Mom's Knee Surgery...

Mom had total knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. She needed to stay overnight at the hospital, but she came home to our house yesterday afternoon. So far, she has done amazingly well.

Now the real work begins.

The nerve block they placed in her knee has worn off, which means the new knee is fully “awake,” and she’s feeling everything. We’ve been staying ahead of the pain with medication, but she is still hurting quite a bit even with it in her system.

Physical therapy comes today for in-home treatment. I’m not sure how much they’ll be able to do with her yet because she’s doing the best she can considering the pain she’s in. Even so, she’s faithfully getting up every hour to move and walk around just like they instructed her to do.

I’m looking forward to reaching the two-week mark because I’ve been told that’s when she’ll really start feeling thankful she had the surgery.

Once she fully recovers from this knee replacement, she will need to have the other knee done as well. The type of arthritis she has gradually destroys her joints, which is why she has already had reverse shoulder replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery, and now both knees.

We have lovingly nicknamed her "The Bionic Woman." 

From This, To This, To This....

Tim has been an elite athlete since the age of 8. From then until he was 15, his whole world revolved around Taekwondo sparring. He was a fighter—and a very good one. But what made it difficult for him to truly excel in that sport was his height. In Taekwondo sparring, height creates a major advantage because the sport is so leg-dominant. Taller athletes naturally have more reach, allowing them to strike from distances their opponents often can’t match. Add talent to that physical advantage, and it becomes an incredibly powerful combination.

Tim absolutely had the talent—there was never any doubt about that. The challenge was consistently facing opponents who were taller and had that reach advantage. No matter how hard he worked, it limited how far he could go in the sport. So, he made the decision to switch paths.

That decision changed everything.

When Tim discovered Olympic-style weightlifting, he truly found his calling. For so long, he believed Taekwondo sparring was where he was meant to be, but stepping into weightlifting revealed something even greater. In this sport, he has grown by leaps and bounds and found success right out of the gate—success on a level that simply wasn’t possible for him in Taekwondo.

I’ve often said since he switched sports that I wish I could get back the thousands upon thousands of dollars we spent on sparring. But the truth is, that journey laid the foundation for the success he’s having now in weightlifting. I don’t think Tim—or even we as his parents—fully realize just how much his years in sparring prepared him for this moment. The discipline, explosiveness, body control, mental toughness, and athletic foundation he developed all helped shape the athlete he is today.

Now, in just a little over a month, Tim will turn 18, and five days later he’ll graduate high school. He’ll continue pursuing his weightlifting dreams while also working alongside his dad in the family business.

Through it all, Tim has always carried the same dream in his heart: to represent our country on the world stage—at Worlds and the Olympics. The path to that dream may have changed, but the dream itself has not. His goals are still alive, stronger than ever, and he is relentlessly driven toward them.

We are beyond proud of everything this young man is accomplishing.

God has an incredible plan for Tim’s life, and we have the blessing of a front-row seat to watch it unfold. What a joy and privilege that is for us as his parents.

LH Class of 2026 Pictures...

This one is of the entire homeschool graduating class.

This one is of just the guys.

You might have to click on them to make them larger if you are looking at these from your computer.

Happy Resurrection Day...Easter!

He is Risen! ✝️

Today we celebrate the victory of life over death, hope over despair, and light over darkness. Because He lives, we are given new life, new mercies, and an everlasting hope.

May your heart be filled with joy, peace, and the overwhelming love of our risen Savior.

Happy Easter! 🌿

Don't Be Like This...

This describes my husbands parents and a friend of mines parents to a T. We have made great strides not be like this in our lives because of what we've seen from family members. No one - and I mean no one - should have to deal with a hoarding mess that's left behind from their family members. 

Down to the Wire...

We are officially down to the wire getting everything ready for Mom’s knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. She’ll be having her right knee done now, and then her left in July. At this point, she’s well on her way to becoming the bionic woman—with a new hip, shoulder, and soon two new knees!

At the same time, we’re preparing for Tim’s graduation and welcoming family into town. There’s been a lot of purging, reorganizing, and shifting things around to get the house ready for all that’s ahead in the coming months. One thing is certain—life is anything but boring right now.

In the middle of it all, we also get to celebrate Scot’s birthday later this month and Tim’s just five days before graduation in May. My heart is full just thinking about celebrating these moments with my guys, our family, and our friends.

Through all of this, we’ve learned so much about what truly matters—what’s worth keeping and what isn’t. From helping friends navigate hoarding situations with their parents, to sorting through what was left behind from Scot’s hoarding parents, it’s been eye-opening.

Life is too short to hold onto things that don’t serve a purpose or hold real meaning. Why leave behind a burden for your loved ones to sort through during an already difficult time? Instead, leave them with something far greater—beautiful memories, a lasting legacy, and the love you shared.

Be present. Cherish your time. Love deeply.

We’re not promised tomorrow—so live fully today.

Happy Good Friday!

 

Without the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there would be no hope of eternal life. Easter is the most sacred celebration for believers, marking the very foundation of our faith. Everything we believe rests on this one, powerful event—without it, there is no true faith.

May we celebrate this glorious occasion with hearts full of love and gratitude for our Lord and Savior.

Class of 2026 Pic Collage...

I made a picture collage of three of my favorite senior pictures that were taken of Tim. I'm hoping to get this done in a canvas to hang on our wall at some point.

Team Gear...

We just placed Tim’s first Team Gear order—$241 total for 3 t-shirts (because…Tim 😄), a pair of pants, and a hoodie. His coach wants the team to show up to meets looking unified, like a true team, and we love that.

Even with these added costs, we’re still spending far less in this sport than we ever did in the other one. If only we could get back the thousands upon thousands we poured into that—just imagine what we could do with it now!

Here's what the mock ups look like:

 

Tim's Pro Shots from Mr. Keller of Final Shot Photography...

Mr. Keller got some amazing shots of Tim on Senior picture day on March 22nd.