What a Freaking Blessing ❤️

This is exactly how I felt after spending last weekend at the Carolinas WSO Championships!

Whether Tim is lifting or we're sitting on the sidelines cheering on the athletes who are, we genuinely enjoy being there. There is something special about watching these young men and women step onto the platform, give it their all, and accomplish things they've worked so hard for.

But what makes these weekends so special to us goes far beyond the lifting.

It's the community.

One of the things I love most about the weightlifting community is how much they genuinely want to see one another succeed. When an athlete hits a personal record, makes a lift they've been chasing, or earns a medal, there is so much excitement and celebration. You see athletes cheering for one another, encouraging one another, and sharing in those special moments.

Of course, they're competing against one another, but there is no reason someone else's success can't be celebrated, too. Someone else's accomplishment doesn't diminish what you've worked for or what you're capable of achieving.

And I LOVE that!

We've seen how sports can sometimes become wrapped up in backbiting, comparisons, and negativity. That's one of the reasons this weightlifting community has been such a blessing to Tim. It has lifted him up in ways other sports never did. The encouragement, friendships, and support he has found along this journey have made a difference in him, not just as an athlete, but as a young man.

As his parents, that means more to us than words can adequately express.

Last weekend at the Carolinas WSO Championships, we weren't just there to watch a competition. We were there to cheer, encourage, reconnect with friends, celebrate accomplishments, and make more memories with people who have become such a meaningful part of our lives.

We love watching Tim's fellow athletes succeed. We love seeing the hard work pay off. We love the excitement that fills the room when someone makes a big lift. And we love being part of a community where people can compete against one another while still wanting the very best for each other.

That's what makes this sport so special to us.

At the end of the day, the weight on the bar matters, the personal records are exciting, and the medals are wonderful reminders of hard work. But the people, the relationships, the encouragement, and the memories made along the way? Those are the things that stay with you long after the competition is over.

So, yes, we came home exhausted after the Carolinas WSO Championships. But it was the kind of exhaustion that comes from spending a weekend doing something you love with people you love being around.

And honestly?

What a freaking blessing that is! ❤️

I'll take a weekend like that any day. The tired feet, the long days, the excitement, the laughter, the cheering, and all the memories are worth every bit of it.

We are so thankful for this weightlifting community and the role it has played in Tim's journey. We may have started this journey because of a sport, but we've gained so much more than that along the way.

And that's something worth celebrating!

Tell Them While You Can

Tell Them While You Can

A close friend's aunt passed away last Friday. Although I didn't know her personally, my heart hurts for my friend and her family as they grieve the loss of someone they love so dearly. Over time, they have become like family to us, and when people you care about are hurting, you feel that hurt right alongside them.

As I was thinking about them and what their family is going through, I came across the quote above and knew I wanted to share it here.

Too often, we wait until it's too late to say the things we should have said all along.

Life moves so fast. 💨 We get caught up in our daily routines, our responsibilities, and all the things we think need our attention. Sometimes, we forget to pause and tell the people we love just how much they mean to us.

Don't wait for a special occasion. Don't assume they already know. Take the time to tell them you appreciate them, that you love them, and that they matter to you. We aren't promised tomorrow, and we never know when an ordinary day might become a memory we wish we could relive.

As I think about what my friend and her family are experiencing right now, I am reminded that any of us could find ourselves in that same place. But God! He has carried us through our own seasons of grief, uncertainty, and fear, and He has reminded us just how precious the gift of life truly is.

In 2024, we lost Pop. In 2025, we lost Nan. Then, in June of 2026, we came frighteningly close to losing two more members of our family. But God! He showed up in a mighty way, and we are beyond thankful that those two loved ones are still here with us today. And now, in October 2026, my friend and her family are facing the heartbreak of losing her aunt.

Life has a way of reminding us that none of us is exempt from heartache. It seems there is always something challenging happening in someone's life, and perhaps part of that is the stage of life we are in.

When we're young, we haven't experienced enough of life's losses and challenges to fully understand how quickly things can change. As we move through our 30s and 40s, our perspective begins to shift. But by the time we reach our 50s, something often changes in the way we look at life.

We begin to understand more deeply that time is precious. We cherish the moments we have with our loved ones a little more. We become more intentional about making memories, staying connected, and being present. We also find ourselves reaching out to others who are walking through similar seasons because we understand, perhaps more than ever before, how much it means to have someone beside you when life gets hard.

The older I get, the more I realize that love should never be left unspoken, and time spent with the people who matter most is never time wasted.

No matter what stage of life we're in, one thing is certain: the circle of life continues to turn. Life doesn't stop for our grief, our struggles, or our wishes that we could have just a little more time. We cannot control how many days we are given, but we can choose how we spend them and how we love the people God has placed in our lives.

So, please, don't wait.

Tell someone you appreciate them. Tell them you love them. Check on the friend who may be struggling. Make that phone call. Send that text. Give that hug. Forgive when you can, encourage when you see a need, and never underestimate the difference your words can make in someone's life.

We may never know just how much those little moments mean to someone else, but we don't want to look back one day and wish we had said more, loved more, or simply been there.

Life is precious. Time is a gift. And the people God has placed in our lives are not to be taken for granted.

Don't leave what you think about someone to their eulogy. Tell them while they are still here to hear it. ❤️