Decisions Decisions....

As we are getting this year started we have lots of planning to do. Some of the planning is halted because we are waiting on USAT to get their heads out of the sand and get the rules released and also waiting for State Championships and USAT Nationals to be announced so we can plan which events T will be doing for the year. AAU has been great. A total contrast from USAT. AAU already has let us all know where there Nationals is going to be and the dates. We already have AAU Qualifiers getting mapped and on schedule. 

We have other things that we are planning for as well. Once we get it all on the calendar we will need to sit down and decide what gets done and what doesn’t. As you know everything takes finances. You can want to do everything but you can’t do everything because you have to spend your finances wisely. Part of mapping out everything and getting things on schedule includes training sessions. T has such a great coach and having a great coach is not cheap so we’ve also got to map that out too along with housing for when we are in Matthews training with him. 

First up for T this year will be the AAU Qualifier on February 8th. He weighs in on the 7th. Next up will be US Open in Orlando at Disney. T weighs in on February 29th and Fights on March 1st. Before all of that will be training and more training. We are looking at T being in Matthews from January 24th until February 22nd. An entire month. We are crunching numbers and figuring out finances as I write this post because it will be training, AAU Qualifier, more training, come home, pack, and go to US Open. A lot will be having to happen in that time frame and a lot of finances needed to do it. 

God has been so faithful to us in providing every step of the way so T can go hard after his dreams. As with any athlete there are ups and downs and we’ve had to consistently be there to help our son keep his focus where it needs to be for him to accomplish his goals. He’s young and determined. We are so proud of all he’s been able to accomplish to this point. If he didn’t do anymore than he’s already done we’d still be so proud. I love that he wants to do more. We are praying and believing God for His provision for T to continue his journey and accomplish his goals.  It’s our prayer that as he accomplishes his goals that he always keeps in the forefront of his mind who gave him the gift to do what he’s doing to begin with. That he’s always thankful. That he looks to God in everything as he moves forward and does more in this sport. 

We ask that you keep us in your prayers as we plan and do all we can to help our son move forward and do more in this sport. As he moves forward to accomplish his goals. Pray for God’s provision in all this because without Him we can do nothing. He’s our provider. He’s the one who guides our steps. We give all glory and honor to Him!!!  

Tree is Down....Living Room is a Dojang Once Again!

The Christmas Tree has been put away and the living room looks like a Dojang again so that T can train at home when he's not training with his coach.  Today has been a day of looking ahead at 2020 and goal setting for the year ahead.  We've had lots of conversations with T about his desires and what it is that he wants from TaeKwonDo, especially the competitive sparring side of TaeKwonDo, to get a handle on what it is that we, as a family, need to plan for in the new year to help him accomplish his goals.  It's been good conversations of solidifying things so that we can move forward and work towards his goals.  We are always checking and rechecking to make sure of what it is that T wants from TaeKwonDo.  Kids change their minds so much on what they want that we always want to be checking in with T to make sure of his desires, wants, and goals.  As parents we always want to encourage him in his endeavors as long as they are towards a positive goal.  There are so many kids that are just doing whatever just to be doing something but they don't have any real goals in life.  We don't want T to ever be one of those statistics.  We want to make sure he sets himself up for a successful future in whatever he decides to do in this life.  We want him doing it with God guiding him all along the way.  Goal setting is important for kids but it must be done with making sure to keep a relationship with God first and foremost.  If you don't have both you don't have anything.  God + Goals (goals that God guides) = success!!!  Success not only in accomplishing your goals but success in Life!

Last year was a year of ups and downs and all athlete's have them.  T lost Grand Master Cann to cancer.  That was a big blow for him and he's been adjusting ever since.  He only knew her a short time but she made a lifetime impact on him.  He misses her everyday.

T accomplished much and he missed the mark some also.  Besides his competitions he also had a belt testing cycle and earned his 3rd Dan.  So it was a very busy year for T and it's going to be even busier in 2020.  I know he's up for what lies ahead.  He can do what he needs to do to achieve his goals.  Life is crazy at times but we wouldn't have it any other way.  God is faithful and he watches over every aspect of all we do and deal with everyday.  Things may not always happen exactly how we would like but God knows what is best for us and we just go with His Flow in our lives and keep pressing forward.  Here's a pic of T's accomplishments in 2019:

Happy New Year 🥳!!!

Happy New Year All!!!

It’s a new year with lots to look forward to. We recently found out about an opportunity for T to go to China/Korea with his traditional TaeKwonDo school in September for 11 days. Scot and I would go as well, of course, because I’m that protective momma, my kid ain’t leaving the USA without me. The entire trip will cost a little over $10,000 for all of us. It’s not a definite that we will go yet but that’s an everything included trip (plane, food, and housing). 

There’s going to be a parent meeting with the sparring team coach this Saturday. I figure there’s going to be opportunities announced at it as well. So I figure we are going to have to make some hard decisions concerning the opportunities that are presented to us in this New Year. 

T always likes to do it all but we had to have the conversation with him that we can’t always do everything. We have to pick what’s most important and do it. So as we figure out what that is we will be making more posts about the year ahead and all we are going to be having on our plate. 

New is always exciting but not always what’s best. We look to the Lord for guidance as we plan the year ahead. He is our navigator. His guidance is what’s most important to us so we will see how things unfold as we get started with 2020. We are looking forward to all the Lord will do this year in our lives😊. 

May this New Year bring unexpected blessings your way. May God be your guide in all you do. 

Yesterday at the Park

We went walking, and the boys did some running, at the Park yesterday and I got these pictures. 

T Learning “Sipjin” Poomsae

T learned his new forms for his 3rd Dan on Monday. Black Belt World teaches forms that are a belt or two above their current belt. This way by the time they actually reach Grand Master status they know all of the Forms up to 9th Dan. It’s actually a smart thought process. That way they can teach all the forms to their students if they happen to have their own school someday. Here is a couple of pictures of him and Master Amy and a video of him doing his new forms. It’s actually a 5th Dan form. 

T’s Christmas!

This Christmas T didn’t get as many gifts as he normally does because part of his Christmas was his room makeover that we did that you all saw in earlier posts but what he got he absolutely loved. 

Steph Curry shoes that he’s been wanting for a long time. They were always out of stock online and in store for this particular shoe. When I finally found it in stock I snatched it up ASAP...LOL! 



He loves that Steph puts this on his gear!  It’s one of T’s favorite scripture verses. When T found out that Steph Curry really loves the Lord and it’s not just lip service from yet another athlete that really excited him!  

The Nintendo Switch and all its accessories in the photos following. 

New Pokémon games. 

Pokéball Plus for the Switch and Pokémon Go on his phone. 

Pokémon Pikachu game. 

Memory card and screen protector. 

Skins for his Switch and a handle for his Switch controllers in order to play with it more easily. 

This is a chariot to go with his Sphero Bolt!  

This is Sphero’s terrain park that goes with the Bolt as well. 

This is a nubby cover so he can play with his Sphero Bolt on all kinds of turf. 

T’s new competition belt with his name in Chinese in honor of Grand Master Cann who passed away in February. He’s so excited to have this to wear at competitions with his sparring team. 

This is a water bottle that he’s been wanting and has asked for every time he’s seen it. He loves how UA put the American flag in their logo. 

Pipers Lights

We always love going to Pipers to see their lights. They are so beautiful and pictures just don’t do them justice but I have some to share anyhow. 

These last two pictures were taken inside Pipers shop where we got hot chocolate. It’s something we love doing every year at Christmastime. 



T was as tall as this Santa...LOL! 

Candlelight Service Christmas Eve

We so love our churches candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Here’s a picture of my guys holding their candles. They generally give kids the battery operated candles but for the past two years I’ve held the battery one and gave T my real one because he really enjoys holding the real one. He’s more mature than most kids and does quite well with holding it. 

Christmas Family Pictures 2019

Here are some pictures we took today with our Christmas 🎄.

T’s Tummy

While we were at training this past week T ended up eating some stuff we had bought that was more than likely going bad because the fridge wasn’t cooling cold enough. He got a touch of food poisoning from it and it sent him sailing with diarrhea. It was awful. I felt so bad for him. He’s finally on the mend now. He got through his first day with no tummy pain today. Praise the Lord! Now we wait for him to have a normal bm. I’m just thankful he was feeling more normal today than he has been in 6 days. 

Merry Christmas 🎄

Just wanted to share this picture with you all. May your Christmas be Merry and Bright and full of laughter and love. 

Training So Far...

Training so far this week has been good. T has been getting back in his grove. Today though he had an upset tummy. Not sure what from 🤔. He’s finally getting better. Must have either been something he ate or a bug. Thanking God that it seems to have been short lived. We’ll see how he’s doing in the morning. 

On a side note, I got a shot of T washing dishes at the extended stay we stay at yesterday. We stay here when he’s training with his coach.  Here’s a pic. 

T’s New Bedroom

T’s new bedroom is finished. We have a few minor tweaks but it’s done and he loves it. 

The Year is Almost Gone...

It’s hard to believe 2019 is almost over. It’s been such a busy year. It has just flown by. The Christmas 🎄 got put up late this year and we had to tag team getting it up...LOL!  

We got Nan and Popsie to Florida from Kentucky and settled in. Talk about living the life. I so would love to have winters in Florida😁. It was a nice couple of days in 82 degree weather. Then we had to come back to freezing 🥶 temps. Yuk!!!  

The house is really coming together. Getting it all organized and ready for the holidays is hard when you travel as much as we do but we are making it work. 

Scot gave my vehicle an oil change to get it ready for T’s training with his coach/team starting tomorrow until the 21st. Then it will be time to do the holidays with the family. 

The dog is sunning at the front door while I straighten up and clean. I can get a lot done while T is sleeping so that when he wakes I can give him my undivided attention as his teacher😊. Homeschooling is great!  We can make our own schedule and make it work for us. When he’s not focusing on school he’s focusing on his sparring training. There’s not much wiggle room for a lot of other stuff but we do manange to get some fun stuff in here and there so it’s not school and training all the time. There has to be a balance. We strive to make sure things stay in perspective and balance with T. 

Life may be crazy 😜 most of the time because of our busy schedule but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love being able to be there for my kid and for him to have opportunities that I never had growing up. When you grow up dirt poor, like I did, your options are more limited because you just don’t have the finances to finance things like we’ve been blessed to be able to do for T. 

God has certainly blessed us and we give him all the Praise, Glory, and Honor because without His Blessings on our lives T wouldn’t be able to do what he’s doing. We make sure that T always knows that it’s with God’s Blessings that he’s able to do what he’s doing. God provides opportunities in our lives and He also provides what we need to be able to step into those opportunities. Life without God as a central focus is unimaginable for Scot and I and it’s our hope and prayer that will be how T feels as well when he gets all grown up. We guide them and pour into their lives a love for God that leads to a relationship with Him but we can’t make them live for God. That’s all up to them! Their choice. I only hope that the short time he is on loan to us from God that we do our part well and that he chooses to live for God as well. As we celebrate the real reason for the season may we all take extra time to share with our children our love Jesus in hopes that they will always share our love for Him and pour that love into their own children someday. Building a legacy for God is what it’s all about for us. 

I pray everyone enjoys their families this Christmas and celebrates the real reason for the season, Jesus!!!  Happy Birthday Early Jesus!!!  I always look forward to this time of year because it’s all about You Jesus!  You are worthy of celebrating everyday but especially at this time of year!  You are the best gift ever!!!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!!  Cherish the moments!!!  Make memories that last a lifetime and beyond!!!