We made a special trip to Goodberrys to get our Jarvis cups, and of course, we couldn't leave without some concretes too! They were absolutely delicious and definitely worth the drive in. We picked them up after Tim finished his recovery therapy next door.
I meant to post this last week when we got them. It was the day after Jarvis scored the game-winning goal, which made it even more exciting. The timing couldn't have been much better! 🏒🍦😊
For many years, I misunderstood what it meant to be meek.
I thought meekness meant being weak, passive, or allowing people to walk all over you. In a world that often celebrates the loudest voice, the strongest personality, and the person who pushes their way to the front, meekness can seem like a disadvantage.
But that's not what Jesus was talking about.
Meekness isn't weakness.
It's strength under control.
It's having the ability to react in anger but choosing patience instead. It's having every right to demand your own way but choosing humility. It's trusting God enough to let Him fight battles that you could try to fight yourself.
I've had moments in my life when I wanted to defend myself, prove a point, or make sure everyone knew my side of the story. Sometimes I wanted immediate answers and immediate justice. Yet time and time again, God has reminded me that not every battle is mine to fight.
Some battles belong to Him.
One of the hardest lessons I've learned is that humility often requires more strength than pride. It takes strength to stay quiet when you want to argue. It takes strength to forgive when you've been hurt. It takes strength to trust God's timing when you'd rather take matters into your own hands.
As I look back over the years, I can see how God has worked through situations where I simply had to trust Him. There were doors that closed that I didn't understand at the time. There were disappointments that felt painful in the moment. There were seasons when I wanted answers but instead received silence.
Yet God was working all along.
I've learned that meekness doesn't mean giving up. It means surrendering control to the One who sees the whole picture.
I think about our family's journey with our son and sports. There came a point when we had to step away from something that had been a significant part of our lives. We could have forced the issue. We could have insisted on staying the course simply because of the time and energy already invested.
Instead, we chose to trust.
We gave our son room to seek his own path, and God opened a door we never expected. Today, watching him thrive in Olympic weightlifting, it seems clear that this is where he was meant to be. What once felt like a difficult ending became the beginning of something far better.
That experience reminded me that God's plans often unfold when we release our grip and trust Him to lead.
The world tells us to grab, push, demand, and control. Jesus teaches something different. He teaches us to walk in humility, trust God's leadership, and let Him direct our steps.
Meekness is not about having no strength.
It's about having strength and choosing to place it in God's hands.
When Jesus says the meek will inherit the earth, He is reminding us that God's blessings are not reserved for those who force their way forward. They are for those who trust Him enough to walk humbly and faithfully, even when they don't have all the answers.
Today, my prayer is simple: Lord, help me to be strong enough to trust You, humble enough to follow You, and meek enough to let You lead.
Because I've learned that when God is leading, His destination is always better than anything I could have chosen on my own.
I ordered this t-shirt for Tim, and we'll pick it up when we arrive at Nationals in just a couple of weeks.
It may seem like a simple shirt to some people, but to us it represents so much more. It represents the countless hours of training, the early mornings, the sore muscles, the sacrifices, and the commitment it has taken to get to this point.
This year marks Tim's first Nationals as a Junior competitor, and that makes it even more special.
As a parent, it's incredible to watch your child pursue something they truly love. I've watched Tim pour his heart into this sport, setting goals for himself and working day after day to achieve them. Success doesn't happen overnight, and it certainly doesn't happen without hard work. What makes me proud isn't just the numbers he puts on the platform—it's the discipline, determination, and character he has developed along the way.
Nationals is about more than medals and records. It's an opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the country, to learn from experienced lifters, and to gain valuable experience that will help him continue to grow in the sport. Every competition teaches something new, and we know he will come home stronger, wiser, and more motivated regardless of the outcome.
Of course, we're praying that he reaches the goals he has set for himself. We're praying for personal records, successful lifts, confidence on the platform, and a competition day that reflects all the hard work he has invested throughout the year. But more than that, we're praying that he enjoys the experience and embraces every moment of it.
Looking back, it's amazing to see where this journey has taken him. What started as an interest has grown into a passion, and now he's preparing to compete on one of the biggest stages available to him at this level. That's something worth celebrating.
The shirt is a fun souvenir, but the real reward is seeing a young man chase his dreams with determination and perseverance. No matter what happens at Nationals, we're already proud of how far he's come.
Now the countdown is on, and we can't wait to see what God has in store for him during this next chapter of his journey.
For a long time, I struggled with the idea of walking away from things. Whether it was relationships, commitments, or situations that were no longer healthy, I often felt that leaving meant quitting. I thought perseverance meant staying no matter what.
Over time, I've learned something different.
Sometimes walking away isn't weakness at all. Sometimes it's one of the wisest decisions you can make.
Most people think about this only in terms of relationships, but I've come to realize it applies to many areas of life. Sometimes we have to walk away from situations, environments, or even activities that are no longer serving us well in order to make room for something better.
As a family, we experienced this firsthand with our son.
For years, he was involved in another sport. We invested countless hours, traveled to competitions, made sacrifices, and supported him every step of the way. Walking away wasn't a decision that happened overnight, and it certainly wasn't easy. There were emotions attached to it, memories attached to it, and a lot of uncertainty about what would come next.
But sometimes wisdom requires us to honestly evaluate where we are and whether it's still the right place for us.
When our son stepped away, we didn't force him into another path. Instead, we gave him room to breathe, room to think, and room to choose his next steps. Looking back now, that may have been one of the best decisions we ever made.
What happened next was something none of us could have fully anticipated.
He found Olympic weightlifting.
Or perhaps a better way to say it is that Olympic weightlifting found him.
The more he trained, the more obvious it became that this wasn't just another sport he enjoyed. This was where he belonged. His body is naturally built for it. His strengths align with it. His mindset fits it. The sport seems to bring out the very best in him.
Watching him grow and succeed in Olympic weightlifting has made us realize that this may have been where he was meant to be all along.
Had we refused to walk away from what wasn't working, we might never have discovered what was.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes we hold on so tightly to what is familiar that we miss what God is trying to place in front of us.
Walking away can be scary because it means stepping into the unknown. We don't know what comes next. We don't know if we're making the right decision. But sometimes faith requires trusting that God is leading even when we can't see the entire path.
The same principle applies to relationships and emotional health. There are times when certain people, environments, or situations continually drain us, discourage us, or keep us from growing. Creating distance doesn't mean we stop caring. It means we're choosing wisdom over unnecessary struggle.
I've learned that protecting your peace isn't selfish. It's stewardship.
Scripture tells us to guard our hearts because everything we do flows from them. Sometimes guarding our hearts means having the courage to walk away from what no longer fits God's plan for our lives.
Looking back, I have no regrets about the decisions our family made. What felt difficult at the time opened the door to opportunities we never could have imagined. Our son found a sport he loves, a community that supports him, and a path that seems perfectly suited to how God created him.
Sometimes the greatest blessings are waiting on the other side of a decision we're afraid to make.
Walking away isn't always giving up.
Sometimes it's making room for something better.
And sometimes, it's the wisest thing you'll ever do.
Life has knocked me down a few times.
More than a few, if I'm being honest.
There have been seasons that tested me in ways I never expected. I've faced disappointments that hurt deeply, watched plans fall apart, and walked through situations I never would have chosen for myself. Life has shown me things I never wanted to see and taken me down roads I never imagined traveling.
I've experienced sadness.
I've experienced failure.
I've experienced moments when I wondered how everything would work out.
There have been days when getting out of bed felt like a victory. Days when the weight of circumstances seemed heavier than my strength to carry them. Days when I questioned whether I had enough left in me to keep moving forward.
But through it all, I've learned something important.
I may get knocked down, but I don't stay there.
Not because I'm stronger than everyone else.
Not because I have all the answers.
And certainly not because life has been easy.
I get back up because God has been faithful.
Every time I've faced a setback, God has provided the strength for one more step. Every time I've felt broken, He has brought healing. Every time I've thought a chapter was ending, He was already writing the next one.
The struggles I've faced have not defined me. They have shaped me.
The failures I've experienced have not destroyed me. They have taught me.
The hardships I've endured have not stopped me. They have strengthened me.
Looking back, I can see that some of my greatest growth came from the very seasons I would never choose to repeat. God used those difficult moments to deepen my faith, build my character, and remind me where my true source of strength comes from.
Maybe you're walking through one of those difficult seasons right now. Maybe you've been knocked down by disappointment, loss, failure, or circumstances beyond your control.
If so, don't give up.
Rest if you need to.
Pray if you need to.
Lean on others if you need to.
But don't stay down.
The same God who carried you yesterday will carry you today. And He will be there tomorrow.
Life may knock us down, but with God's help, we can always get back up.
And that's exactly what I intend to keep doing.
Again and again.
No matter what comes my way.
I always get up.
Life has a way of overwhelming us sometimes.
There are seasons when the road ahead seems long, the obstacles seem too big, and the finish line feels impossibly far away. We look at everything that still needs to be done and wonder how we're ever going to make it through.
I've learned that during those moments, it's usually not helpful to focus on the entire journey. Looking too far ahead can make us feel discouraged before we even take the next step.
Instead, sometimes the best thing we can do is simply focus on the step right in front of us.
Not ten steps.
Not a hundred steps.
Just one.
One phone call.
One workout.
One prayer.
One task.
One act of obedience.
One day at a time.
Some of life's greatest victories are not won through giant leaps. They're won through small, faithful steps repeated day after day. Progress often happens so gradually that we don't even notice it until we look back and realize how far we've come.
I've seen this play out in recovery, in training, in healing, and in faith. Whether you're rebuilding your health, working toward a goal, recovering from a setback, or simply trying to make it through a difficult season, every step matters.
And here's the beautiful thing: God doesn't usually show us the entire path. He gives us enough light for the next step.
As believers, we are called to walk by faith, not by sight. That means trusting God even when we can't see the whole picture. It means believing that He is working behind the scenes when progress feels slow and answers seem delayed.
If you're struggling today, don't worry about next month or even next week. Don't carry burdens that belong to tomorrow.
Just take the next step.
Then when you've done that, take another.
Before long, you'll look back and realize that what once seemed impossible was accomplished one faithful step at a time.
Keep moving forward.
Keep trusting God.
Keep taking the next step.
That's how journeys are completed, mountains are climbed, and difficult seasons are overcome—one step at a time.
I recently came across the statement in the picture above, and it really made me stop and think.
The more I thought about it, the more it made me reflect on our own situation.
In less than ten years, if all goes according to plan, Scot and I will have our home completely paid off. No mortgage. No monthly payment to a bank. The house that we've worked for, sacrificed for, and poured years of our lives into will finally be ours.
Or will it?
The reality is that even after the mortgage is paid, there will still be property taxes. If those taxes aren't paid, the government can place a lien on the property and, in some cases, eventually take it. That means that while the bank may no longer own a piece of our home, there will always be an ongoing cost attached to the land we live on.
Now, I understand that taxes help fund schools, roads, emergency services, and other public needs. This isn't about arguing whether those services are important. It's simply about the interesting reality that "paid off" doesn't necessarily mean "free."
For many families, paying off a home is one of life's greatest milestones. It represents years of hard work, discipline, delayed gratification, and perseverance. It's the reward at the end of decades of budgeting, making sacrifices, and choosing needs over wants.
When I think about our own journey, I realize that a house is so much more than lumber, bricks, and drywall. It's where memories are made. It's where we've celebrated birthdays, gathered around the dinner table, welcomed family and friends, and weathered life's storms together. It's where we've laughed, cried, prayed, and dreamed about the future.
Like many families, we've had seasons where money was tight and unexpected expenses seemed to come out of nowhere. There have been repairs, maintenance projects, rising costs, and all the responsibilities that come with homeownership. Yet through every season, God has faithfully provided what we needed.
That's why the thought of making that final mortgage payment is exciting. Not because it means we'll never have another expense, but because it marks the completion of a long journey. It represents years of commitment and sacrifice. It represents choosing financial responsibility when it would have been easier to spend elsewhere. It represents staying the course even when progress felt slow.
At the same time, the statement above serves as a reminder that true security isn't found in a house, a deed, a bank account, or even a paid-off mortgage. Any of those things can change in an instant.
Scripture reminds us in Psalm 127:1:
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."
That verse has taken on greater meaning for me over the years. We can work hard, make plans, and strive toward financial goals—and we should—but ultimately everything we have comes from God. He is the One who provides opportunities, strength, wisdom, and blessings.
The older I get, the more I realize that ownership is often an illusion. We spend our lives accumulating things, maintaining things, and protecting things. Yet none of it truly belongs to us forever. We are simply caretakers for a season.
Our home is a blessing. The land we live on is a blessing. Every mortgage payment we've been able to make has been a blessing. Every improvement we've made and every memory we've created within these walls has been a blessing.
So while I may still find myself pondering the question of whether we ever truly "own" our homes, I know this much: I am grateful. Grateful for a roof over our heads. Grateful for God's provision. Grateful for the opportunity to work toward a goal that once seemed so far away.
Ten years from now, when we stand in our paid-off home, I hope I'll remember not just the financial accomplishment, but the journey that got us there—the lessons learned, the sacrifices made, the prayers prayed, and God's faithfulness through every season.
Because at the end of the day, everything we have is His anyway. We are simply stewards of the blessings He has entrusted to us.
And perhaps that's the most important lesson of all: our true security isn't found in what we own, but in the One who owns it all.
Today marks the 82nd anniversary of one of the most significant days in world history—D-Day, June 6, 1944.
On that morning, more than 156,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, in what became the largest amphibious military invasion in history. The operation, known as Operation Overlord, was a pivotal turning point in World War II. Soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and other Allied nations stormed heavily fortified beaches under relentless enemy fire, knowing many would never return home.
It's difficult to fully comprehend the courage those young men displayed. Many were barely older than teenagers. They left behind families, friends, dreams, and futures because they believed freedom was worth fighting for. They stepped off landing crafts into uncertainty and danger so that future generations could live in liberty.
As I think about D-Day today, I'm reminded that freedom has never been free. The rights and privileges we enjoy every day came at a tremendous cost. Thousands gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy, and countless others carried the physical and emotional scars of war for the rest of their lives.
History can sometimes feel distant, especially as the years pass and fewer veterans remain to tell their stories firsthand. But days like today are important because they remind us to pause and remember. Remember the sacrifice. Remember the courage. Remember the selflessness.
Scripture tells us in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
While the soldiers who landed on Normandy's beaches came from different backgrounds and walks of life, they shared a common purpose that day. Their bravery helped change the course of history and brought hope to a world engulfed in darkness.
Today, let us honor the heroes of D-Day—not only with words, but with gratitude. May we never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy, and may we always remember those who paid the ultimate price to secure them.
We remember. We honor. We are grateful.
#DDay #June6 #NeverForget #FreedomIsNotFree
There is something powerful about realizing that who you become tomorrow is determined by what you choose to do today. Every goal achieved, every skill developed, every obstacle overcome, and every dream fulfilled begins with consistent effort in the present.
Too many people spend their time comparing themselves to others. They focus on someone else's success, someone else's journey, or someone else's accomplishments. But the greatest competition you will ever face is the person you were yesterday. Growth happens when you focus on becoming the best version of yourself rather than measuring your progress against everyone around you.
Your future self is counting on the decisions you make today. The early mornings, the extra effort, the discipline when no one is watching, and the determination to keep going when things get difficult all add up over time. Success rarely comes from one big moment. More often, it is built through countless small choices made consistently over months and years.
There will be days when you don't feel motivated. There will be days when progress seems slow and the finish line feels far away. Those are the moments when discipline becomes more important than motivation. Motivation comes and goes, but commitment keeps moving forward.
As believers, we also recognize that our potential is not based solely on our own abilities. God has placed unique gifts, talents, and opportunities within each of us. He has created us with purpose and calls us to be faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Pursuing our potential is not about pride; it is about honoring God by using our gifts to their fullest capacity.
Don't settle for comfort when growth is possible. Don't let fear keep you from taking the next step. Don't allow temporary setbacks to convince you that your dreams are out of reach. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep trusting God. Keep showing up.
Years from now, your future self will either thank you for the sacrifices you made today or wish you had started sooner.
The choice is yours.
Make today count.
