#179 - Lesa Burgess never imagined that falling in love with a basketball player would lead her across nine countries over eleven years, building a family of seven while navigating cultural labyrinths few Americans ever experience. Her memoir "Behind the Bench" pulls back the curtain on what looks like a glamorous life to reveal something far more compelling—a story of resilience, adaptation, and finding yourself when everything familiar has been left behind.

From giving birth in Turkey with no pain medication (total hospital bill: $275) to teaching her 6'11" husband how to drive a stick shift in Ukraine while pregnant, Lisa's adventures defy conventional understanding. "People are kind of like, 'Oh, this sounds so glamorous and amazing,'" she explains, "and you're just like, 'You have no idea what this is.'" Her stories traverse the spectrum from terrifying (being locked out of her apartment with no way to communicate) to triumphant (surprising her husband at championship games despite seemingly impossible logistics).

What resonates most powerfully is Lesa's journey from college soccer player with a clear identity to finding purpose in a supporting role that often left her feeling invisible. "It was hard for me to feel seen when people were constantly asking me about Chris and his career," she admits. The transformation wasn't immediate—it took years of introspection to recognize the vital importance of her contributions. "I started feeling like his successes were also mine," she shares, a perspective that became crucial to navigating their unconventional life together.

Throughout these challenges, faith served as Lisa's anchor, especially during the many times Chris was traveling while she managed their growing family alone in foreign countries where she couldn't speak the language. Her experience offers wisdom for anyone facing unexpected turns: "You are strong enough... It's going to be messy, it's not going to look like the path that you see in your head, and that's okay."

Ready to experience this extraordinary journey for yourself? Grab Lesa's memoir "Behind the Bench" on Amazon or at BehindTheBenchBookstore.com and discover how adventure, when embraced with courage and faith, transforms challenges into the most meaningful chapters of our lives.

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