T went for a contact exam today and was fitted for and got contacts. He is so happy right now and he was really ready for them this time. He got them in on his own with no help from me. He chose to do the daily wear contacts so he can throw them away every night. Right now he's in the monthly ones until his daily's come in the mail. He's been all but begging me to do this and now that it is finally done I wish I had done it weeks ago. Here are some pics of him at his appointment today.
I THINK I SEE GOLD is a Ray Boltz song that to this day I have cherished. It's a song that meant a lot to me during some of the absolute worst times in my life that God brought me through and out of. I want to share the lyrics and music video link with you here now:
"I Think I See Gold"
Here's the video link: https://youtu.be/1N_Gpq6v8as.
If I was going to give someone a song to listen to that speaks to the heart of my testimony this would be the one because of all that I've been through in my younger life and all that God brought me through. God has been so good and gracious to me even with all I've been through and blatantly done even when I knew better. I have such a great life now despite all my younger years but God kept telling me over and over again "I Think I See Gold". It took me so long to really understand what that really meant. Years later I really get it to the depths of the core of my being. And now when I think of my son and look at him I also think those words that God said to me, "I Think I See Gold". He's growing up to be such an amazing young man and I'm looking forward to watching him as he grows into his adulthood and becomes the man that God wants him to be. Such a precious song with such a huge impact and meaning. Listen to it when you get it a chance and let the heart of it really touch yours. God Bless!
USAT did a special zoom session online Sunday afternoon. T got to participate and enjoyed every moment of it. T knew both Coach Tim (T's body coach) and Coach Stephen (2016 Olympian) personally. They've both been instrumental in T's life in regards to TaeKwonDo over the years. Although the pictures don't show it this was a big core workout for T and he was feeling it afterwards. One of T's big goals with TaeKwonDo Sparring is to get his stamina where it needs to be and also get his core strength where it needs to be. He is also working on his speed when doing techniques. Speed is key when you are a short fighter. Speed keeps you from getting dominated by the taller opponents. Here are some pics:
We are just a few days out from traveling to Texas for an event. T feels good and ready for this event and looking forward to being able to learn his new weight division going forward. He is on weight for this event too. He weighs in Saturday and Fights on Sunday. When you don't have to cut and just eat clean it makes a big difference in how you feel. Eating clean is all it takes to get him on weight. That's a great feeling to be able to do that. After what happened last summer he will never actually cut to be on weight ever again. If eating clean doesn't get him there then he fights up and that's all there is to that. The coach he will have going forward starting June 1st is on that same page too. It is so nice to be on the same page and everyone wanting to help T move forward in all that he is wanting to accomplish. Keep checking back as I will be posting and updating everyone as everything happens this weekend at the tournament. We are looking forward to seeing how things go to because it's a big adjustment when you move up weight divisions. Learning and growing is what it's all about. #GodsPlan
I just ordered two more puzzles for us to do. Scot is going to love these two puzzles. Mom loved them when she saw them. Here's what they will look like.
T is looking really good right now. He's been eating totally clean for a couple weeks now and it shows. We have to send his body coach pics weekly. I've missed a few times getting this done because we've had so much going on but he's looking real lean and strong right now. He's not too heavy but not too light either. A much better place than where he was last year when he was trying to cut too much weight to make a weight division. He looks so healthy. Loving that we decided to let him fight up in weight. Such a good decision.
This verse has become a verse that we turn to a lot for T in the sport he is doing. We have been drilling this into him for many many years now but not just the portion you will see in the photo below but the entire verse. Here it is in the KJV version of the Bible: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."
We really want him to take this scripture to heart because being in the sport he's in is a tough and you have to have tough skin to do this sport. If you are wimpy and a whinny baby who can't take pain this sport is definitely not for you. Know yourself and know your limitations is something we have been guiding T to do. T is very much a realist, something he gets from both his father and myself, and he knows his limitations and the realities surrounding being able to make it to the the highest level of this sport. He's no fool and isn't trying to make himself to be bigger and badder than he really is. He's in a happy place right now in TaeKwonDo. He wants to continue doing competitions and all of TaeKwonDo. He is going to continue to do his best Win or Learn because at the end of the day if he learns something it is something he can pass on to his students when he has his own dojang someday. I love his attitude and his focus. He is becoming such an incredible young man who loves the Lord! It is our hope and prayer that when he has his own school someday that it will stand out and be different because he will intertwine God into every aspect of it and make it a place that followers of Christ will want to bring their kids to learn TaeKwonDo.
T is excited because his renewed passport finally came in today. Woohoo!!! In the Open competitions they require a photo ID and we've found we get no push back of any kind if T always shows this at competitions. You can do other forms of ID but we have always chosen this form because of the value of it and no one generally will say anything to you about wanting other forms of ID as long as you have this one.
I'm a 4th Dan Black Belt, and I have studied Taekwondo since the age of 8 years old. In 2013, I became the +80 kg Weight Division Fighter for the US Virgin Islands Taekwondo National Team as well as one of the Olympic Hopefuls to represent my country in 2016 for the Rio Olympic Games.
Since then I competed in 2014, at the Costa Rica Open and placed third, placed top 16 and qualified for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, and finished Quarterfinals at the 2016 Pan Am Olympic Games Qualifier in Aguascalientes.
T's Ortho Appt. yesterday went well. He chose dusky blue as his band color this time. They chained all his teeth this time instead of just part of them and he's been feeling the pain big time last night and today. I have to call Ortho in the morning because his teeth have already moved so much that the wire is poking his jaw in the back. I'm sure before he has to go to his tournament next week we will have to go back to Ortho again to make sure he will be fine while we are out of town in Texas for the tournament...LOL!
T was some kind of stinky tonight after sparring training. Peeewww!!! Had to get him home quick to get all cleaned up...LOL! Only parents of athletes can truly understand what I like to call, "The Funk"...LOL! It's a smell like no other. T looks stronger each time he trains though. These are the days we can't get back as parents so we have to enjoy all of it and yes that even means the stinky moments too. Wouldn't trade our life with this kid for anything in the world. He makes all we do for him worth it. He's always kept us on our toes. What a blessing it is to be his parents. Looking forward to all that God has in store for him as he grows into a man. Have a great night everyone. #GodsPlan
President's Cup - a PATU event - will be happening August 19th-21st. After Grand Prix T won't compete again until this tournament. Praise the Lord that he will be able to eat and grow until he has to compete at this event. We are looking forward to doing this event and T gaining more experience. Just keep those prayers coming that we mentioned in our other posts about the other two tournaments. Lots of changes going on and much for T to adjust to as well.
I know you haven't see us mention that he is going to Nationals this year and that's because he won't be. The tournaments we mentioned are all that he will be doing this summer. One National event was going to be in Las Vegas and we've had our fill of going to that venue and really don't ever care to go back there again. It's like a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. The other National even is in Utah. We actually love Salt Lake City, Utah. It's a very nice venue and a family oriented environment. It's just too far for us to even consider going to just for experience and learning. It's money better saved for events that closer to home.
We thank you for staying up to date with us and covet your prayers. #GodsPlan
This will be the competition that T does after Texas. There isn't much time between events. T will be weighing in on the 16th and fighting on the 17th. His group will be one of the first to fight. T will be training like crazy to get ready for this one as well as staying on weight. After this event though T will have a good long break before his next event where he can eat and grow. He is looking forward to that and looking forward to actually being able to spend the 4th of July with family this year. That will be a first for us in a very long time because T is always at one of the National events during that holiday. It will be fun to have a change this year. It's a much needed changed too. Family is so important and having carved out dedicated time with them is something to be cherished. Pray for T as we travel to this event as well. Pray for his health and ours too. Pray that he competes well regardless if he earns a medal or not. Strong fighting is what we are after and getting valuable experience. Thank you for keeping us all in your prayers as we do these next two events. It will be lots of travel for us. #GodsPlan
It's getting closer to travel time for this event. T has been working hard to get ready but also been trying to make sure that he add recovery time into all that he is doing. While still training we've been working on healing an ingrown toenail as well as healing soft tissue injury on the opposite foot. T still pushes forward through all of it. T is looking forward to learning his new bracket as well as getting experience fighting with the new rules. So much is changing and it's a lot for these athletes to get used to but T is rolling with it and adjusting pretty well. It's going to be interesting watching these kids fight this year because I know a lot of mistakes will be made while they all adjust to all the changes. There's never a dull moment! Pray for no injuries and that T learns a lot and does well at this competition. Doing well for T will be that he holds his own with the taller fighters. It might not result in an actual win but that will be a win for T if he can stay strong while fighting these taller fighters. That's what we are after right now. Experience with the fighters and being able to stay strong fighting in this new division/bracket. So keeping him in your prayers during this fight season this summer will be greatly appreciated. #GodsPlan
While I was sitting at my moms arthritis appointment I put this together. I love playing around with photo apps on my phone. These are some great pics of T through the years too. Just wanted to share it with you here. #GodsPlan
As the old song says, "Ch Ch Ch Changes..." That's what is happening here. Lots of changes. First I want to share that I love seeing my son smile while doing what he loves. I haven't seen it in a while but now we are seeing it again and are so happy that he is happy in what he is doing in TaeKwonDo. There are changes happening and they are just bringing out such a happiness in T that we haven't seen in a while. It warms this moms heart to see how happy he is. Check out these pics where I've caught him smiling on camera recently.
All this has happened at Core TaeKwonDo. He has made such awesome friends there and they all get along so great. He really enjoys training with this great group of people. Such a great atmosphere for our son to be in. Ultimately for us it's not about any medals he will ever win, although T likes winning, but who doesn't. For us it's about the fact that we want T happy in what he is doing and happy in his own skin with who he is as a person. He's such a great kid who has had to deal with a ton of changes/losses over the years. Where he's at now is a good place though and we couldn't be more happy.
As of June 1st T will be Team Core and doing all his TaeKwonDo at Core TaeKwonDo! It's a change we felt we had to make as a family financially. God expects us to be smart with our spending. But we were paying 3 different TaeKwonDo schools for training. With the economy where it's at and getting worse we had to make a decision that will make smart financial sense and ultimately be what we felt God would have us do. T loves his coach, Master Wasiu, so much though which made the decision a hard one for us to make. We sat down as a family though and got buy in from T to make this move. Then Scot talked with Master Wasiu getting his blessing for us to make this move. In TaeKwonDo you always get the Masters blessing when making a move. T seems very happy for the up coming change. It will be where he does his regular TaeKwonDo belt classes as well as sparring training. Master Wasiu won't be out of T's life entirely though. These two teams do a ton of cross training together. It will be good to be home regularly. I'm so thankful to be able to be relieved of the financial burden of all the extra TaeKwonDo expenses. Having everything to be in one place with one TaeKwonDo school is going to be great and take a financial burden off our shoulders. We haven't had that in 5 long years. It's what Scot and I have been secretly wanting for some time now but didn't want to upset the apple cart. Ultimately T didn't want to leave Master Wasiu. He also didn't want to leave the Traditional TaeKwonDo school (Black Belt World - where he's done TaeKwonDo since he was four years old). He loves Master Wasiu so and Grand Master Jun Lee. But T knew when we shared with him the TaeKwonDo financials that it was best for us as a family to put everything in one school because it would save money. We don't keep things from him. He's at an age now where we want him learning about how to deal with finances as he grows into an adult. He knew this move was a smart financial move. We're so thankful for his understanding and his learning. That's just another great thing about homeschooling.
After all that, T shared with us that he loves sparring but ultimately he wants to be a master and have his own TaeKwonDo business some day. I think he'd be excellent at it too. So while he will still compete and try to reach the goals he has for sparring at the end of the day what matters for him is moving forward in all TaeKwonDo has to offer. Right now T has told us his goals in sparring are to medal/win at both AAU and USAT Nationals and to medal/win at an Open event. Open events are where athletes from other countries come and fight. These are great goals to have and we pray that he will accomplish them someday. We know he will put his heart and soul into it and at the end of the day that's enough! So check out what T's new Team jacket will look like starting June 1st and pray with us as we make all these changes that T will be able to accomplish all the goals he has in TaeKwonDo.
As I close this out we want to say a special Thank You to Master Wasiu and Grand Master Jun Lee for all they have poured into our son over the years! You both have been incredible influences in our sons life for the better! We appreciate you both so very much and we will never ever forget you! No matter where T goes or what he does a part of you will always live on in him! God Bless you both!!! #GodsPlan
We leave at the end of next week for the PATU Texas Open Tournament. T is fighting up a weight division to get him ready for to move up from Cadets to Juniors next year. He doesn't currently have any points because he had to out so much last year with injuries. So the best thing for him is to gain experience in the weight division he will have to be in next year and get to know the fighters in that division. It's not fun making trips like this knowing that it will mainly be for experience but it is what he needs right now to get ready for what is ahead. Pray for us as we get ready to travel next week and as we travel to Fort Worth for this event. We will be driving to it.
T will be going for his vision appointment next week and he has decided he wants to switch to contacts. Pray this goes well and that he does well with wearing them all the time. It will be vastly different from wearing glasses. He hasn't been great about wearing his glasses anyhow so hopefully by him switching to contacts it will stop my having to get on him constantly about wearing his glasses anymore. I've been told it will switch to my having to be on him all the time about putting his contacts in. I certainly hope and pray not. I think he's actually looking forward to wearing them now where he wasn't when we did this two to three years ago. So we'll see. This will be how he will look without the glasses and wearing contacts. He will look much different.
