I put together a couple of photo collages from 2025 to share here. There was so much good in 2025 for our family, but it was also a year marked by profound loss. We lost the matriarch of the Neal family, a loss that has overshadowed much of the joy. Two years of loss have been incredibly difficult—first our patriarch in 2024, and then our matriarch in 2025—especially because they were truly the heartbeat of our family.
The grief itself has been heavy, but watching how these losses have affected some of the family members who are still here has been just as hard. Seeing loved ones sink into deep sadness, going through the motions without truly enjoying the life and relationships they still have, has been heartbreaking.
Even while carrying this grief, the past couple of years have been the best yet for our son in weightlifting. I know his grandparents are looking down with pride at all he has accomplished. I can picture them smiling, seeing how happy and fulfilled their grandson is in this new sport. Tim misses them deeply—they were his biggest cheerleaders in everything he did.
Though we miss them every single day and think of them often, we continue to live our lives fully, hoping that in doing so we are honoring their legacy.
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| Left to right: 1st row: Tim with his 3 Silver Medals from the Arnold & the second pic is him sharing them with his Nan. The 3rd pic is his Gold medal from Barbells-n-Sprinkles Spring Open. 2nd row: Tucker, Tim's b-day pic, Tim at Nationals. 3rd row: Stella, Tim at Nationals with his 117kg lift, Tim and his dad enjoying a Cripple Creek train tour in Colorado. 4th row: Tim at Twenty-One Pilots Concert & Tim with his 3 Bronze finishes from VW Finals in Daytona. |
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| Left to right: 1st row: Tim & I with a Gold mine in the back of us at Cripple Creek - one of the largest Gold mines in the USA, Tim & Scot at a EKU game supporting our nephew who's one of their coaches, Tim showing his muscles. 2nd row: Me at my desk, Tim doing schoolwork at home, Scot outside a venue. 3rd row: Stella, Scot and I at Daytona Beach, Tucker with his favorite toy. 4th row: Tim at the State Meet having a good time cheering on a teammate, Scot and I at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado. |
Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner Hanukkah.
Translation: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light[s].
After the lights are kindled the hymn Hanerot Halalu is recited.
It is customary for women not to work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning, and some have the custom not to work for the entire time of burning. It is also forbidden to fast or to eulogize during Hanukkah.
Anyhow, I thought you'd enjoy learning a bit about this holy holiday of the Jewish people.
Here's Tim's Snatch Pro-Shots of his lifts:
This is the latest that we have ever put up our Christmas tree. It's been so busy these past couple of months and I'm glad that we were able to finally get it up. This year we put only shatterproof ornaments on the tree because we have a Stella and we just aren't sure how she's gonna be with the Christmas tree. Last year she was a tiny timid kitten and this year she's a full grown active cat. It will be interesting to see if she does anything more than paw at the low hanging ornaments.
This is our first Christmas Season without Nan and our second without Popsie, and the holidays simply don’t feel the same. We know they are at peace and rejoicing with their Savior in Heaven, but their absence is felt in a hundred little ways. Family gatherings are different now—quieter, softer—because the warmth they brought is no longer here.
It truly feels like a piece of our hearts is missing. Life goes on, as it must, but it has undeniably changed. There isn’t a day that passes that we don’t think of them, miss them, and wish they were still here with us.
