Memories...

Memories pressed between the pages of my mind...Memories sweetened through the ages just like wine... Quiet thoughts come floating down...And settle softly on the ground...Like golden autumn leaves around my feet...I touched them and they burst apart with sweet memories...Sweet Memories...(Elvis Presley song, Memories)

On June 2nd, 2011 these boys were enjoying a meal together at CiCi's Pizza.  They had to close down all their stores when Covid hit in 2020.  It was the boys favorite pizza place to eat at.  Today they'd eat them out of all their pizza...😂😂😂LOL!! 

11 years ago today 2 boys got to meet Dan the Animal Man during church service + got to touch a live alligator.  They loved every moment of it too.

Today, Tristan, the oldest boy, will be graduating High School in 16 days.  And the other, Tim, will be a rising Senior in High School.  Both are very handsome & strong minded young men.  Can't wait to see what the future holds for these two young men.  

Tristan Norment (18 years old)

Tim Neal (17 years old)

#cousins4life #familyiseverything #thefutureisbright #handsomeyoungmen #cherishedmemories

"New" IWF Weight Categories....

 

Today the "NEW" weight divisions go into effect.  It will be interesting to see where everyone lands with the new divisions.  Tim has chosen the -65kg Male Youth to be his division moving forward.  

Tim naturally falls into the -65kg division without having to cut weight.  We will have to see where he lands come January 1, 2026 when he moves to Juniors.  We aren't on the page of cutting so we will have to see where he lands as he fills out.  His coach said that he will be doing a lot of filling out these next few years.  

This is from Weightlifting House:

It is as of now unclear which five of the new weight classes will be selected for each gender at the 2028 Olympics. It may look something like:

• Men: 60KG, 71KG, 88KG, 110KG, +110KG
• Women: 48KG, 58KG, 69KG, 86KG, +86KG

If things shake out this way, Olympic hopefuls who exist in the vast liminal space between divisions (a 22-kilogram gap between the Men's 88 and 110-kilo classes would be the largest in modern Olympic history) may find themselves displaced from a viable path to qualification.

In short, the IOC's decision is a blow to weightlifting's positive trajectory in recent years, at least at the Olympic Games. Elsewhere, at least, things are a bit brighter; weightlifting was recently added to the program for the European Games beginning in 2027. 

Articles:

1 - https://usastore.weightliftinghouse.com/blogs/news/iwf-new-weight-classes-weightlifting#:~:text=Junior%20&%20Senior%20Weight%20Classes%20%7C%20Women,the%20Olympics%20in%20three%20years  

2-  https://usastore.weightliftinghouse.com/blogs/news/weightlifting-restrictions-2028-olympics

Our Resident Beaver...

Our resident beaver. Her baby is usually with her but I didn’t see it today. They have found solace on our property because of the preserve always having canoes🛶/kayaks in the pond. It’s chasing the animals away. They sure are fast 💨 when they sense someone is coming around or watching them though.

Scraping & Cupping for the WIN!!!

Tim's muscles were tight and knotted up last week, which was causing him to miss lifts he normally gets, and his coach referred us to his body guy at 919Spine, Dr. Adam Beck, who happens to be in the same building with our gym.  He was able to do Tim's body work the very next day.  The pictures I'm gonna be sharing may look awful but it made Tim feel so much better and gave him his mobility back.  When he went back to train he was able to lift what he wasn't able to before because of how tight and knotted up his muscles were.  It made such a huge difference that Tim will be going to him from now on for his body work stuff.

This is just to show you what the cupping looks like.  Tim always makes silly faces...LOL!

The scratch marks are from the scrapping.  The dots are the cupping marks.

Making sure an athlete is getting all the care they need for their body to be at it's optimal level is sooooooo important and we are still learning about all he needs to be doing for his body in this sport.  There's always a learning curve with an elite athlete.  We had TKD all figured out, as far as what his body needed, and now we are learning all over again.  Each sport is different and what the body needs for that sport is different as well.  This body guy Tim's going to gets what his needs are because he's a weightlifter too.  Tim's second time in yesterday was much better.  There were next to no scrape marks.  The dots will always be there when he has cupping done though.  He goes back just before we leave for Nationals.  So glad that Tim found the answer to the problem he was having.  His body is thanking him big time right now.  

Truth 👇

Verse of the Day...

 

Yesterday...

Tim's first and last day of his 10th/11th grade year of school picture.

Become Unstoppable...

 

In today's society with our youngsters making decisions based on bad influences in their lives this quote needs to really sink in!!!  

I've seen so many young people make life decisions based solely on people and things that are having the greatest influence in their life.  For so many of them the greatest influences in their lives are not good character building influences that will help them be a good addition to society in the future.  It's sad really that we've allowed it to come to this and that we haven't taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and helped them grow up to be the best possible version of themselves that they can be.  That we haven't helped them know who God created to them to be so that they can become that person.  Instead we have allowed all of the bad to take over and our youth are running a muck because of it.   They don't know whether they are coming or going or what they should or shouldn't be because they have no real trustworthy guidance in their lives to help them with the identity crisis they are having.  

Know This👇:

Our Character Matters!  Our Habits Matter!  Our Mindset Matters!  Our Attitude Matters!

We can't become who God created us to be and live lives worthy of God until we make sure our character, habits, mindset & attitude are centered on Him!   The life he has for us isn't a life without purpose and direction.  He wants us happy and fulfilled and living life with purpose of direction.  He has a plan for all of our lives and it's a good plan!  Satan is the only one who wants to kill, steal, and destroy our life.  God only wants to pour out blessings on us that cannot be contained.  Don't allow the world to confuse you when it comes to this.  All that is good comes from God!  All that is bad is from Satan!  Don't allow the bad in this world to shape you into a person that you were never meant to be.  Be proud of who God created you to be and become unstoppable!

Becoming Unstoppable doesn't happen without God in your life to help lead, guide, and direct you in the way you should go!

"NEW" Bag...

Tim finally graduated to an actual weightlifting bag.  He's been using his old TKD bag for weightlifting since he switched sports.  He was so happy to have an actual bag that goes along with his sport and it was customized for him as well.  He is over the moon excited.  Be sure to follow him on Instagram too.  

A Few More Cool Home Ideas for Outside...

Enjoy the pictures...