Tim's 100kg Clean Pull....

Tim did a 100kg = 220# clean pull last night.  He is inching closer to being able to do a clean a jerk with that weight.  This was just a stepping stone to being able to do just that.  We are so proud him.

Sports Then & Now...

A then and now pic of Tim.  He's grown and changed so much.  We have cherished every ounce of his growing up thus far.  He is growing into such a strong, smart & capable young man.  I see more of his maturity that expands beyond his years each and everyday.  I'm so thankful that God gave us such a great gift in Tim. It's a blessing being his mom and I know his dad feels the same about being his dad too.  We are blessed beyond measure and so very thankful.  

TaeKwonDo taught Tim lots of discipline and respect.  It taught him so many techniques to the sport that he will have with him for the rest of his life.  It taught him about the kind of man that he wants to be and it also taught him about the kind of man he doesn't want to be either.  He has had some great teachers and not so great teachers but he learned valuable lessons from them all.  That journey ended though in July 2023.  Not because it was what Tim wanted but because it was what had to happen to keep his self respect.  In the process he lost all respect for a handful of folks that he thought really cared about him.  It was a hard thing for a 15 year old to have to deal with but he kept his head about him and walked away knowing that he was in the right to do so because of the situation and circumstances.  We were so proud to see him handle things like a real man.  He left that all behind knowing what he wanted to do next and that was....Weightlifting. 

Weightlifting is Tim's passion.  He has followed the sport since he was 10 years old.  He has taken to it like a fish to water.  It's like he's where he belongs.  He fits in perfectly with the sport.  He really loves his coach and loves how much he encourages and teaches him.  If he doesn't get something his coach is patient to help him fix things so he can do better next time.  He doesn't focus on where Tim is missing it but focuses on building up and getting better with each training session.  The total opposite of what Tim experienced in sparring.  Shifting to this has been the absolute best thing for Tim and we couldn't be happier because he is so happy.  He's the happiest we've seen in I can't remember when.  

The curve thrown him in how things ended with sparring put him on such a better path now with weightlifting, school and just life in general.  Tim's overall attitude is night and day what it was before he made the switch.  Scot and I often just shake our heads thinking how much further along Tim could have been had we made this change when he was 10 instead of 15 but we also know that Tim's training with sparring was a spring board for weightlifting.  We can't wait to see what all 2024 has in store for Tim as he continues in this sport.  No matter what we are just happy to have our happy boy back that we had when he started his competitive journey back in 2017.  Bottom line for us is that we just want Tim to be a happy well adjusted young man and he's definitely that.  He amazes his father and I everyday with how mature, focused and driven he is towards his goals.  He's laughing so much and having so much fun again.  It's amazing what taking a step back can do for a person and did for us as a family.  We are loving everyday we have together and making the most of the moments that life gives us.   

It's Thursday...

It's two days after Louise's Celebration of Life service.  She was cremated.  It still feels like it's all a dream and not real.  I have such mixed emotions from it all.  I'm happy that she's in heaven and no longer suffering with her seizures anymore but I also regret so very much that we didn't stay in contact more over the years after our kids went their separate ways from their Taekwondo days together.  Tim was training with a coach in Charlotte as an elite athlete in sparring.  Greyson moved on from sparring to track at his school.  Addy moved on from TKD to riding horses.  Our lives were a whirlwind with our kids and we just didn't make the time or effort to keep in touch as we should have.  That's the part that bothers me the most.  She was my oldest friend.  She knew all my stuff and her memory was so much better than mine in remembering our youth.  What a pair we were and then there were three when Kris came along.  We were quite the 3 Musketeers.  That's what everyone who knew us called us because where one was the other two were almost always.  

At the service I got to see folks I haven't seen in years.  I hate it had to be under those circumstances though.  Our old youth leaders had the photo albums out in the foyer and Louise, Kris and I were in almost all of them.  

Our 3 Musketeer group is no more.  I take comfort that we will see one another again someday when we are all in heaven together with our Lord and Savior.  Then we can have quite the reunion.  Until then it's not goodbye it's just see you later.  

I think of the old hymn:  "When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, We'll sing and shout the VICTORY!"  

Here's the full Lyrics:

When We All Get To Heaven

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He'll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav'ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory!

No truer words have ever been spoken than that hymn.  I'm so thankful for the old hymns.  Not many churches sing them anymore but they are the ones that I hold closest to my heart.  There's so much truth in them.  I know Louise also held them close to her heart as well.  Our 3 Musketeer group were given such a solid foundation in the teachings of Christ when we were growing up.  Our youth leaders put up with a lot from us and they always showed Christ's love towards us.  The lasting impact from those days will live on as a legacy to those who poured into us for Christ.

#alwaysinmyheart #neverforgetting 

100kg = 220# Back Squat Lift by Tim....

Tim did this on Saturday...

Funeral Service for Louise....

My oldest friend from childhood is home with Jesus and her family who went on before her.  While she will be missed here by her immediate family and friends we all know that she wouldn't trade places for anything in the world.  The only regret I have is that we didn't stay in contact more often than we did.  Life gets in the way and we both led very busy lives with our kids and husbands.  We both loved our families so very much and they were our absolute 1st priority over everything else in our lives.  Below is her funeral announcement:

Louise Holcomb Speckhart

February 26, 1972 - January 11, 2024

Louise Holcomb Speckhart, 51, entered into her Heavenly home on Thursday, January 11, 2024. Louise graduated from Friendship Christian High School. She earned her degree from ECU in 1997 and pursued her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. She began her career working with Fresenius Dialysis and Davita Dialysis. Later she felt the desire to work with hospice patients, first working with Heartland Hospice and more recently Cardinal Home Health & Hospice giving comfort to her patients as they transition. Louise was a member of North Ridge Bible Chapel for many years.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at 12:30 pm, Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at North Ridge Bible Chapel, 7100 Harps Mill Rd, Raleigh.

The family will receive relatives and friends prior to the service from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the church.

She is survived by her husband, Darren Wayne Speckhart; son, Greyson William Speckhart; daughter, Addyson Faith Speckhart; her mother and father in-law, Robert & Jeanette Speckhart; her brother-in-law, Kurt Speckhart, his wife, Robin and their son, David; brother-in-law, Randy Gallamore and his children: Jennifer and Summer.

Louise was preceded in death by her mother, Sharon Essrich; grandmother, Frances Essrich; grandfather, Karl Essrich; uncle, William Essrich; great-aunt, Genevieve Chappell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation

Condolences to the family may be made at poolefuneral.com under Tributes.

This is not our home...

 

After finding out about my friend, Louise's, death yesterday I've been thinking over and over again that this is not our home....heaven is!  It's where I know that she is today having a blast with all her loved ones that she's missed so much in recent years who went on before her.  I know that she was received with open arms by our Lord.  She's walking on streets of gold and filled with so much Awe as she sees for the first time heaven and our Savior.  What awesomeness that she must be experiencing at this moment.  Even though we are sad because she is not here with us we know she is filled with so much joy and happiness where she is now.  Our hard days will only be because we miss her but when it's hard we can smile and look up to heaven knowing that she is up there filled to overflowing with so much love and happiness at the reunion that she is having with loved ones and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is what we get to look forward to, those of us who know Jesus, when it's our turn to go be with Jesus.  We know that the Lord knows every hair on our head, that he knows our beginning and our end.  We are only here for a short time compared to eternity with him.  To wish her back here with us would be pure selfishness on our part.  She was loved.  She touched so many lives through being a hospice nurse.  She lived a life that made a difference.  She was special and there will never be another like her.  May her memory always live on in the hearts and lives of her family, friends and those that she touched through hospice.  What a jewel she was and I just hope and pray that she really truly knew that.  

Today I hold more closely/tightly to my family and friends.  My heart is filled with so much love for them that it overflows.  Some are close and some are far but no matter I love them all the same.  Memories of them all fill my heart and life and I am so thankful for the amazing memories that I have of them all.  God has blessed my life so very much and I never ever want to be unappreciative of the blessings that I have had in my life thanks for God!  All glory, honor, and praise to Him for his wonderful gifts in my life!!!  

I hope you all take a moment or two or three or more and really truly appreciate those in your life that God has blessed you with.  They all matter.  You never know when your last moment with them will be.  Always keep your heart remembering and never forgetting no matter how near or far those you love and care about are.  As long as you do that they are never forgotten and they will always live on in your memories creating a legacy to pass on to others.  God bless you all!  Keep looking to God no matter what!  Love to you all!

No Words...Just No Words...

This morning we got a call from my oldest and dearest friends husband.  He called Scot's phone.  Scot came up stairs urgently.  I could tell by the look on his face that something bad had happened.  This was not the kind of call you want to get.  He said, "Louise passed away last night from a seizure".  He said this all broken up and in tears as he spoke every other word to me and Scot.  She and I hadn't spoken a lot in recent years.  Our lives, or should I say our kids lives, had us traveling different and very busy paths.  Whenever we did speak or see one another it was like no time had passed and we picked up right where we left off.  My heart is broken.  There are no words.  Just emptiness and heartache that she's gone and for her husband and kids who are now without a wife/mom.  These pictures are from 2021.  They didn't take very many family pics together.  Please keep this family in your prayers.

Athletic Lab Spring Open...

Tim's home gym is going to be hosting a weightlifting meet.  Tim is really looking forward to it.  It will be his second meet of 2024 unless his coach wants him to do another one before April 6th when this meet happens.

Current Schedule...

Current travel schedule for Tim's Weightlifting Meets...

Full Armor of God...

 

I am so blessed that my husband is covered in the full armor of God and because of that it makes him my knight in shinning armor!  He is an amazing provider, husband and father!  He isn't perfect but he's perfect for me and that's all that matters.  He is my best friend.  He's the one that I want to spend my time with no matter what it is that we are doing together.  Whether it's cutting and burning trees that have fallen on our property, or taking trash to the dump, or going on a vacation as a family, or just chilling at home, I'm happy because we are together.  I not only love my husband but I'm in love with him and have been since the first time we met.  He's an amazing man of God.  He's honorable and does everything that he does with excellence.  I couldn't have asked God for better, that's for sure.  I'm thankful for everyday that we get to do this life together.  All glory and honor to God for this blessed life that we have together.  

For those women still looking for your life mate keep the statement above in mind.  It doesn't matter if they are the best looking man around if they aren't covering themselves in the full armor of God then you have to ask yourself are they right for me?  God wants you to have the absolute best and there's someone out there that is perfect for you.  He won't be perfect but he will be perfect for you!