Hi everyone. So sorry that I've been away for a few weeks. I will give you the reason of why.
It was March 3rd and everyone in the league knew that it was trade deadline day. Our team (Washington Capitals) had been relatively inactive up till then and we all knew that something was gonna go down for sure. We just didn't know what or when. We were playing Buffalo that night and I followed my game day routine as usual. The morning skate was business as usual and then we all went back to have a meal and a nap.The deadline ended at 3pm. My roommate (Jason Chimera) and I usually nap from 2-4pm. We were joking that we should turn off our phones so that if we were traded we would at least wake up rested.
My room phone rang and woke us up at 3:15. That never happens! We knew that one of us was gone and I was the winner. It was Bruce Boudreau on the phone asking me what my room number was. I told him and he was there 2 min. later to tell me that I had been traded to Carolina with a 2nd round pick and a young prospect for Joe Corvo. Bruce gave me ahug and wished me well and then my mind started racing. Carolina played Ottawa the next day and I had to be there by the 10:30 morning skate..I hopped on a plane to Charlotte, then to DC. My wife picked me up and we started packing for the next month and a half. I kissed my wife and kids goodbye( they were all sleeping) and started the 4 1/2 hour drive to Raleigh. I got in at 6 am and slept until 7:30am. I got up and headed out to meet my new teammates and in a few short hours we beat the Ottawa Senators for my first game as a Carolina Hurricane.
That was a crazy night! I was bombarded with all kinds of emotions. Excited about a new opportunity, sad to miss my family so much, anger for not having a chance to make a run at the Stanley Cup. And many many more. It was one of the most emotionally up and down days of my life.
Through this process I've been tempted to ask God, What the heck is going on here? I really have been drawing from my past and also Gods word in the time. God says He won't give us anything we cant handle.I also know that God has never abandoned me. Every step of my life, He has been there. Every transition he has made seemless and gave us the perfect home and a church community that we loved and friends that are amazing and schools for the kids. Where God guides, He provides. ( I know it'stacky but it works) He has had His hand in everything I have ever done and in everything I will ever do. He is our amazing, gracious and powerful provider.
I probably wouldn't have drawn up the last month of my lifelike this, but I know that I will look back in a few months or years and say, Thank God you are in control and I'm not! His plans are always better than ours.
Be Blessed
Brian

It is 11:45 pm and I am flying to Sunrise Florida. We play the Panthers tomorrow and we just got beat up bad by the Tampa Bay Lightning. They scored 4 goals in the first period.  We had beaten them 12 straight times and we knew they were going to be a tough matchup tonight. 
I think we were under the assumption that if we just showed up that we were supposed to be given the 2 points. Tampa had a different idea of how the night was going to go.  They were tired of being embarrassed and came to play tonight. I wish I could say the same for us. 
It came down to us being complacent and not preparing properly and them showing up and thinking it was game 7 of the Stanley cup finals.
Sometimes life is easy. Things are going your way.  Friends are actually friendly and you are in a groove. These times are always nice. The problem is that's when we forget what got us there.  We start thinking we are a lot cooler than we are. We forget that its by Gods grace that things are as smooth as they are. If you find yourself wandering from Jesus and starting to rely on yourself,  you are setting yourself up for a slap in the face from reality.  It's when we get comfortable is when the losses and big disappointments creep up on us.  Paul calls life a marathon and calls us to run the race with endurance. Let's not let life take us on a roller coaster ride but remain in Gods word and presence and we will have no choice but to be grounded.

Num 6:24

Brian

Whether a coach doesn't like you and you're not playing. Injury. A lull in your performance, someone on your team that mentally beats you up.  Parents.  Girlfriends.  Boyfriends. There can be a lot of external influences that can affect not only your performance but make you question if you are really called to be in this game.  Focusing on Jesus through all the garbage is essential.

A few disciples were out in a boat.  They looked out in the water and saw what they thought was a ghost.  When Peter ( one of the disciples ) realized it was Jesus he said, "Lord, if it's you let me come out to you."  Jesus then said, "come".  Peter leaned out of the boat and began walking on the water to meet Jesus.  Then he gradually began to take his eyes off Jesus and started noticing how big the waves were.  How windy and fierce the weather was.  I'm sure he was thinking to himself that he had no business walking on water.  After all he was just a man, not God.  As he was having these thoughts, he began to sink.  

It is difficult to look for Jesus through all the crazy circumstances of life.  Trust me, when things get hairy, its not easy to look to Jesus.  But as we practice this, it can become easier and eventually it becomes second nature.  

As this New Year begins, I challenge you all to know Jesus is in control.  No matter what the stuff around you looks like, know that Jesus has the ability to great things happen out of tough circumstances.  You never need a miracle unless you are in an impossible situation.

Have a blessed New Year!

Brian

Merry Christmas!  I love this time of year. I have such fond memories of waking up early and bugging my parents until they finally got out of bed.   Stockings first,  then breakfast,  then a free for all into the gifts.
Now its my turn to try to eek out as much sleep as possible and laugh as my kids destroy every ounce of wrapping paper in site.  It's a challenge to make your kids aware of the fact that gifts and transformers shouldn't be the main focus of Christmas. It starts with black Friday where people are literally trampling each other to save a few bucks on the hot sale. Then you are surrounded by merry Xmas signs. I don't know about you but I'm not ready to x Christ out of Christmas. We spend all of our time in traffic and in lines to make sure all of our kids get the latest toys so they don't hate us. It's jacked up!! 
This year, I urge everyone to put Christ back in Christmas. Make sure at sometime this season you read the gospels.  The story of Christmas is unreal. What Jesus did for us is remarkable. The burden he bore for you and me is absolutely amazing. His love for us is impossible to measure. The least we can do in return is know,  understand and appreciate His sacrifice by honoring Him this season.  Remember why they call it Christmas. I urge you to keep Him first by living a life that will make Him smile.
Merry Christmas.
Brian

It is all about your response to it.

Brian Pothier