Neal Family Collage - A Work In Progress...

I'm working on a Neal Family collage.  I only need one more pic of four of our family members and then it will be ready.  Maybe it will be good enough to actually print to a canvas too 🤞🤞🤞.  Here's what it currently looks like though.

Beautiful 😍 Sunset…

Caught these pics of the beautiful sunset as Scot was driving on the West Virginia Turnpike. 

Neal Family Christmas 2022

We had a great time celebrating Christmas with the family in Kentucky this weekend. We even got to see our first snow of the season even though it was just flurries and a dusting of snow on the ground. The kids had a blast opening and playing with their gifts. Family is Everything!!!

T’s Christmas…

T’s Christmas is a new gaming pc and desk. We had to get these items on Black Friday sale to be able to afford doing it for him. He had to be involved in order to get what he needed so no surprises for Christmas this year for him. 

Fun In The Hot Tub…

The boys had a great time in the hot tub earlier this evening. So glad T and his cousin are having so much fun together. He’s so glad to be up here and being with him. 

It’s a salt water hot tub instead of chlorinated one. Love these smiles. You wouldn’t know looking at him that T is dealing with an ear infection but he’s learned to find fun and joy and cherish the moments. And you wouldn’t know looking at him that William is recovering from having had brain surgery. These two boys sure have went through some stuff this last like year and a half. 

Parent Meeting w/Coach Last Night…

Here are the notes from the team meeting last night:

👉The Carolina Rumble is hosted by Team CORE. If you’re on team then we expect FULL participation from all host schools. There will be limit spots, so don’t wait to register https://www.coretkdpc.com/carolinarumble. Entry Fee: $160

👉 This week you should be also ready to decide which competitions you will be attending. Pick from the list, and if you’re doing Nationals, you must do the Grand Prix.

👉Add to your competition list:

2023 Body Armor State Games

June 17, 2023

Concord, NC

Entry Fee: around $100-125

(All levels🥇)

👉Coaching fees. The general rule is that all of the coaches fees like food, travel, hotel, plus the time worked will be divided amongst the athletes. The fee may fluctuate depending upon the number of athletes in attendance, but here is the general breakdown:

(Per athlete)

Instate: $0-$50

Out of state: $50-$100

AAU/USAT Nationals: $100 plus+

International: $200 plus+

USAT Camps: $30-$60 

👉Team Trials (February 10th - 12th) Tulsa, Ok  Entry Fee:$150-250

🥇7-8 weeks out (starting December 19th) you must not miss regular practice. (Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Sat) Homework is not an excuse, and should be prioritized. Anything else please communicate with the coach.

🥇RECOMMENDED:

Attend training camps and cross trainings when scheduled:

🥇@CORE (Training Camp)

January 30th - February 4th

5:30pm - 6:30pm

$75

🥇All Team Trial athletes register the AAU qualifier for ring time. Entry Fee: $100-150

👉US Open (March 3rd - 5th) Las Vegas,NV  Entry Fee: usually around $200-$250

🥇7-8 weeks out (starting January 9th) you must not miss regular practice. (Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Sat) Homework is not an excuse, and should be prioritized on your free time. Anything else please communicate with the coach.

🥇Rooms are currently priced at $135 depending on how many nights you stay. Book your room through this link: https://groups.reservetravel.com/group.aspx?id=57805

🥇Spectator tickets for family: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5652558

🥇RECOMMENDED: 

Attend training camps and cross trainings when scheduled:

🥇@CORE

February 20th - 25th 

5:30pm - 6:30pm

$75

👉 2023 U.S. National Taekwondo Championships in Florida (July 7th - 10th) Entry Fee: $150-200

🥇7-8 weeks out (starting May 22nd) you must not miss regular practice. (Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Sat). Please communicate with the coach about anything.

🥇RECOMMENDED:

Attend training camps and cross trainings when scheduled:

June 26th - July 1st

9:00am - 12:00pm

$150

Not included because we would need to get another coach is AAU Nationals and the Entry Fee: usually around $150-200.  Also not included would be any other State comps that may come up that happen close enough to drive to that we would do for experience.  

We are currently praying 🙏 for the Lord’s guidance in what He would have us do where this sport is concerned. T loves this sport so much and we want to avail him to as much comp (when I say comp I mean competition) experience as we can but we need to make sure that this is the path that God still wants us to continue on as well. 

As you can see from the above notes from the parent meeting this is a pricey sport to do. It seems the price has done nothing but go up over the years. We are seriously considering dialing it way back and doing only state level comps, the Grand Prix East comp, the Grand Prix Final comp (should T qualify for it), and doing the National Comps (both AAU/USAT depending on where they are held). You might be thinking where are we dialing it way back?  The dialing it way back would be not going to the major comps such as US Open, PATU Presidents Cup, this years team trials because all of those types of comps require travel that would require flights and a lot more finances. Anything that we can’t drive to just wouldn’t get done.  At least not in 2023 anyhow. We are waiting for God’s guidance before making a final decision though. 

It’s so much to think and pray over. While we don’t want to hold our son back in this sport he loves so much we have to take our budget into consideration too. We can’t do this sport to the detriment of our livelihood either. It’s a lot I know but we want to always be exactly where God wants us in every area of our lives too. So right now we are letting go and leaving it all in God’s hands so He can lead us in the way He wants us to go where all this is concerned. God knows athletes hearts and their drive to do what they do and He will make a way where there seems to be no way and open doors we are to step through and shut the ones we aren’t supposed to step through. Our total trust is in Him. 

We always tell T to do his best and leave the results in God’s hands. All he’s been able to accomplish in this sport is all because we always look to God and keep Him in the center of our lives. So we’ll see what He has in store as we seek Him and He guides us. 

Desk Heaven…

T is in desk heaven. He has to have a larger desk for his gaming computer so we were able to get one at a get price but it of course had to be put together…LOL🤣🤣🤣!

We’ve been going through everything this past week and getting rid of a ton of stuff. We have a huge pile of stuff that will be going to Kentucky when we go for the holidays too. It’s amazing how much stuff gets accumulated. Getting everything organized and getting rid of stuff opens up so much space too. We will continue to chip away at everything this winter and try to get rid of even more stuff😁. Never a dull moment. 

Comp Schedule So Far For 2023....

This is the comp schedule that we have for T so far.  This doesn't include other AAU/USAT Comps that T may need to attend to get more ring time so he can get more experience in the new age/weight division he will be in this year.  Here's the schedule his coach sent us:  

Team Trials and US Open are Major comps with a big price tag to attend as well because of the travel involved to get to them.  One is in Oklahoma and the other is in Vegas.  There is less than a month between these comps that could cost upwards of $8,000 in travel expenses to attend.  We are praying and seeking God as to how we are to move forward.  It's a lot to have to consider and do.  And with my still recovering from the rear end accident that I was in right before Thanksgiving and the fact that we may need to replace our vehicle it's a lot to have to contend with and try to figure out logistics on.  God always provides a way where there seems to be no way.  We will continue to seek Him and walk with Him as we always do and leave the results in his hands.    

2022 USA Taekwondo Athlete Academy is in the books…

T had a fantastic time at the academy camp and learned a lot. It was well worth being there this weekend. 

USA Taekwondo Training Camp…

T is having a great time at the training camp. He’s learning a lot and getting before the Olympic Coach which is always an awesome honor and experience to have as an athlete. 

He’s ready for round two of the camp now that he’s had a lunch break and had his favorite Swedish Meatballs from IKEA. Going back to do some shopping while he’s in session two since it’s only a 5 minute drive away.