Happenings With The Neals

Welcome to our blog! This is where we share life’s precious moments with our friends and family. You’ll also find a featured post that explains how you can know for sure you’re on your way to Heaven. We love sharing meaningful quotes, encouraging Bible verses, and updates on our son’s Olympic weightlifting journey. We’re so grateful for God’s blessings in our lives—He has been so good to us. God + Family = Everything! We hope you enjoy your time here!

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

High Green Belt Testing

Timmy took his high green belt test this past Saturday and passed with flying colors. We are so proud of our boy:-).

Saturday, August 23, 2014

New York Trip: Liberty Island

We had lots of fun at our last stop on our NYC trip. It was probably one of the most fun things for Timmy besides all the NYC pizza he ate...lol. Here are some pictures:

View from Liberty Island of Ellis Island with NYC in the background.

It was very windy on Liberty Island.

Timmy looking at the Statue of Liberty.

New York Trip: Ellis Island

Learned a lot on the Ellis Island trip and had lots of fun touring everything. Here's some pics:

New York Trip: Port Jefferson

We had a really nice visit to Port Jefferson. Timmy got to see a huge ferry dock while we were there. Plus they showed Frozen on a big blow up screen in the park that's on the water there. Here are some picture:

Tim's 2025 Accomplishments!

Tim had a huge year in 2025, moving through three weight classes. He began in the 61 kg division and finished in the 71 kg division, with the June category update shifting the 67 kg class to 65 kg. Despite all the transitions, Tim made tremendous progress. He earned 8 Gold finishes (4 medals), 6 Silver finishes (4 medals), and 4 Bronze finishes (3 medals). To top all that off he is the record holder for the snatch & total in the Youth 71kg division for WSO Carolinas. A standout year filled with growth, experience, and momentum for Tim.

Heaven Is Brighter Because You Are There!!! - Lisa Young 2.31.1959-6.21.2021

Always remembering my good friend Lisa Young. She will always hold a special place in not only my heart but my husbands as well. She was instrumental in bringing us together. She will forever be in our hearts and she will never be forgotten. "IN EVERYTHING WE HAVE WON MORE THAN A VICTORY BECAUSE OF CHRIST WHO LOVES US. I AM SURE THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD'S LOVE-NOT LIFE OR DEATH, NOT ANGELS OR SPIRITS, NOT THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE, AND NOT POWERS ABOVE OR POWERS BELOW. NOTHING IN ALL CREATION CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD'S LOVE FOR US IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!" ROMANS 8:37-39 (CEV)

Heaven's Gain Our Loss

Louise Holcomb Speckhart, 51, entered into her Heavenly home on Thursday, January 11, 2024. I take comfort in knowing that we will see one another in Heaven someday. This hymn has been on my mind since her passing. "When We All Get To Heaven": Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He'll prepare for us a place. When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will overspread the sky; But when trav'ling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh. Let us then be true and faithful, Trusting, serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory Will the toils of life repay. When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we'll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold. When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory! When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the victory!

Heaven Gained a Hero Aug. 16, 1935 to May 16, 2024 - 88 years old

It's hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember. Pop (Franklin Eugene Neal) was born in Ashland, KY. He graduated Thomas R. Brown High School and was a proud Army National Guard Veteran. He loved cars and working on them. He loved racing them with his boys, Jeff and Scot. He could fix just about anything. If he didn't have a tool for something then he'd make it. He valued family above everything. He loved traveling and going to amusement parks with his kids and grandkids, especially Disney World. He will forever be missed and forever be in our hearts! (this is not his official Obit)

Doris Jean Stergeon "Nan" Neal - This is her Official Obituary

"The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there." ~G. Shaw Doris Jean Stergeon Neal, 88, of Ashland, passed away peacefully at her daughter Elaine’s home, on Friday, July 18, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Doris was born in Ashland, on June 13th, 1937, the daughter of the late James B. and Opal McDowell Stergeon. Doris was a proud 1955 graduate of Thomas R. Brown High School, this is where she would meet the love of her life, Franklin Neal, who passed away on May 16, 2024. Together, she and Frank built a wonderful life, they were married for more than 70 years and their home was blessed with three wonderful children, Elaine, Jeffrey and Scot. Doris was a member of Faith Christian Assembly. Doris loved being a homemaker, gardening, making floral arrangements and crocheting. She also enjoyed reading a good book. Above all, her family was most important to her. She has been active with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren over the years, she was always their biggest cheerleader. Doris and Frank had many adventures through the years traveling with their family, and after retirement spending their winters in Florida. Left to cherish wonderful memories of Doris are her three loving children, Elaine Brown, her husband Kevin, of Flatwoods, KY, Jeffrey Neal, his wife Debra, of Richmond, KY, and Scot Neal, his wife Lisa, of Wendell, NC; her five beloved grandchildren Brittany Dean, her husband Tyler, Mysterie Prichard, her husband Trevor, Joshton Brown, his wife Michelle, Corey Neal, and Timothy Neal; her five precious great-grandchildren William, Victorie, Versai, Kylie and Norah. Also surviving are her two brothers, James “Bub” Stergeon and his wife Bonnie, of Catlettsburg, and Greg Stergeon of Catlettsburg, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.