Homeschool Coming to End This Year...

(Technically 13 years if you count Kindergarten)

Today I start going through all Tim’s school books. Some of it will be getting donated and others packed into a bucket for safe keeping. There’s just some stuff you don’t get rid of. IYKYK. #homeschooljourneycoming2anend #classof2026

I did this once before to make room for new books as we went into his highschool years.  There's still more purging to get done though because I didn't get it all done back then.  

It's hard to believe this journey is coming to an end this school year.  It feels surreal that it's almost over and that our son will be moving onto new things and adventures in his life.  

While we know that weightlifting will continue to be a huge focus for Tim moving forward we don't know what else God has in store for him.  It's gonna be hard letting go and letting God work in his life as he steps out into this crazy world and does life.  WE know we've taught him well and we have to trust in that as Tim moves forward. 

I'm also taking this time to figure out what's next for me now that the job of raising/homeschooling our son is almost done.  Life will be so much different after May 2026.  

I'm seeking God's guidance on what he would have me do next.  I'm sure there's a next he has in mind for me and I'm looking forward to walking it out with him.  God is my world!  He's my everything!  Besides, my relationship with him the only others that are my world are my husband and son.  I'm so thankful for God's many blessings in my life.  He has blessed me so much more than I could have thought or imagined.  He's touched my life so deeply that I'm eternally grateful.  I'm so glad that His presence in my life is always felt and appreciated.  I will never understand those who do this life without God.  I can't even imagine my life without God in it.  

This homeschooling journey has been a season in my life.  It's been a challenging season at times and a really blessed season at other times.  Such a mix of emotions going on for me in this last year of homeschooling.  

Happy Labor Day!

Summers coming to an end 😢 but Christmas 🎄 will be around the corner but not before we get to enjoy the fall 🍂 colors 😍😊.

We hope you enjoy this Labor Day with your families enjoying the last glimmers of summer 😌.

Milestone Moment...

Today Tim took his 1st solo drive to the gym to do his weightlifting training.  He made it safely.  Thank God for the Life360 app that helps give us nervous parents more peace of mind.

It's never easy to let go of the apron strings with our children but they do have to grow up at some point and we've got to let them.  We miss the times when they were younger as they grow into adulthood and take steps outside the nest of safety that we've had them in all these years but they will never know how to fly unless we allow them.  A wise momma bird pushes her young out of the nest and forces them to fly and so must we with our kids.  We've got to trust that we have done our job as parents well and that they will soar in life as they begin their journey of life without us.  

Tim is growing to be an amazing young man.  His dad and I are so proud of all that he's accomplished and survived in his young life.  God has kept him on this earth for a reason.  He has a plan for Tim and we pray that Tim lives out God's plan for his life.  

We know that as he grows and learns more of God's plan + reads and studies God's Word that he will do well in this life, such as it is currently.  

We are so incredibly thankful for God's blessings in our lives and we pray for God's ministering angels to guard around about Tim as he does life.  We pray safe journeys everywhere that he goes.  We pray God's hand will lead and guide him every step of the way of his journeys.  We pray that God meets him right where he's at.  We pray to God for protection, wholeness, and completeness always and forever.  And thank you God for giving us, as parents, a peace that passes all understanding as you guard our hearts and minds as our son steps out into the world to do life without us with him constantly.  In Jesus Name, Amen & Amen!

Leveled Up ⏫ Today...

He leveled up ⏫ today. He’s looking forward to driving alone. Me not so much😳😢😭. Going to the Wendell DMV was a much better experience than going to Goldsboro. They were so much nicer. We had an 8am appointment and we were driving home by 8:35. Now that’s how it should be done at the DMV. We were in Goldsboro for 5 1/2 hours with an appointment and had to walk away because Tim needed to get home so he could get to training. It should have never taken that long with an appointment.

Word of advice: MAKE AN APPOINTMENT & BE NICE, ALWAYS BE NICE!

Next stop for Tim will be his full Class C when he turns 18 in May of 2026.

#wendelldmv4thewin.

My Greatest Blessing...

Telling our kids often that we love them is so important to their self esteem.  It's important that we build them up as often as we can and that they never have to wonder if we love them because they already know.  

Tim knows because we tell him all the time how much we love him.  He also knows how proud we are of the man that he's becoming because we tell him all the time.  He never has to wonder how we feel about him because he knows.  

Tim knows he is wanted.  He knows he is loved.  He knows that he will always be wanted and loved.  He is God's greatest blessing to his father and myself.  I'm thankful everyday that God allowed me to be his mother and that we have raised him the way that we have raised him.  He is becoming an amazing young man, at 17 (a senior in High School), who knows who he is and whose he is as well.  I know that God has great plans for him and his dad and I can't wait to watch how those plans play out in his life.  

What a Resemblance....

Everyone always talks about how much Tim looks like Scot because when you see the old pics of Scot it looks like he just spit Tim out as a duplicate of himself...LOL! When you look at this picture you can't deny that he also looks a lot like me as well...LOL! Tim really got a great mix of Scot and I.  Now I can say, "he's definitely mine...LOL!"  

Then & Now...

1st Pic was taken the year I graduated High School!

Yesterday's Dental Appt for Tim...

Tim had his 6 month checkup yesterday.  He is doing a fantastic job with his brushing.  The hygienist was thrilled that he's doing so great.  she was like most kids his age don't do as well as he's doing.  I told her that I hound him about making sure he's brushing his teeth properly...LOL!  He did, however, have a small developmental cavity.  What that means is that Tim had a grooved area in one of his back teeth that food could easily get trapped in which caused a soft spot which caused a cavity.  His dentist assured me it was nothing he did wrong because he's doing great on his care of his teeth.  What was even better was that he could take care of it right then without our having to return for another appointment.  It was Tim's first Tim having to have any work done and the dentist didn't think about explaining the whole process to him before he did it😳.  After getting over the shock of not having it all explained Tim was like that wasn't all that bad but I just wish he'd told me what was happening instead of just doing it...LOL!   He mad it 17 1/2 years with no cavities🙌🙌🙌!!!  

That's way better than most on my side of the family have done.  It's definitely better than I did.  I was really young when I had my first cavities.  Back then because they were baby teeth they'd pull them and put in spacers until the adult tooth grew in.  My parents didn't push us like I've pushed Tim to brush his teeth.  we are doing things right with him so that he won't have the teeth problems that I've had all of my life.  If my parents had done better with us kids my teeth would be in an all together better place than they've been.  But my parents were dirt poor and they could scarcely put food on the table at times much less buy tooth brushes and toothpaste for all us kids to brush our teeth.  Dental visits were free because we were getting government assistance.  And Government assistance didn't give you free tooth brushes or tooth paste.  just food stamps, free cheese, Peanut butter & powdered milk.  That's just how it was with poor folks back when I was growing up. 

I'm so thankful that Tim's not ever had to have those experiences and that we've been able to help him take great care of his teeth all these years.  He will have much better teeth in his adult years than I have had.  I'm ever so thankful that we've not had to raise him how I was raised.  I'm thankful that we have had the funds to take proper care of Tim's teeth.  Thank you Lord for your many blessings to us!  

Tim's 2024-2025 Yearbook from LCHA (Lighthouse Christian Homeschool Association) Is Here...

Tim received his yearbook today and he was thrilled with it.  It is one of the best yearbooks that Lighthouse has put out to date.

Tim's Physical Results...

As more time goes by and the memories of what was fades into what is now I am more thankful than ever that Tim switched sports when he did.  it was the absolute best change for Tim.  The results from his physical this past Friday prove that.  just check out the comparisons from last year and this year below.  What you will see is that he's not gained in height but he's gained in mass because of how much muscle he's been gaining in weightlifting.  He would have never been able to fight and win and the level he needed to with the giants in the land.  his competitors would tower over him.  we are so so glad that Tim changed sports.  best change ever!!!

Senior Year Schedule...

Tim is doing some 11th grade and all of his 12th grade subjects this school year.  He has been given a schedule that he will have to keep for this school year in order to graduate on time in May 2026.  

Other than Church on Sunday mornings and going to bed by 10pm his Sunday's will be a free day for him.

17th Birthday Yesterday...

I got these shots yesterday.  For Tim's birthday we upgraded his cell phone.  He is so happy with his new phone.