Update on Mom...

 

This is what a total knee replacement looks like.

Total knee replacements are no joke—they’re incredibly painful. It’s taken about three weeks for Mom’s pain to drop to even half of what it was right after surgery. She’s doing her best to wean off the stronger pain meds. She still needs them occasionally, but far less than before—most of that progress has happened in the last week.

About a week ago Thursday, she broke out in hives, and it’s taken over a week for them to fully clear. What I’ve noticed is that as she tapered down the opioids, the hives eased up too—until they eventually disappeared. My best guess is that her system was overwhelmed by the medication, though I can’t say for sure if a doctor would confirm that. There haven’t been any changes in her environment or diet, so that’s the only clear variable.

When it comes time for her other knee replacement, I’m going to advocate for pain management options that don’t rely so heavily on opioids—if that’s even possible at this level of pain. Recovery is already tough enough without adding something like hives into the mix.

So where is Mom in her recovery now? She’s actually doing wonderfully. Her home PT has been thrilled with her progress, especially given her age. On his last visit, he even said outpatient PT is going to be impressed with how far along she is. Hearing that has been incredibly encouraging, especially considering all the challenges she’s faced through this process.

She starts outpatient PT on Monday. I will update again once she's gotten a few sessions in. 

That's all I have for now.

Keep Doing Your Best...

This message cuts deeper than simple motivation—it speaks to the reality of what high-level performance actually demands.

At the top, external validation is inconsistent at best. Crowds cheer when you win, go silent when you don’t, and critics are always waiting. If your drive depends on praise, you’ll burn out or break down the moment it disappears. The best athletes learn early: you cannot outsource your belief.

“Keep doing your best every day” isn’t about perfection—it’s about discipline. Some days your “best” is a personal record. Other days it’s just showing up when your body is tired, your mind is off, or life is heavy. What separates elite athletes is that they show up anyway. Consistency beats intensity over time. This is Tim—all day long. 

“And if no one is proud of you…”—that’s real. As Tim's parents we see it all—the highs and the lows and everything in between—and we are proud of him. What the phrase "if no one is proud you" is getting at is the outside world because—let's face it—there are long stretches where no one sees the sacrifices, the missed events, the quiet grind. Progress at the highest level is often invisible before it’s undeniable. If you need recognition during those seasons, you’ll lose momentum. 

So, “Be proud of yourself.” That’s the anchor! Not arrogance, but earned confidence. It comes from knowing you honored your standard when no one was watching. You stuck to the process. You didn’t cut corners. You kept going when it would’ve been easier to quit.

Tim has learned to be proud of himself. It's anchored him because he knows he's honored his standard when no one is watching. He's stuck to the process. He hasn't cut corners. He keeps going when it would be easier to just quit. 

Elite athletes don’t just train their bodies—they train their mindset to be self-sustaining. Because when the spotlight fades, when the noise dies down, and when it’s just you and the work…

That’s where greatness is actually built.

Correct Mind = Life Falling Into Place...

What we allow to take root in our mind will eventually shape the direction of our life. Our thoughts influence our attitudes, our attitudes shape our choices, and our choices determine our path. So when our mind is aligned with truth—God’s truth—everything else begins to fall into place in a way that reflects His order and purpose.

Correcting our mind isn’t about pretending life is perfect or ignoring reality. It’s about choosing to see life through the lens of who God is instead of through fear, doubt, or circumstance. It means reminding ourselves daily of what is true: that God is present, that He is faithful, and that He is working even when we don’t see it.

When our mind is fixed on God, our perspective shifts. Anxiety begins to lose its grip because we trust His control. Fear starts to quiet because we remember His promises. Even in chaos, there’s a sense of steadiness—not because everything around us is settled, but because our mind is anchored in Him.

But this doesn’t happen passively. It takes intention. It means catching negative or false thoughts and replacing them with truth. It means choosing faith over fear again and again, even when it’s difficult. Over time, that renewal of our mind begins to reshape how we live.

And when our mind is in the right place—centered on God—our actions follow. Our decisions become wiser, our reactions more measured, our heart more at peace. It doesn’t mean life becomes easy, but it does mean we’re no longer being driven by instability. Instead, we’re being guided by something constant and unshakable.

When we align our mind with God, we don’t just think differently—we live differently. And that’s where real transformation begins.

You are Never Alone...

We are never alone—not in our highest moments and not in our lowest valleys. There is not a single season of our lives that God is absent from. When everything feels full and joyful, He is there, steady and present, reminding us that every good thing flows from Him. And when life feels heavy, uncertain, or even unbearable, He is just as near—closer than we may even realize.

Joshua 1:9 reminds us clearly and powerfully: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” That promise—to be with you wherever you go—isn’t conditional. It doesn’t depend on your circumstances, your emotions, or how strong your faith feels in a given moment. It is rooted in who God is—faithful, constant, and unchanging. 

Just before that, God repeats the command to—be strong and courageous—3x. That kind of repetition carries weight—it’s a clear call to pay attention and take it to heart. This isn’t a suggestion based on how we feel—it's a command to be obeyed. Because He's always with us, we can, be strong and courageous.

His presence doesn’t come and go with our circumstances. In our victories, He is with us. In our struggles, He is with us. Even when we can’t feel Him, He hasn’t moved. There will be seasons where we feel confident and full of purpose, and others where we feel lost, weary, or overwhelmed. In both, God is not watching from a distance—He is walking with us. In our victories, He celebrates with us. In our struggles, He strengthens and sustains us. Even when we can’t feel Him, He hasn’t moved.

Sometimes, the lie creeps in that we’re facing things on our own—that no one sees or understands what we're carrying. But the truth is, God sees every detail. He knows every burden, every fear, every unanswered question. And He stays. He doesn’t leave when things get hard. He doesn’t withdraw when we falter. His presence is constant, not fleeting.

So when fear tries to take hold, when discouragement settles in, go back to that promise: He is with you wherever you go. Not just in certain places, not just in certain seasons—wherever. That means right where we are today. Then we will also be able to stand—with our heads held high—and Be Strong & Courageous!

Always remember that we are not walking through any part of this life alone—He is with us in every step and in every season. 

God Is Not Only Good...

Mark 10:18 (NIV): "...No one is good—except God alone."

This verse emphasizes that no one is good except God — his goodness is a foundational, eternal characteristic.

God is not only good—He is the author of everything good.

Every blessing, every moment of peace, every ounce of strength we didn’t know we had… it all traces back to Him. Good isn’t random. It isn’t luck. It flows from the very nature of who God is.

When life feels heavy or uncertain, it’s easy to question where the good is. But even then, God is still writing—still working behind the scenes, still bringing purpose out of pain and beauty out of brokenness.

He doesn’t just give good things… He is the source of them.

So today, whatever you’re facing, hold onto this truth:

If it’s good, it comes from Him. And He’s not finished writing your story yet.

Rise & Move Forward...

Every morning, I remind myself of this: there’s no such thing as a day without challenges. And if you find yourself in a season with none, it’s worth asking whether you’re really pushing forward at all.

Growth requires resistance. Moving forward means you’re stretching yourself, facing things head-on, and choosing not to stay comfortable. That alone sets you apart—because not everyone is willing to do it.

Life isn’t meant to be easy. It’s meant to test you, shape you, and push you. That’s how you know you’re alive. That’s how you discover your strength—the ability to keep going, to keep growing, no matter what comes your way. When you meet life head-on, you build the backbone to create the life you want instead of settling for the one handed to you.

I’ve always been someone who takes life by the horns. And when necessary, I’ve been a bit of a bull in a china shop too. I don’t sit back and let life happen to me—I meet it head-on. That doesn’t mean life hasn’t thrown its share of challenges my way. It has. But what matters is how you respond.

It matters that you face those moments and turn them into something that moves you forward. Something that builds strength instead of defeat. Because defeat should never define you—it should shape you. Refine you. Push you closer to who you’re meant to become.

Your life is what you make of it. Don’t let circumstances—or anyone else—convince you otherwise.

At 56 years old, almost 57, I’ve seen and experienced a lot. And I’ve raised my son differently than how I was raised. He’s forward-thinking. He goes after life instead of waiting for it to come to him. He faces challenges with the mindset of a warrior, not a worrier. That mindset has helped him become a successful elite athlete—but more importantly, it’s helped shape who he is as a person.

You don’t have to accept life as it’s handed to you. You can choose to rise, to grow, to become. Be intentional. Be driven. Be you—with purpose. And whatever you do, don’t quit.

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) says, 

". . . Let us throw off 

everything that hinders. . .

And let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us."

Romans 12:6-8...

Paul lists a number of gifts God has given the members of the body of Christ. Paul uses this word "gift" elsewhere to denote a God-given ability to serve the community of Christ in a particular way.

Whatever gifts we have been given, we are under obligation to our Lord to use them to serve his people. Other Christians need what each of us has to offer, so participating in the larger community of faith through the local church is a critical responsibility of believers.

Oh What A Day...

Today was quite a day. Mom was up most of the night dealing with hives and constant itching. She took Benadryl—the pill form—and I applied hydrocortisone, but instead of improving, it actually got worse.

We ended up at orthopedic urgent care this evening, and after talking with two doctors, we finally figured out the cause—she was having a delayed reaction to the prep cloths used before surgery. They advised me to thoroughly wash her to remove any remaining solution, keep her skin well moisturized, and give her liquid Benadryl around the clock for the next few days.

In the middle of all that, I also took the boys lunch at a commercial job and squeezed in some shopping. Thankfully, once we got home tonight, Mom has been resting really well.

What a day.

Mom's Appt. Today...

Just wanted to keep you in the loop with a little update. Mom’s 2 week post-op appointment with her surgeon went really well today—he was so pleased with how her knee is looking. She’s bending it really well (even though it’s still painful), and he said her range of motion is already at 100%, which is amazing for just a little over two weeks post-op.

She’ll continue home PT through next week, then start outpatient PT the week after. Getting up so early for the appointment really wore her out, so she’s resting now. We’re just so thankful to be seeing this kind of progress.

Mom's Total Knee Replacement Recovery...

Just a quick update: Mom is progressing well. She’s moving much better, which is encouraging. I’m looking forward to getting her off the oxy pain medication—she’s been taking it consistently since surgery, and I’m not a fan of it. 

She has a follow-up with her surgeon on Thursday. Home health PT wraps up next week, and she’ll start outpatient PT on May 4th—I’ll be taking her. Everyone we’ve talked to says that by the two-month mark, there’s a noticeable difference and you’re really glad you had the surgery. 

She’ll hit that two-month mark on June 7th—just a week before Tim’s Nationals Meet in Colorado—so I’m praying she’s recovered enough by then to house-and pet-sit for us. If not, we go to plan B which we are still putting together as I type this—it will include someone to be here for her as well.

I’m really proud of her—she’s a trooper. We’ve learned a lot through this, especially for the next time. The advice we’re getting is to wait at least 6 months, maybe even a year, before doing the other knee, so we’ll just see how her recovery goes.