Stay Humble, Stand Firm...

Stay Humble, Stand Firm...

That truth has been at the heart of our family’s journey, especially watching Tim grow as an athlete.

Scripture tells us in Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” That verse reminds us that no matter how far God takes us, humility must always lead the way.

Watching Tim’s journey—from 11 years of Taekwondo, earning his 3rd degree black belt, to stepping into Olympic weightlifting—has been a lesson in both humility and confidence. There have been victories, setbacks, transitions, hard decisions, and moments where we had to trust God even when we couldn’t see the full picture.

Leaving one sport after so many years wasn’t easy. It meant walking away from what was familiar and stepping into something completely new. But sometimes God calls us out of what is comfortable so He can lead us into what He has prepared.

Over the last few years, we’ve watched Tim grow—not just in strength, but in discipline, perseverance, and faith. We’ve watched him sacrifice, train, trust the process, and keep showing up. And now, in his first year as a Junior athlete, God allowed him to reach a huge milestone: becoming a Junior National Champion with USA Weightlifting.

At Nationals, Tim hit personal records with a 101kg/222lb Snatch and a 130kg/286lb Clean & Jerk, totaling 231kg/509lb, earning Bronze in Snatch, Silver in Clean & Jerk, and Gold in Total—making him the overall Junior National Champion in his division.

That moment was bigger than medals. It was the fruit of years of trusting God, staying disciplined, and being willing to walk through change.

But through it all, one thing we’ve tried to keep in front of him is this: medals, titles, and championships do not define him.

Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” His worth was never in the platform—it was in Christ long before he ever stepped on it, and it will remain there long after.

As a family, we’ve learned that humility means understanding every gift, every opportunity, and every victory comes from God. It means celebrating wins with gratitude, learning from losses with grace, and remembering that no matter what titles you earn, you are never above anyone else.

But wisdom reminds us we are no less either.

God has uniquely equipped each of us for the road He has called us to walk. Sometimes that road requires hard decisions, stepping away from what no longer serves the purpose He has for us, and trusting Him enough to keep moving forward.

Tim’s journey has become part of our family’s testimony. It’s not just about becoming a champion in sport—it’s about becoming who God created him to be.

And as parents, our journey has been learning to trust God with the process—even when it stretched us, humbled us, and pushed us beyond what felt safe.

Through it all, we keep coming back to this truth:

Stay Humble.
Stand Confident.
Trust God Fully.

Because when your identity is rooted in Christ, your purpose will always be greater than your platform. 

In Case You Needed the Reminder Today...

In Case You Needed the Reminder Today...

You are cherished.
Not for what you can offer. Not because of your accomplishments. Not because of how “together” you seem to have it. You are cherished simply because you belong to God. He knit you together with intention, knows every detail of your life, and loves you with an everlasting love.

You have purpose.
Your pain is not pointless. Your setbacks are not wasted. The hard seasons you’ve walked through may not make sense right now, but God has a way of turning ashes into beauty. Sometimes the very things that tried to break you become the testimony that helps someone else survive.

And your presence makes a difference.
This one is easy to overlook. We often underestimate how much our presence matters. A kind word, a prayer, a simple act of obedience, showing up when it’s hard—these things carry weight. Someone may be holding on today because of the light you carry.

That’s why the enemy works so hard to make us feel small, unseen, and unimportant.

Because if he can convince you that you don’t matter, he can keep you from walking in the calling God placed on your life.

But hear this:

Your past does not disqualify you.
Your pain does not make you powerless.
Your scars do not make you less valuable.

They are proof that you survived.

And with God, survival can become strength, and strength can become purpose.

If you’re in a hard season right now—waiting, grieving, healing, or simply trying to keep going—don’t lose heart. God sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. He is still working, even in the silence.

And if no one else has told you today, let me remind you:

You are loved.
You are seen.
You are chosen.
You are enough because He is enough.

And your story is far from over.

Focus on Where You’re Going...

Focus on Where You’re Going...

“Focus on where you’re going & discipline yourself to get there.”

That sounds simple, but living it out is where the real work begins.

Too often, we get distracted by what’s behind us—past mistakes, setbacks, missed opportunities, or even the opinions of others. But if you spend too much time looking backward, you’ll lose sight of the path ahead.

The truth is, reaching any goal takes vision, sacrifice, and discipline.

Discipline is what keeps you moving when motivation fades. As Jim Rohn said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

I’ve watched that truth play out firsthand in our son Tim’s journey.

This past week, USA Weightlifting Jr. Nationals became the stage where years of hard work, sore muscles, missed social events, and relentless training all came together. Tim didn’t become a National Champion overnight. That title was built in the unseen moments—the days he showed up when he was tired, when lifts didn’t go his way, and when progress felt slow.

He stayed focused on where he was going.

He disciplined himself to get there.

And because of that, he stood on the platform and earned the title of 2026 Junior National Champion.

That’s the lesson.

Success in life, faith, family, and goals isn’t accidental. It’s intentional.

The road won’t always be easy. There will be obstacles. There will be people who doubt you. There will be moments when quitting feels easier.

But if God has placed something in front of you, keep your eyes fixed on it.

Stay focused.
Stay disciplined.
Stay faithful.

Because where you’re going is worth every step it takes to get there.

Faith Changes More Than Circumstances...

Faith is often misunderstood as believing that if we trust God enough, He will change our circumstances. We pray for the diagnosis to disappear, the financial burden to be lifted, the relationship to be restored, or the door to open exactly as we hope. While God certainly has the power to do all of those things, faith is not measured by whether our circumstances change. Faith is measured by whether we continue to trust Him when they don't.

Some of the most powerful moments in Scripture aren't stories of people escaping hardship—they're stories of people finding God in the middle of it. Joseph spent years in slavery and prison before he ever saw God's purpose. David was anointed king long before he wore the crown. Paul prayed for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, yet God responded, "My grace is sufficient for you."

God's greatest work is often done in the waiting.

We naturally focus on what we want God to do around us, but God is often more concerned with what He is doing within us. He uses difficult seasons to teach us patience when we'd rather have immediate answers. He teaches us perseverance when we'd rather give up. He teaches us humility when we'd rather be self-sufficient. Most importantly, He teaches us to depend on Him instead of our own strength.

When I look back over my own life, I can see situations I begged God to change. At the time, I couldn't understand why He wasn't moving as quickly as I wanted Him to. But now I realize that while I was focused on the destination, God was focused on the journey. He was building a stronger faith, a deeper trust, and a closer relationship with Him.

As a wife, a mother, a business owner, and someone who has walked through seasons of loss, uncertainty, and change, I've learned that God's faithfulness isn't determined by how quickly He answers a prayer. His faithfulness is seen in how He sustains us while we wait. He gives peace when circumstances don't make sense. He gives strength when we feel weak. He gives hope when the future seems unclear.

Sometimes God calms the storm.

Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.

The beautiful thing about faith is that it allows us to trust God's heart even when we can't see His hand. We may not understand what He's doing, but we can trust that He is working. Every challenge, every delay, every disappointment is an opportunity for Him to shape us more into the image of Christ.

So if you're in a season where nothing seems to be changing, don't lose heart. God may be doing a work that is far greater than changing your circumstances. He may be changing your perspective, your character, your priorities, and your faith.

The situation you're praying about may be temporary, but the person God is shaping you to become will impact eternity.

Faith doesn't always mean God changes your situation.

Sometimes it means He changes you—and that may be the greater miracle.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." — James 1:2-3

"And let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." — James 1:4

Become the Person Opportunity Looks For...

Become the Person Opportunity Looks For...

So many people spend their lives waiting. Waiting for the right moment, the right connection, the right break, or the right opportunity to finally move forward.

But what if opportunity isn’t something you simply wait on?

What if it’s something you prepare for?

This picture is such a powerful reminder that before the door of opportunity opens, there are steps we must take to get there. Those steps are rarely glamorous. They are built on growth mindset, hard work, learning, self-improvement, and integrity.

The truth is, success doesn’t usually happen overnight. It’s built in the quiet moments—when nobody is watching. It’s in the early mornings, the discipline to keep going, the willingness to keep learning, and the character you build along the way.

God often uses the waiting season to shape us. We may think He’s delaying, but many times He’s developing.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 says:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”

That means giving your best where you are right now—not where you hope to be someday.

Opportunity often arrives disguised as preparation.

When the door opens, will you be ready?

Don’t just pray for opportunities. Pray for wisdom, strength, discipline, and character so that when God places that door in front of you, you can walk through it with confidence.

Keep climbing. Keep growing. Keep trusting.

Because the goal isn’t just to find opportunity—

It’s to become the kind of person prepared to handle it.

God's Timing Is Always Right...

If there's one lesson I've learned over the years, it's that God's timing rarely matches my timing.

There have been seasons when I prayed for something, worked toward something, and waited for something that seemed like it would never happen. I wanted answers. I wanted doors to open. I wanted God to move according to my schedule.

But God doesn't operate on our timetable.

Sometimes we try to force things because we believe we're ready. We push doors that God hasn't opened. We become frustrated when opportunities don't work out. We wonder why our plans aren't moving forward the way we expected.

Looking back, I can see so many moments where I thought something was delayed, when in reality, God was preparing.

Preparing me.

Preparing the circumstances.

Preparing the people involved.

Preparing the blessing.

Had some of those prayers been answered when I first wanted them answered, I wouldn't have been ready to receive what God had planned.

That's one of the hardest parts of faith—trusting God when we can't see what He's doing behind the scenes.

The waiting season can feel long. It can feel frustrating. It can even feel discouraging at times. But waiting is never wasted when God is involved.

I've seen this truth play out in my own life.

There have been prayers that took years to answer. Dreams that developed slowly. Opportunities that arrived at exactly the right moment—not a day too early and not a day too late.

When I married Scot, I didn't know all the ways God would use our marriage to strengthen my faith. When we began homeschooling Tim, I couldn't see the incredible young man he would become. When Tim transitioned from Taekwondo into Olympic weightlifting, there were plenty of unknowns, but God continued opening the right doors at the right time.

None of those things could have been forced.

They unfolded according to God's perfect plan.

And now, as I watch Tim step into adulthood, pursue his goals, and begin the next chapter of his life, I'm reminded once again that God is never late.

Not once.

The same God who guided us through every season is still guiding us today.

If you're waiting for a prayer to be answered.

If you're waiting for a job opportunity, a healing, a relationship to be restored, or direction for the future.

Don't lose heart.

If it's not God's time, no amount of striving will make it happen.

But when God says it's time, no obstacle, no setback, no person, and no circumstance can stop what He has ordained.

That's the beauty of trusting Him.

We don't have to force what God has promised.

We don't have to manipulate circumstances.

We don't have to live in anxiety trying to make everything happen ourselves.

Our job is to remain faithful.

God's job is to open the doors.

And when He does, you'll discover that what seemed like a delay was actually divine preparation all along.

So if you're in a waiting season today, keep trusting. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep believing.

Because when God's timing arrives, what He has planned for your life will come to pass.

And no one can stop what God has set in motion.

The Committee of Five - June 28, 1776...

The Committee of Five...

On June 28, 1776, the Committee of Five presented the first draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress. COUNTDOWN To Our America 250 Anniversary Celebration!

The Committee of Five consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson wrote the initial draft, and the committee reviewed it before submitting it to Congress.

Congress debated edits in the document before adopting the final Declaration of Independence in the days to come.

#America250 #Freedom250 #IndependenceDay #4thofjuly

#America

Me and My House...

There are certain verses in Scripture that seem to become part of your heart. For me, Joshua 24:15 is one of those verses.

It's more than a beautiful plaque hanging on a wall. It's more than a verse stitched onto a decorative pillow or displayed above a doorway. It's a declaration. A commitment. A decision that affects every part of life.

When Joshua spoke these words, he was addressing the people of Israel after reminding them of all God had done for them. God had rescued them, protected them, provided for them, and fulfilled His promises. Joshua challenged the people to choose whom they would serve. Then he boldly declared that regardless of what others decided, he had already made his choice.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

I think that's what makes this verse so powerful. Joshua wasn't waiting to see what everyone else was going to do. He wasn't taking a poll. He wasn't following the culture around him. He had made up his mind.

In today's world, that's not always easy.

We live in a culture that constantly pulls our attention in a hundred different directions. There are endless distractions competing for our time, our energy, and our hearts. The world tells us that success, achievement, popularity, and possessions should be our highest priorities. But Joshua's words remind us that our greatest purpose is to know God and serve Him.

Serving the Lord isn't just something we do on Sunday mornings. It's a daily choice.

It's choosing prayer before panic.

It's choosing faith over fear.

It's choosing forgiveness when holding a grudge would be easier.

It's choosing obedience even when it costs us something.

It's choosing to trust God's plan when we don't understand what He's doing.

For our family, this verse has been lived out in countless ways over the years.

When Scot and I married nearly twenty years ago, we made a commitment that Christ would be at the center of our marriage. Have we done everything perfectly? Absolutely not. But through every season—the good times and the hard times—we've tried to keep our eyes on the One who brought us together.

When we chose to homeschool Tim, it wasn't simply about academics. It was about discipleship. We wanted him to know that his identity is found in Christ before anything else. Long before he became a weightlifter, a graduate, or began planning for college, he was a child of God.

Now, watching him step into adulthood has given me an even greater appreciation for this verse.

As parents, there comes a point when you realize that all the lessons, prayers, conversations, and examples you've tried to set are being carried forward into the next generation. You pray that the faith you've lived before your children becomes a faith they embrace for themselves.

My prayer has never been that Tim would simply be successful. Success comes and goes. Trophies collect dust. Records get broken. Achievements fade with time.

My prayer has always been that he would love Jesus and follow Him wherever He leads.

Because at the end of the day, that's what matters most.

The older I get, the more I realize that serving the Lord isn't about having a perfect family. Every family has struggles. Every family faces challenges. Every family experiences heartbreak and disappointment.

Serving the Lord means choosing Him in the middle of those moments.

It means trusting Him when the diagnosis isn't what you hoped for.

It means trusting Him when you're grieving the loss of someone you love.

It means trusting Him when your plans change.

It means trusting Him when you're stepping into an unknown future.

I've seen God's faithfulness through seasons of joy and seasons of loss. I've seen Him provide when I didn't know how things would work out. I've seen Him comfort when my heart was broken. I've seen Him guide our family through decisions that seemed overwhelming at the time.

Looking back, I can honestly say that God has never failed us.

Not once.

That doesn't mean life has always been easy. It means God has always been faithful.

As our family enters a new season, my commitment remains the same as it was years ago.

The world may change.

Circumstances may change.

Children grow up.

Seasons come and go.

But our foundation remains unchanged.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Not because it's popular.

Not because it's easy.

But because He is worthy.

And after all He has done, all He has carried us through, and all the blessings He has poured into our lives, I can think of no greater purpose than to serve the One who has been faithful every step of the way.

Above All, Love Deeply...

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." — 1 Peter 4:8

In a world that seems to thrive on division, criticism, and offense, this verse stands as a powerful reminder of what truly matters.

Above all, love deeply.

Not love when it's convenient.
Not love only when people deserve it.
Not love only when it's easy.

Love deeply.

The kind of love Peter talks about isn't a shallow, surface-level love. It's the kind of love that chooses grace over judgment. It's the kind of love that forgives when it's been hurt, extends kindness when it's not returned, and continues showing up even when things get messy.

As Christians, we're called to reflect the love that Christ has shown us. The truth is, every one of us has flaws. Every one of us has made mistakes, said the wrong thing, or fallen short. Yet God continues to love us with a love that never gives up.

I've seen this kind of love firsthand in my own life. In nearly twenty years of marriage, there have been moments when grace was needed. In raising Tim, there have been times when patience had to outweigh frustration. In friendships and family relationships, there have been opportunities to choose understanding instead of offense.

Love doesn't ignore sin or pretend problems don't exist. Instead, it chooses to see people through the lens of grace. It recognizes that everyone is fighting battles we may know nothing about.

The older I get, the more I realize that life is simply too short to hold onto bitterness. I've lost loved ones, experienced seasons of grief, and learned that the relationships we have are precious gifts from God. At the end of the day, people won't remember every word we said or every accomplishment we achieved. They will remember how we made them feel. They will remember whether they felt loved.

So today, choose love.

Love your spouse.
Love your children.
Love your family.
Love your neighbors.
Love the difficult people.
Love the people who don't think like you.
Love the people who may not deserve it.

After all, none of us deserved the love that Christ freely gave us.

And according to Scripture, above everything else on our priority list, above our opinions, our preferences, our schedules, and our agendas, there is one thing that should stand out the most:

Love deeply.

Tim's Medal Ceremony...

Here's the video of Tim's medal ceremony from June 24th...

The video is a little chopped up, but in Scot's defense, he's used to me being the one behind the camera...LOL! I was so excited and emotional for our boy that I just couldn't do the video myself. What a moment.