chance or chosen?

He is 6'5" and I had to giggle everytime the coach leaned over to give him a new play, he was standing on his tippy toes and still only made it up to his shoulder pad with his mouth.

Here is Jacob with Tali's wife watching on....

My strong silent mysterious man and his sister!

He caught a t-shirt thrown up by a cute half dressed sexy cheerleader... I was teasing him, that he must have been flirting with her during the game to get it thrown right to him. But it doesn't matter, we can't wear it anyway, it's a Boise Burn shirt, and duh... Tri-Cities Fever Rules!!!

The Teenager and his cousin, his hero... finally together for an official picture!

I asked the teenager what he thought about the experience afterwards, and he said he was most impressed by how Tali conducted himself on the field. No bad language, he didn't get angry or throw a fit at a bad play, or a bad call. He was calm cool, collected, and composed. The other really impressive act was after the game when some of the players from both teams came together in a circle in the middle of the field and took one knee and had a prayer together. That was cool!

He was truly a good guy and a good example and role model for the teenager.

It was such a fun night, we were so grateful to be with our family and had such a fun time at the game. It was definitely a night to remember.