Update On Tucker

Update on Tucker

We made the decision to stop Tucker’s kibble because, quite frankly, I have felt for a long time now that processed kibble may be contributing to cancer and other health problems in our animals.

We switched Tucker to homemade dog food made with fresh sweet potatoes, fresh carrots, fresh green beans, ground turkey and canned, unsalted chickpeas—and he has perked up BIG TIME!

We’re also giving him a little honey once a day with his meal. We’ve read about some of the potential benefits of honey, particularly its antimicrobial properties, so we’re hopeful it may be helpful if the nodules he has are fungal in nature.

The biggest thing we’ve noticed is that he hasn’t had any more vomiting episodes. His appetite has picked up tremendously. He will eat every ounce of the food I make in the crockpot—and probably more if I’d let him! 😂

He’s also so much more content now, and that makes my heart happy.

If this is cancer, then once we do his next scan, we’ll continue the course we’re on with him for as long as he has a good quality of life. When the time comes that his suffering becomes greater than his quality of life, we’ll make the hard decision we know we may eventually have to make.

But on the flip side, if what we’re doing now helps heal him, we will be OH SO HAPPY and praising God!

He knows just how much our furry creatures mean to us. ❤️🐾

WHEN STRENGTH LOOKS DIFFERENT

This picture is one of the last times that Tim lifted weight over his head.

I love this quote and included it with the picture because it's true.

After winning Nationals, Tim had been on such a high. He had worked so hard for that moment, and to see all of that hard work pay off was pretty incredible.

Then this...

For weeks now, Tim has been dealing with an issue with his elbow where it won't fully straighten out. He had some issues with it a few months back before Nationals. We thought it had gotten better with his working with his body guy, but after getting back to training, it has gotten worse.

He's been strictly doing lower body and core work while we figure out what is going on with his elbow.

Now we're going through the normal ropes to get everything that needs to be done, done. Tim has seen an orthopedic doctor. He's had X-rays done. There's no fracture or OCD changes and his joint spaces and alignment are normal. He's doing everything the orthopedic doctor is asking, along with PT. Next will be an MRI that will hopefully tell us what is really going on with his elbow.

We have to give what the orthopedic doctor is trying a chance first before we can move to the MRI step in order for insurance to pick up the tab.

Gotta love insurance... NOT!

But honestly, this has been a reminder that strength isn't always about what you can lift.

Sometimes strength is being willing to put the weights down when your body is telling you that something isn't right.

Sometimes strength is being patient when you want answers NOW.

Sometimes strength is doing the exercises you're supposed to do, going to PT, following the doctor's instructions and trusting the process—even when the process isn't moving as quickly as you'd like.

And sometimes strength is dealing with disappointment without allowing it to define you.

I know this isn't where Tim expected to be right now. After the excitement of Nationals and everything he had worked so hard for, I'm sure it's frustrating to have to back off and wait and watch others make the forward progress that you want to be making.

But this is just a pause. It's not the end of his story.

That quote says, "You can fake and buy a lot of things in life these days, but muscle and strength aren't one of them."

Tim has spent several years building his strength. He's put in the work when nobody was watching. He's learned that you don't get stronger by taking the easy road.

And maybe that's exactly what this season is teaching him too.

Because there are different kinds of strength.

There is physical strength.

There is mental strength.

And there is the kind of strength that comes from having to trust God when you don't have all the answers yet.

We don't know exactly what is going on with his elbow right now. We don't know how long this will take. We don't know what the MRI will show.

But we do know that God isn't surprised by any of it.

So for now, we wait. We do what the doctors tell us to do. We keep working the parts of his body that he can work. We keep moving forward instead of sitting still and feeling sorry for ourselves.

And we pray.

Because sometimes getting stronger doesn't mean adding another plate to the bar.

Sometimes getting stronger means learning how to keep going when you can't lift the bar at all.

This isn't the chapter we expected after Nationals, but it's the chapter we're in.

And we'll trust God with the rest.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING

“You can do anything.”

Those are words we have told our son over and over again as he has grown into the man he is today.

Not because we believed life would always be easy for him. Not because we thought he would never fail, face disappointment, or have moments when he questioned himself.

We told him because we wanted him to believe something that is so easy to forget:

Your circumstances don't get to decide what you are capable of becoming.

From the time he was little, we wanted him to know that we believed in him. We wanted him to understand that when something is hard, that doesn't automatically mean you should quit. Sometimes hard simply means you have to work harder, try again, learn something new, or find another way.

There have been times when he didn't believe he could do something himself. But that's when we would remind him:

“You can do anything.”

Those words weren't meant to tell him that he would always get exactly what he wanted.

They were meant to tell him that he shouldn't put limits on himself before he ever gives himself a chance.

You may not be the smartest person in the room.

You may not be the strongest.

You may not have the most money, the most opportunities, or the easiest circumstances.

You may even have people who tell you that you can't.

But none of those things mean you should stop trying.

Sometimes the biggest obstacle standing between us and what we want to accomplish isn't our circumstances. It's the voice in our own head telling us we're not capable.

That's why I think it is so important to speak life into our children.

Tell them you believe in them.

Tell them they are capable.

Tell them that failure isn't the end.

Tell them that falling down doesn't mean they can't get back up.

And most importantly, teach them that success isn't always about winning. Sometimes success is simply refusing to quit.

As parents, we can't walk through every door for our children. We can't protect them from every disappointment or remove every obstacle they will face.

Eventually, they have to walk through those doors themselves.

That's why we wanted our son to carry those words with him:

You can do anything.

Not because we think he can literally do everything without limitations.

But because we want him to approach life believing that he is capable of more than he may realize.

And as I look at the man he has become, I am so thankful we kept saying it.

Because sometimes the words we speak to our children when they're young become the words they hear in their own heads when they're grown.

I hope when life gets hard, he remembers our voices telling him:

“You can do this.”

“Don't give up.”

“Keep going.”

“We believe in you.”

And most of all...

“You can do anything.”

Maybe that's one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—not a life without obstacles, but the confidence to face those obstacles believing they are capable of overcoming them.

And if you're a parent reading this today, don't underestimate the power of your words.

Your child may not always show it.

They may roll their eyes.

They may act like they don't care.

But keep telling them.

Keep encouraging them.

Keep believing in them.

Because one day, they may become the man or woman you always knew they could be—and they'll carry those words with them long after they leave your home.

You can do anything.

Sometimes, they just need someone who loves them enough to believe it until they believe it too.

Tim's Senior Yearbook

 Here are Tim's Senior Yearbook pages from Lighthouse Homeschool Association: 

I still can't believe that we aren't getting ready to go back to school again this year. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I have a feeling it will once everyone else starts heading back to school.

Tim is taking a gap year.

When you say that, most people gasp because they immediately assume it means the person isn't going to pursue further schooling.

Honestly, I don't know what lies ahead for Tim. But I do know that whatever he chooses to do, he will be as focused and driven as he has always been.

We are so incredibly thankful for the blessing it has been to raise this incredible young man. To say we are proud of him is an understatement.

And yes, I know I said the word proud, and I know what the Bible says about pride. I promise you, that's not the kind of pride I'm talking about.

It's the kind of pride that comes from watching your child walk through hard things, learn from them, grow through them, and become someone you genuinely admire.

Tim has been through a lot in his young life. He's learned a lot, too.

He knows what kind of person he wants to be—and what kind of person he doesn't want to be.

He has dreams and goals that he is going after with all of his heart. And I don't believe there is any amount of anything anyone can say or do that will keep him from pursuing those dreams and goals.

For Tim, living a full life means living life on purpose and with purpose.

For him, being an elite athlete isn't just something he does. It's his job, his passion, and what he believes he was put on this earth to pursue. We believe he will continue to strive for greatness in athletics and in life.

And honestly, if he never accomplished another thing from this point forward, he could still look back on his life and know that he has already done more in his time on this earth than most people do in an entire lifetime.

And that's okay.

Everything hasn't always been great. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way. But the man he is today makes us smile because when we look at him, we know we did something right.

I love the person he is.

I'd love the person he is even if he weren't our son.

He's just that good of a man.

And getting to watch him step into this next chapter of his life is something I don't take for granted.

I may not know exactly where this road is going to take him, but I know Tim.

And wherever he goes, whatever he does, he'll give it everything he's got.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Popsie

Birthdays are supposed to be a time of celebration—cake, laughter, presents, and gathering together with the people we love.

But sometimes a birthday comes around and reminds us of someone who is no longer here to celebrate with us.

Today is one of those days.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Popsie.

It has been 2 years and 3 months since you left us for your heavenly home, and somehow, that amount of time feels both incredibly long and like just yesterday.

There are still moments when I think about you and wish I could pick up the phone, hear your voice, or see that smile again. I wish we could sit together, talk about life, laugh at the things that only our family would understand, and celebrate another birthday with you.

Time may continue to move forward, but missing someone doesn't have an expiration date.

There isn't a day that goes by that you aren't thought about and missed. You left behind memories that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. Those memories become even more precious as the years go by.

I find comfort in knowing that while we miss you terribly here, you are no longer hurting, no longer growing older, and no longer experiencing the struggles of this world. You are home.

And I believe that one day, we'll see you again.

Until then, we will continue to talk about you, remember you, laugh at the memories, and keep your place in our family and in our hearts.

So today, we celebrate you.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Popsie. 🎂💙

I hope Heaven is celebrating you in a way that only Heaven can.

We love you.
We miss you.
And you will forever be in our hearts.

Until we meet again… ❤️

Cherishing Every Moment With Tucker

I'm writing this post with a heavy heart.

On the 10th, we found out from the vet that Tucker's lungs are full of nodules. The vet won't say with certainty that it's cancer, but what we saw on his X-rays looked just like Dexter's did when we found out that he had lung cancer.

We were told that with dogs, lung cancer generally forms somewhere else in the body before it takes over the lungs. So, more than likely, if this is cancer, it could be somewhere else in Tucker's body as well.

The only way we would know for certain would be to do an ultrasound, but those are very expensive. For now, we've decided to wait a month and have another set of X-rays done to see if there have been any changes.

After going through this once before with Dexter, we've made the decision to keep Tucker as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as we can. When the time comes that his suffering outweighs his quality of life, we'll have to make that incredibly difficult decision to let him go.

It's never easy having to make that kind of decision. We love our pets so much that they really aren't just pets—they're family.

Tucker has been the most amazing dog. We cherish every moment we've had with him, and right now, we're cherishing the moments ahead because we simply don't know when one of them will be our last.

Dexter went downhill very quickly. He was good one day, and the next, he wasn't. He couldn't walk and was floundering all over the floor. Tucker, thankfully, is still doing fairly well other than having some sick spells and bouts of dehydration. He's still acting pretty normal. We can tell that he's slowed down some and wants to rest more, but he's 10 now, so that's to be expected.

Right now, our focus is simply on keeping Tucker as happy and comfortable as possible. We're going to spoil him, love on him, and enjoy every moment we have with him.

Tucker turned 10 this past March, and honestly, that just seems so young to me to be facing something like this. But in dog years, he's still lived a good life, and we are incredibly thankful for every year, every memory, and every moment God has given us with him.

I'm sure there will come a day when I'll write another post about Tucker—the day when we've had to make the hard call that I already know is coming.

But that's not today.

Today, Tucker is here. He's still enjoying life. And we're going to cherish him for as long as God allows us to have him.

For now, enjoy a couple of pictures of Tucker—one from when he was younger and one from more recently.

And if you have a pet you love, don't take those moments for granted. Love them a little harder. Take the pictures. Make the memories. Because sometimes, the moments we think we'll have forever are the very moments we later wish we could have back.

If You See a Different Me, It Means I Saw the Real You

That quote hits home deeply with me.

There have been times in my life when I've had to become more direct, put some distance between myself and someone, or simply stop allowing them access to me. It wasn't because I suddenly became a different person. It was because they showed me who they really were.

They showed me a side of themselves that was ugly, hurtful, or intentionally disrespectful—and once you see something like that, you can't always pretend you didn't see it.

Those who really know me know that I'm a very Type A personality. I'm an “everything has a place and everything should be in its place” kind of person😂. But I also love to relax, laugh, and have a good time with my family and friends.

I'm also a quality-time gal.

Quality time is something you can't get back. Once that time is gone, it's gone. That's why I value the people I allow into my life, and I am a very loyal friend. When I love you, I love you deeply. When I care about you, I will show up for you. I will cheer you on, pray for you, stand beside you, and give you the best of me.

You will always get the best of me as long as you give me the same in return.

God has done a lot of work in me through the years. He has taught me to have more patience, extend more grace, forgive more freely, and not react to everything that happens around me.

But one thing I've learned is that grace does not mean giving someone unlimited access to you.

Forgiveness doesn't always mean restored access.

And loving people doesn't mean allowing them to continually hurt you.

I will distance myself from a person before I continue allowing intentional hurt, disrespect, or toxic behavior into my life—especially when it is directed toward me or the people I love and care about.

Frankly, I don't have time for it.

And I don't believe God called us to be doormats for people who continually choose to do wrong.

There is a difference between loving someone and allowing them to have unlimited access to your life.

Sometimes the godliest thing you can do is create some distance.

Sometimes you have to stop explaining yourself.

Sometimes you have to stop trying to make someone see what they refuse to see.

And sometimes you have to let someone go because keeping them close is costing you your peace, your joy, your focus, and your forward progress.

We have to be careful about the people we allow to influence our lives. The wrong people can become distractions from what God is trying to do in us and through us.

That doesn't mean we should become bitter.

It doesn't mean we should hate them.

It doesn't mean we stop praying for them.

It simply means we recognize that not everyone deserves the same level of access to our lives.

Jesus Himself knew that not everyone could walk closely with Him. There were crowds who followed Him, disciples who walked with Him, and then there were those He allowed into His closest circle.

There is wisdom in understanding that proximity matters.

So if you see a different me, don't assume I've changed for no reason.

Maybe I simply saw something I couldn't unsee.

Maybe I finally recognized what God had been trying to show me all along.

Maybe I realized that the relationship was no longer healthy, the friendship was no longer genuine, or the person I thought you were wasn't actually who you were.

And that's okay.

I'm not going to spend the rest of my life trying to force the wrong people to become the right people for my life.

I can love you from a distance.

I can forgive you without bringing you back into my inner circle.

I can pray for you without continuing to give you access to me.

And I can walk away without hatred in my heart.

Because sometimes protecting what God is doing in your life means being willing to let go of what—and who—is standing in the way.

Empty seats are better than the wrong company.

And sometimes the empty seat isn't a loss at all.

Sometimes it's simply making room for the people God actually intended to sit there.

You Are Allowed to Want a Life That Feels Calm, Full, and Meaningful

You Are Allowed to Want a Life That Feels Calm, Full, and Meaningful

You are allowed to want a life that feels calm, full, and meaningful at the same time.

You are allowed to want peace without feeling guilty for it.

You are allowed to want a full life without needing it to be loud, busy, or impressive to everyone else.

And you are allowed to want a life that has meaning without constantly feeling exhausted from trying to prove your worth.

For a long time, I think many of us have been conditioned to believe that a meaningful life has to be a hard life. That being busy means we are productive. That being exhausted means we are doing enough. That peace is something we can only experience after we have finished everything, helped everyone, solved every problem, and finally earned the right to rest.

But maybe peace was never meant to be something we earn.

Maybe a full life isn't necessarily a life filled with more.

Maybe meaningful doesn't mean constantly doing something extraordinary.

Maybe a beautiful life can be found in the quiet, ordinary moments we are often too busy to notice.

A calm morning.

A home filled with the people you love.

A conversation that matters.

A prayer whispered in the middle of an ordinary day.

The freedom to say no to what steals your peace.

The courage to walk away from what no longer aligns with the person God is calling you to be.

The ability to appreciate where you are while still trusting God with where you are going.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a life that feels calm.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a life that feels full.

And there is nothing wrong with wanting your life to have meaning.

You do not have to choose between peace and purpose.

You do not have to choose between enjoying your life and making a difference.

You do not have to live in constant chaos to prove that your life matters.

And you do not have to be everything to everyone to live a life that is full.

The older I get, the more I understand that the life I want is not necessarily the one that looks the most impressive from the outside.

I want a life that feels right on the inside.

A life centered around the people I love.

A life where I can appreciate the small things.

A life where my faith in God is not something I simply talk about, but something that guides the way I live.

A life where I can work hard, pursue purpose, and still make room for rest.

A life where I don't have to constantly chase what the world says should make me happy because I know where my true peace comes from.

Because ultimately, the life I want is a life surrendered to God's direction.

I may not always know where He is leading me. I may not always understand the path. But I know I would rather follow Him into the unknown than build a life that looks perfect but leaves my soul empty.

Jesus never promised us a life without trouble. But He did promise to be with us through it.

And sometimes the most meaningful life isn't the one without challenges. It's the one where, even in the middle of those challenges, you learn to recognize God's presence, trust His timing, and find peace in knowing you don't have to carry everything alone.

So if you want a life that feels calm, full, and meaningful, you are allowed to want that.

You are allowed to slow down.

You are allowed to protect your peace.

You are allowed to choose what matters most.

You are allowed to release the pressure to keep up with everyone else.

You are allowed to build a life that may not make sense to the world but brings peace to your soul.

And perhaps most importantly, you are allowed to remember that a meaningful life doesn't have to be a perfect life.

It can be a life filled with ordinary days, unexpected challenges, quiet victories, deep love, and a faith that continues to grow.

A life that feels calm.

A life that feels full.

A life that has meaning.

Not because everything is perfect, but because you have learned what truly matters.

And for me, what truly matters is my family, my faith, and following wherever God leads.

Because when your life is rooted in Him, you don't have to chase the world's definition of a full life.

You can live with peace.

You can live with purpose.

And you can trust that the life God is building in you is meaningful—even when it looks nothing like the life you once imagined.

Go Where You Feel Most Alive...

This statement made me stop and let it sink in.

The world can push us in so many different directions. There are countless choices about where we can go, what we can do, who we can become, and how we should live our lives.

Whether it's for fun, school, work, relationships, or simply how we spend our time, the choices seem almost endless.

And today, the world is constantly putting those choices right in front of us.

When I was growing up, we certainly had choices about what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. But there weren't nearly as many influences pushing us in different directions as there are today.

Technology has changed almost every aspect of our lives.

There was no social media when I was growing up.

The only phone you had was attached to the wall in your home. If you traveled somewhere, you might call to let someone know you had arrived safely—but if it was a long-distance call, it was expensive.

There were no cell phones that allowed us to instantly call, text, or video chat with anyone, anywhere.

There were no cameras built into the phones we carried in our pockets, once those started becoming a thing in the 90's. If you wanted to take pictures or record video, you had to carry an actual camera with you. And those cameras were often large, expensive, and not something everyone owned.

If you wanted to know where you were going, you used a map.

Or, more likely, an atlas.

You mapped out your route before you ever left home. If you got lost or decided to change directions, you had to pull off the road, get out the atlas, and figure out a new route.

Today, all of that is right there in our phones.

We have maps that can instantly reroute us. Cameras that are always with us. News that reaches us the moment something happens. Social media that constantly shows us what everyone else is doing, where everyone else is going, and what everyone else thinks we should care about.

When I was growing up, you watched the news in the morning or in the evening. You didn't know about every single thing happening in the world the moment it happened. Unless something truly significant occurred, you waited for the next scheduled newscast.

Today, the world is constantly pressing in.

There is always another notification.

Another opinion.

Another story.

Another trend.

Another person telling us what we should want, where we should go, what we should believe, and what success is supposed to look like.

And if we aren't careful, we can find ourselves living a life that was shaped more by the world around us than by what truly matters to us.

We begin following the crowd without ever stopping to ask ourselves if that is actually where we want to go.

We chase things because everyone else is chasing them.

We make choices because they are expected of us.

We compare our lives to the lives we see online.

We follow the direction the world is moving simply because it is the direction everyone else seems to be going.

But what if the direction everyone else is going isn't the direction you are meant to go?

What if the place where you feel most alive is somewhere completely different?

Going where you feel most alive doesn't mean making irresponsible choices or simply doing whatever feels good in the moment. It doesn't mean ignoring wisdom, responsibilities, or the people you love.

But it does mean being willing to stop and ask yourself some important questions.

What brings you joy?

What gives you purpose?

What makes you feel like yourself?

What kind of life do you actually want to live?

Because sometimes, the life that makes you happiest won't look like the life everyone else is choosing.

Sometimes, going where you feel most alive means going against the flow.

And going against the flow isn't always a bad thing.

There is nothing wrong with choosing a different path if it leads you toward a life that is meaningful, fulfilling, and well lived.

You don't have to follow every trend.

You don't have to chase every opportunity.

You don't have to be constantly connected to everything happening in the world.

You don't have to live your life according to someone else's definition of success.

Sometimes, you need to put down the phone, step away from the noise, and listen to yourself.

Not the world.

Not social media.

Not the expectations of everyone around you.

You.

Because your life is yours to live.

And perhaps the best life isn't found by going where the world is pushing you.

Perhaps it's found by having the courage to go where you feel most alive.

To choose the things that bring you genuine joy.

To spend time with the people who matter most.

To pursue the things that give your life meaning.

To live a life that is truly your own.

The world will always be moving in one direction or another.

It will always have opinions about where you should go and what you should do.

But you don't have to follow every direction it points you in.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from the noise, trust your own path, and go where you feel most alive.

Because a life well lived isn't necessarily the life that looks the best to everyone else.

It's the life that feels right to you.

For me, the places where I feel most alive are found in the things that matter most to me—my family, my relationship with God, and following wherever He leads me.

My hope and my faith are centered on the Lord Jesus Christ. So while the world may constantly try to push me in different directions, I want my life to be guided by something greater than the latest trend, opinion, or expectation.

I want to go where God leads me.

I want to spend my time with the people I love.

I want to pursue the things that bring meaning and purpose to my life.

And I want to live a life that is centered on the things that truly matter—not simply the things the world tells me should matter.

Because for me, going where I feel most alive isn't about chasing everything the world has to offer.

It's about being where God has called me to be, surrounded by the people I love, and living with my hope and faith firmly rooted in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is where I feel most alive.

We Didn't Get Everything Right… But We Got This Right...

As parents, it's easy to replay the things we wish we had done differently.

There are moments we wish we had been more patient. Days we wish we had handled a situation better. Decisions we might change if we could go back. No parent is perfect, and if we're honest, we all have moments we'd like a do-over.

We've certainly had ours.

But every now and then, we take a step back and look at our son, and one thought rises above all the rest:

We may not be perfect, but when we look at our son, we know we got something in our life perfectly right.

Not because he's flawless—he isn't. None of us are.

But because of the kind of young man he has become.

He's respectful when no one is watching. He works hard without complaining. He keeps his commitments. He honors his family. He treats people with kindness and dignity. He loves the Lord. He has learned that success isn't handed to you—it comes through discipline, perseverance, and character.

Watching him grow into adulthood has been one of God's greatest blessings in our lives.

There were years filled with early mornings, late nights, long drives, sacrifices, difficult conversations, homeschooling, practices, competitions, disappointments, victories, and countless prayers. There were moments when we wondered if what we were pouring into him was taking root.

Now we see the fruit.

Parenting isn't about raising children who make us look good. It's about raising adults who will honor God long after they've left our home. 

The world tells parents to be their child's best friend.

God calls us to be their guide.

That means saying "no" when it's unpopular. It means teaching responsibility instead of making excuses. It means correcting with love, modeling integrity, and pointing them toward Christ even when it's hard.

Children learn far more from what they see than from what they hear.

They watch how we treat our spouse.

They watch how we respond to adversity.

They watch whether our faith is genuine or just something we talk about on Sundays.

Our example often becomes their foundation.

Psalm 127:3 reminds us:

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him."

What an incredible responsibility—and what an incredible privilege.

Looking back, we realize that while we made mistakes along the way, God was faithful. He filled in the gaps where we fell short. He gave wisdom when we asked, grace when we failed, and strength when we felt inadequate.

Any success we see in our son is ultimately a testimony to God's faithfulness far more than our parenting.

As he continues to chase his dreams, work hard, and follow the path God has for him, our prayer remains the same as it has always been:

That he would love Jesus more than success.

That he would value character more than recognition.

That he would lead with humility.

That he would never stop pursuing the purpose God has placed on his life.

No, we haven't been perfect parents.

Far from it.

But if raising a son who loves God, respects others, works hard, stays humble, and lives with integrity is any indication...

Then by God's grace, we got something beautifully right.

And for that, we'll be forever grateful. 

One Year Without You, Nan...

It's hard to believe it's been a year since you left us, Nan.

Losing you just a little over a year after Pop passed has left a hole in our family that can never truly be filled. Family gatherings aren't the same anymore. There are empty chairs where laughter once echoed. There are stories we wish we could still tell you in person. There are moments when we still instinctively think, "I can't wait to tell Nan," before remembering you're no longer here.

People often say time heals all wounds. I don't think that's entirely true.

Time teaches us how to carry the loss, but it never erases the love.

So much life has happened this past year.

Tim turned 18 and five days later he graduated from high school. He got his full class c driver's license. He started a new chapter of adulthood working with his dad. But perhaps the biggest milestone of all was becoming a USA Weightlifting Junior National Champion.

We couldn't help but think of you and Pop that day.

Scot and I can still picture how proud you both would have been. You watched Tim work toward that dream for years. You saw the countless hours of training, the setbacks, the disappointments, and the determination that never wavered.

When he stood on that podium as National Champion, our hearts were overflowing with joy—but there was also an ache.

We wished you were still here to share it.

We wished we could have called you afterward.

We wished we could have seen the smile on your face and heard you tell him how proud you were.

But even in the middle of that bittersweet moment, we found comfort knowing that while you weren't here with us, you are safely in the presence of the One you loved most, watching and smiling from heaven.

Scripture reminds us:

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

That promise doesn't erase the pain, but it gives us hope.

There have been birthdays, holidays, celebrations, and ordinary days that have all looked different without you and Pop. We miss your laughter, your hugs, your wisdom, and simply having you here.

Grief has a way of reminding us just how deeply we loved someone.

And what a gift that love was.

I'm so thankful for the years we all had together. Thankful for the memories you've left us. Thankful for the example you lived before us. Thankful that our goodbye isn't forever.

Because for those who know Christ, death isn't the end of the story.

It's simply "see you later."

Until that day, we'll continue living the lives you and Pop encouraged us to live—loving God, loving each other, working hard, celebrating life's victories, and trusting the Lord through every season.

We miss you every single day, Nan.

Not a day goes by that you and Pop don't cross our minds.

Thank you for loving us so well.

We'll carry your memory in our hearts until we're together again.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain..." (Revelation 21:4)

Until we see you again, We love you, Nan.

A Godly Wife Begins with a Godly Heart...

Now you didn't think I was going to write a husband post and not do a wife one did you???

A Godly Wife Begins with a Godly Heart...

There are countless opinions today about what a woman should be.

Culture tells women to chase success, independence, status, or approval. Others reduce a woman's worth to appearances or accomplishments. But God's Word paints a much more beautiful picture.

A godly wife isn't defined by perfection.

She is defined by her pursuit of Christ.

Scripture says it this way:

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

God isn't looking for a woman who has it all together. He's looking for a woman whose heart belongs to Him.

As I looked over this list, I smiled—and then I laughed a little. Not because I disagree with it, but because I know just how often I fall short.

I've been married to Scot for nearly twenty years, and if there's anyone who knows my flaws, it's him. I'm not always patient. I don't always say the right thing. I get frustrated. I make mistakes. Sometimes I let stress get the best of me. I have to apologize. I have to ask for forgiveness.

I'm far from being the "perfect Proverbs 31 wife."

But every day I ask God to make me a little more like Jesus than I was the day before.

That's the goal.

Not perfection.

Faithfulness.

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She Loves God Above All Things

Everything starts here.

Before I'm a wife.
Before I'm a mother.
Before I'm a business owner...

I'm first a daughter of the King.

I've learned that when I neglect my relationship with the Lord, every other relationship suffers. I become less patient, less gracious, and much more focused on myself than on serving others.

The closer I stay to Christ, the better wife I become—not because I'm trying harder, but because He's changing my heart.

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She Loves Her Husband and Children

Love isn't merely a feeling—it's a daily choice.

Marriage isn't always easy. Raising children certainly isn't easy. There are seasons of joy, exhaustion, celebration, and disappointment.

As Scot and I approach twenty years of marriage, I can honestly say our marriage hasn't been sustained because we're perfect people. It's been sustained because God has been faithful.

There have been times when I've needed far more grace than I've deserved, and Scot has extended it anyway. I'm thankful that our marriage has always been built on forgiveness rather than keeping score.

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She Shows Self-Control

If I'm honest, this is one God continues to work on in me.

Sometimes I react before I pray.

Sometimes I speak before I think.

Sometimes my emotions try to lead instead of the Holy Spirit.

Thankfully, God's mercies are new every morning.

He's still teaching me that self-control isn't about willpower—it's about surrender.

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She Is the Keeper of the Home

This doesn't mean my house is always spotless.

Anyone who's dropped by unexpectedly can probably testify to that!

It means I want our home to be a place where people feel welcomed, loved, encouraged, and where Christ is honored.

A peaceful home isn't created by perfect decorating or perfect housekeeping.

It's created by people who continually choose love, forgiveness, and grace.

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She Is a Servant

Serving doesn't always come naturally.

Most of the time I'd rather be served.

These days, more often than not, I'm tired.

There's lots of times that I'm selfish.

Yet Jesus continually reminds me that greatness in His Kingdom looks very different than greatness in the world.

Every opportunity to serve is really an opportunity to become more like Him.

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She Is Grateful

One lesson God keeps teaching me is gratitude.

It's easy to notice what's wrong.

It takes intentionality to notice what's right.

When I stop and count my blessings, I realize just how much God has done.

A husband who loves Jesus.

A son who loves the Lord.

A growing family business.

A home filled with memories.

God has been incredibly good to me.

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She Is Modest

Modesty isn't just about what we wear.

It's about humility.

It's about pointing people toward Christ instead of ourselves.

The older I get, the less concerned I am with impressing people and the more concerned I am with pleasing God.

That's a much better way to live.

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She Is Kind

Kindness is something the world desperately needs.

I don't always get it right.

Many times my words are sharper than they should be.

Sometimes I'm impatient.

But God faithfully convicts me, softens my heart, and reminds me that people are drawn to grace far more than criticism.

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Progress, Not Perfection

If this list feels overwhelming, remember this:

God isn't looking for perfect wives. 

If He were, none of us would qualify.

He's looking for women whose hearts are fully surrendered to Him.

I'm still learning.

I'm still growing.

I'm still failing at times.

And I'm still amazed that God's grace meets me every single day.

One of the greatest gifts God has given me is a husband who extends that same grace. Scot has loved me through my strengths and my weaknesses, celebrated my victories, forgiven my failures, and continually pointed me back to Christ. I thank God often for the man He gave me, because he reminds me what unconditional love looks like.

Being a godly wife isn't about checking every box on a list.

It's about waking up every day and saying, "Lord, make me more like You today than I was yesterday."

That's a prayer God delights in answering.