Mom's Recovery...

Mom's Recovery...

Mom has been doing amazing in her recovery from total knee replacement surgery. PT has been focusing heavily on strength exercises to help strengthen both her surgery knee and the supporting leg. She faithfully does every exercise they give her to do at home each and every day.

Her gait is looking better than I’ve seen it in years—as long as she doesn’t fall back into the bad habits her body naturally wants to return to she'll be golden. I love that she only uses the cane now. She’s even getting in and out of the shower on her own without needing the shower chair anymore.

The scar has healed so nicely. It took right at the two-month mark for the swelling to go down enough that her surgery knee actually looks better than her other knee—which also needs to be replaced. Her surgery knee still gets hot at times, so she continues using the ice machine for pain management.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy, and there have definitely been some hiccups along the way, but she’s truly getting to the other side of this surgery now.

Once Scot finishes fixing her car—which has been a challenge to say the least—I’m going to take her to an empty parking lot so she can practice driving again on the new knee. It’s one of the last big steps we need to take to help her regain her independence—and it's so exciting to see this moment approaching.

Graduation Pictures with Family & Friends...

We had fun getting pictures with family and friends after the graduation ceremony.

Graduation Video...

Here's Tim's graduation video:

We Have a Graduate in Our Home...

This is the official graduation announcement of Tim from our homeschool:

Happy Graduation Day Tim!

Watching you turn 18 five days ago & graduating High School today gives us a mix of emotions—along with pride, excitement, and just a little bit of "how did we get here so fast?"

You're stepping into your independence, making your own choices, and finding your way—and that's exactly what you're supposed to do.

Just remember:

        You don't have to have it all figured out.

        You're allowed to learn as you go.

        And no matter how grown you are...

        You will always have a place to land, a voice to call, 

        & people who love you more than you know.

We are so proud of you😊.

Mixed Emotion Day...

Today is one of those days filled with both celebration and remembrance. It marks the 2nd anniversary of Popsie’s passing, while also being the day Tim graduates from high school. The emotions feel bittersweet because neither of Tim’s grandparents on his dad’s side are here physically to witness this milestone. But we hold onto the comfort that they are watching from heaven—whole, healed, and free from pain.

Today, we choose to celebrate. We don’t allow the sadness of loss to overshadow the joy of this moment because we know that’s exactly what Pop would have wanted. Family meant everything to Pop and Nan. They poured their lives into their children and grandchildren, and that same love and devotion is something Scot and I have always tried to give Tim as well.

Tim has been incredibly blessed to grow up in a family that truly loves deeply and values one another. That kind of love is rare, and there’s no price you can put on it. Even though today is a day of accomplishment and excitement for Tim, I didn’t want it to pass without honoring the amazing man Popsie was.

Pop loved his family with his whole heart. He made it a priority to create memories and spend meaningful time with the people he loved most. Whether it was family vacations, outings, holidays, or simply everyday moments together, he treasured it all. He could sit for hours telling stories about the memories they made together—laughing, reminiscing, and reliving every detail. To him, those moments were life’s greatest treasures.

Pop never took his blessings for granted. He understood the value of family, the gift of time, and the importance of making memories that would last long after he was gone. He lived fully, loved deeply, and left behind a legacy of love that continues through his children and grandchildren.

So today, we celebrate Tim and this huge milestone in his life, while also remembering Popsie with grateful hearts. What a beautiful legacy it is to have someone who loved so well that their presence is still deeply felt, even after they’re gone. ❤️

This Boy Has My Heart...

I meant to post this picture on Mother’s Day, but we had such an incredibly busy day. Then yesterday was Tim’s birthday, so I’m just now getting around to posting it.

I’m so thankful for all the years the Lord has given me as his mom—and for all the years still ahead that He has in store for Scot and I as his parents.

He’s an amazing kid—young man—and we couldn’t be more proud of who he’s become.

Happy 18th Birthday!

You’re 18 today—and somehow that feels both impossible and exactly right. It truly feels like just yesterday you were a baby in our arms, and now here you are, stepping fully into manhood.

From the very beginning, we made a choice to be intentional with you—to cherish every moment, to pour into you, to raise you with purpose. Watching you grow into the man you are today has been one of the greatest blessings of our lives. You were a gift from God, and we have never taken that for granted. Even the timing of it all—our marriage, having you—reminds us that God’s plan is always right on time.

We haven’t done everything perfectly, but one thing has never wavered for even a second: our love for you. You are, and always will be, deeply loved beyond words.

On this milestone birthday, I want you to hear this clearly—no matter where life takes you or what path you choose, you will always have us in your corner. Always. We are so incredibly proud of you—your perseverance, your resilience, your determination. It’s a joy to watch you set goals and go after them, and an even greater joy to stand beside you, cheering you on every step of the way.

Keep pushing forward. Don’t let life hold you back. Walk boldly in your purpose, stay focused on what matters, and don’t be afraid to go after everything you want out of life. Be true to who you are, and never lose sight of where you’re headed. Celebrating you is one of our greatest joys. You are an amazing young man with so much life ahead of you, and we cannot wait to see all that you will become.

You are cherished—always and forever.

We love you to the moon and beyond.

Happy 18th Birthday. May this be a day you’ll always remember—and be a reminder of just how deeply you are loved—now and always!

And even though you haven't officially graduated yet—not until Saturday—you have officially finished high school. We wanted to celebrate both milestone moments on your birthday because this is the day you are officially done with high school. 

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom had me at 17. I can’t even imagine becoming a parent that young, but that was the reality for many women then—marry, raise children, and keep a home while the men worked to provide. In so many ways, she was still a child herself, learning how to raise children.

And yet, she did the very best she could with what she had.

We never went without food. We always had clothes on our backs—even if they came from Goodwill or Kmart. She stretched every dollar, living within her means to make sure our needs were met. We didn’t have much in the way of money, but we had enough to get by, because she made sure of it.

She sacrificed more times than I can count, going without so that we wouldn’t have to. We didn’t hear “I love you” all the time, but she showed it—in her sacrifices, her consistency, and her care.

With her ongoing health issues, I’m reminded more than ever that time isn’t something we can take for granted. We don’t know how many more years we’ll have with her, and that reality makes me hold even tighter to the moments we do have.

I hope she knows how deeply she is loved and appreciated, especially on this Mother’s Day.

This sweet lady—our “Nan”—is missed more than words could ever express. This is our first Mother’s Day without her here to celebrate, and that absence is deeply felt. But we take comfort in knowing she’s exactly where she longed to be—back with Popsie in heaven.

Life threw us a curveball after Popsie passed. We never imagined our time with Nan would be so short—just a year and two months without him. It still doesn’t feel like enough.

That last year was especially hard, because we didn’t fully understand what she was going through. Nan wasn’t one to go to the doctor—she hadn’t been in decades. So when we finally learned near the end that she had lung cancer, it was devastating for all of us.

Nan was an incredible mom and grandmother. She always put her children and grandchildren before herself, cherishing every moment she had with them. The love she poured out when she was with her family spoke louder than words ever could. We knew how special she was, and we didn’t take that for granted. We made the time, we made the memories—and I’m so grateful we did. Those moments will stay with us forever.

We miss her deeply, but we also have peace in knowing she is no longer in pain—that she is whole, healed, and happy again. And that means everything.

Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day to the most amazing mom, grandmother, and mother-in-law the Neal family could have ever been blessed with.

Last but certainly not least, there’s this incredible woman—Anne. She has been like a second mom to me ever since I met her at just 8 years old.

She and her husband, John, moved from Georgia to pastor the church I was attending at the time—thanks to a sweet older neighbor who made sure we kids were there every Sunday. That year, they were leading VBS, and something in Anne’s love drew me in. She loved me in a way I had never experienced before, and I held onto that—honestly, I still do.

Anne has had an immeasurable impact on my life and my walk with Christ. Her love for the Lord radiates from every part of who she is, and it’s evident in the way she loves and pours into others.

The ways she has shaped my life are too many to count. Her influence has never left me—it’s something I carry with me every single day. I truly don’t know where I would be without her. My life would look very different if God hadn’t placed an “Anne” in it, and I’m forever grateful that He did.

God blessed me richly when He brought her into my life.

 --------------------------------------------

In my life, there have been three women who have shaped me in a motherly way and left a lasting impact on who I am today. Because of them, I have been incredibly blessed. The value of that kind of influence in a person’s life can’t really be measured—it’s beyond what words are able to fully capture.

I hope and pray that you have had mothers or mother figures like that in your own life—women who have poured into you, guided you, and left a lasting imprint on your heart. And if you haven’t, I pray that God brings someone into your life who will. Someone who will love, shape, and impact you in a way that stays with you forever, just like these women have done for me.

Happy Mother's Day!

May All  Mom's Feel Loved & Appreciated 

Today & Always!

1 Day to go...

Tomorrow will be here in the blink of an eye, and just like that, Tim will officially go from our boy to a man. Truthfully though, he’s been showing us his maturity and character long before now. The positivity and strength with which he approaches life is contagious, and he continues to amaze us more every year. He truly is an incredible young man, and we are so excited to celebrate this special moment with him.

We love everything about this kid—and honestly, we still would even if he weren’t ours. Everyone who meets him always comments on how mature he is for his age. The level of wisdom, perspective, and maturity Tim carries is something many people don’t reach until much later in life. Some of that has come through life experiences and challenges that forced him to grow up faster than most, but through it all he has handled himself with strength, grace, and determination.

Tim is such a treasure to us, and we never take that for granted. Watching him grow into someone who values life, family, faith, and purpose the way his father and I do has been one of our greatest joys. He has big goals, strong dreams, and a drive within him that we know will take him far. We truly believe he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

So go after it all, son. Dream big, work hard, and take life by the horns. The world is waiting for everything you have to offer, and we cannot wait to watch the amazing man you continue to become🩵.

Part of Tim's Birthday/Graduation Gift...

So we did a thing—we got Tim the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card along with the Ryzen 7 AMD 9800X3D. To say he’s elated would be an understatement. According to him, his computer is an absolute beast now😂.

Tim is a huge gamer in the little spare time he actually has, so this was a pretty big deal for him.

The other thing he asked for was for us to swap rooms so he could have the entire upstairs to himself. And honestly, at my age, I’m more than willing to comply because stairs and getting older do not mix well😂. It’ll give him his own space, privacy, and room to spread out.

Most kids want a car for milestone moments like this, but our kid wanted his own space and computer upgrades instead. So somewhere in between Mom’s knee surgeries, we’ll be doing a full room swap. Sounds simple, right? Not even close...LOL!

We’ll have to take everything off the walls, patch all the holes, repaint, and completely empty one room before we can even start moving things around. Definitely more work than it sounds like. Plus we will be setting him up with his own small kitchenette area so that he has a small fridge/coffee maker/microwave. 

Truthfully, he already knows my car is basically his anyway since he drives it more than I do😂. So in his mind, upgrading his setup and getting his own space was a much better deal.

He’s such an amazing young man that we don’t mind doing this for him in the slightest. Of course, I’ll still be making weekly trips upstairs to make sure he keeps it clean because he already knows I don’t tolerate a dirty house😂.

That will probably be the one thing he dislikes about still living at home while doing online computer science courses and continuing to pursue his goals in Olympic weightlifting. But honestly, we’re proud of the young man he’s becoming and love being able to support his dreams however we can.

2 Days to go...

Oh my goodness😱! Oh my goodness😱! It's almost here. Just two more days & it will be time to celebrate. We are so excited to be celebrating this milestone moment as a family. 

Life is precious folks. Make the most of every moment you have with those you love. Don't take even one moment for granted. Love deeply. Laugh more than you cry. Enjoy life to the fullest. 

3 Days to go...

There’s honestly not much more we can say about this amazing kid who is about to be a kid no more. Watching him grow into the young man he is today has been one of the greatest blessings of our lives.

He knows who he is, whose he is, and the kind of man he wants to become—and that already puts him ahead of so many people his age. There’s something powerful about having direction, purpose, and a clear vision for your life. Knowing where you’re headed and what you want to accomplish gives you a foundation that keeps you grounded no matter what life throws your way.

We are so proud of the heart, strength, and maturity Tim has shown over the years. The future is bright for him, and we can’t wait to celebrate this incredible milestone and all that lies ahead🩵. 

My "Baby" is a baby No More...

Next Monday Tim turns 18 years old, and I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. These past 18 years have flown by, and I’ve cherished every single moment of watching him grow into the man he is now. Being his mom has been one of the greatest privileges and blessings of my life.

Motherhood comes with both beautiful moments and challenging ones, but through it all, the love we have for our children only grows deeper. Every hug, laugh, milestone, and even the hard days become memories we hold close to our hearts.

Tim will always be my most precious Mother’s Day blessing. Having him on Mother’s Day was the greatest gift I could have ever received. No present could ever compare to the moment I first held my child in my arms on a day meant to celebrate being a mom. That memory will forever be one of the most special moments of my life.

Even though his birthday doesn’t always fall exactly on Mother’s Day, it always comes around that same time of year, and it serves as such a beautiful reminder of the best Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever been given — his life, his love, and the joy of being his mom.

His dad and I are counting down the days until we get to celebrate our boy turning 18🩵. We’re so proud of the young man he’s becoming and can’t wait to continue supporting him and cheering him on as he goes after his dreams with everything he’s got.

4 Days to go...

5 Days to go...

Mom's Outpatient PT Yesterday for her New Knee...

Mom had her first outpatient PT session yesterday, and it went really well. They gave her a solid workout, and she handled it like a champ—she’s such a trooper.

Later in the evening, while we were watching the hockey game, she said, “My knee feels much looser,” as she was sitting there moving it around. That was so encouraging to see and hear. She’s definitely heading in the right direction—getting stronger and feeling a little better each day.

We do need to find an in-network PT, though. Because of insurance, her current sessions aren’t being fully covered, and the out-of-pocket cost just isn’t something we can manage long-term. So now we’re looking for a provider that’s fully covered under her plan.

Update on Mom...

 

This is what a total knee replacement looks like.

Total knee replacements are no joke—they’re incredibly painful. It’s taken about three weeks for Mom’s pain to drop to even half of what it was right after surgery. She’s doing her best to wean off the stronger pain meds. She still needs them occasionally, but far less than before—most of that progress has happened in the last week.

About a week ago Thursday, she broke out in hives, and it’s taken over a week for them to fully clear. What I’ve noticed is that as she tapered down the opioids, the hives eased up too—until they eventually disappeared. My best guess is that her system was overwhelmed by the medication, though I can’t say for sure if a doctor would confirm that. There haven’t been any changes in her environment or diet, so that’s the only clear variable.

When it comes time for her other knee replacement, I’m going to advocate for pain management options that don’t rely so heavily on opioids—if that’s even possible at this level of pain. Recovery is already tough enough without adding something like hives into the mix.

So where is Mom in her recovery now? She’s actually doing wonderfully. Her home PT has been thrilled with her progress, especially given her age. On his last visit, he even said outpatient PT is going to be impressed with how far along she is. Hearing that has been incredibly encouraging, especially considering all the challenges she’s faced through this process.

She starts outpatient PT on Monday. I will update again once she's gotten a few sessions in. 

That's all I have for now.

Rise & Move Forward...

Every morning, I remind myself of this: there’s no such thing as a day without challenges. And if you find yourself in a season with none, it’s worth asking whether you’re really pushing forward at all.

Growth requires resistance. Moving forward means you’re stretching yourself, facing things head-on, and choosing not to stay comfortable. That alone sets you apart—because not everyone is willing to do it.

Life isn’t meant to be easy. It’s meant to test you, shape you, and push you. That’s how you know you’re alive. That’s how you discover your strength—the ability to keep going, to keep growing, no matter what comes your way. When you meet life head-on, you build the backbone to create the life you want instead of settling for the one handed to you.

I’ve always been someone who takes life by the horns. And when necessary, I’ve been a bit of a bull in a china shop too. I don’t sit back and let life happen to me—I meet it head-on. That doesn’t mean life hasn’t thrown its share of challenges my way. It has. But what matters is how you respond.

It matters that you face those moments and turn them into something that moves you forward. Something that builds strength instead of defeat. Because defeat should never define you—it should shape you. Refine you. Push you closer to who you’re meant to become.

Your life is what you make of it. Don’t let circumstances—or anyone else—convince you otherwise.

At 56 years old, almost 57, I’ve seen and experienced a lot. And I’ve raised my son differently than how I was raised. He’s forward-thinking. He goes after life instead of waiting for it to come to him. He faces challenges with the mindset of a warrior, not a worrier. That mindset has helped him become a successful elite athlete—but more importantly, it’s helped shape who he is as a person.

You don’t have to accept life as it’s handed to you. You can choose to rise, to grow, to become. Be intentional. Be driven. Be you—with purpose. And whatever you do, don’t quit.

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) says, 

". . . Let us throw off 

everything that hinders. . .

And let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us."

Oh What A Day...

Today was quite a day. Mom was up most of the night dealing with hives and constant itching. She took Benadryl—the pill form—and I applied hydrocortisone, but instead of improving, it actually got worse.

We ended up at orthopedic urgent care this evening, and after talking with two doctors, we finally figured out the cause—she was having a delayed reaction to the prep cloths used before surgery. They advised me to thoroughly wash her to remove any remaining solution, keep her skin well moisturized, and give her liquid Benadryl around the clock for the next few days.

In the middle of all that, I also took the boys lunch at a commercial job and squeezed in some shopping. Thankfully, once we got home tonight, Mom has been resting really well.

What a day.