The Year Ahead...

We have T's schedule more solidified for 2023.  We are not going to be doing team trials even though he qualified to go to it.  He would be fighting in a new age/weight division with 17 year olds and it's just not the year to do that particular event with the deck stacked against him like it will be.  It's why we also decided, for now, not to go to US Open either.  Those two trips alone would cost close to $10,000 (air fare, hotel, food and car rental).  Even if we had the finances to do them I think it would be throwing money to the wind if we did them with him being in a new division.  He needs to spend the year doing events closer to home, doing private training + team training, doing cross trainings with other schools near us, and doing any other training camps that come up with USA TaeKwonDo.  The goal is to grow, get stronger, and learn as much as possible in this new age/weight division this year so that he can be an even better competitor next year as a second year Junior. And hopefully by the time he's a third year/last year Junior he will be at the top of his game competitively.  His new coach is very understanding of things and doesn't pressure us like his last coach did to do all these crazy tournaments.  We really appreciate that more than he knows.  We really don't see a need to take him everywhere and doing everything when he has got to get acclimated to an entirely new division but that mindset could change.  We ideally want his mind to continue to stay strong and move forward in this sport.  We don't want to take a bunch of steps backwards this year by doing everything under the sun just to be doing them.  Doing everything we can does bring experience though but at what price???  I don't want T to get worn down.  Nor do I want him being down on himself should he not be winning like he did last year, which is highly possible when dealing with guys who are basically grown men with him still growing.  T found out at the last USA training camp that the 17 year old guys are much stronger.  My guy is a realist and he knows how crazy it is to just jump head long into his new division the first year in it.  I applaud him for looking at things realistically.  Even he knows that he needs more stability in his fight game and that he needs a lot more training to be the competitor that he needs to be for this new division.  I'm proud of him for seeing things clearly and making decisions that are beneficial for him even though his teammates are not doing the same.  He knows this is beneficial for him and we respect that and we are going with it for now unless we are given a reason to do the opposite.  The absolute only thing that could change moving forward is that he decides to go ahead and do US Open after all but that remains to be seen but we have time because that event doesn't happen until March.  

We are continuing to seek God on all this but this is the direction we are leaning unless God tells us otherwise and wanted to share it with you all.  God opens door and closes them and we will continue to look to him where going or not going to US Open is concerned.  It's the only tournament where we could actually change our minds and go but we will need to have clear direction from God on it.  

Something I want to ask for prayer on as well, because we are seeking God on it, is that T wants to do AAU Nationals as well as USA Nationals.  They are both going to be in Florida this year and only be a four hour drive apart.  T's coach is only doing USA though.  Pray with us for a coach that can coach T at AAU that will work with T and Doug to get him ready for it.  

T's big goal for the year is to medal at either AAU or USA Nationals.  He'd be elated to medal at both.  But that is his big goal for the year.  He knows if he medals at AAU that he gets a chance to fight for a place on AAU's National Team.  He knows that making AAU National Team is a long shot given where he is at currently but he also knows that if he grows this year that is actually an attainable goal.  I'm praying he has a big growing year this year and that he medals at both Nationals and gets a shot at AAU's National Team and that a coach is available to coach him for AAU Nationals.  Please pray in agreement with us for this.  Thank you!

  

T’s Year In Review 2022 Video…

T had one the best years he’s had since he began his journey as a taekwondo fighter. He loves this sport so much. His goals with it have ebbed and flowed over the years but his heart for the sport remains. He has so loved 🥰 growing in this sport this year. His new coach has been amazing. So thankful that we have him with a coach and school that he loves. While we don’t know what the future holds in this sport we do know who holds the future and that is all we need to know. Enjoy the video. 

Christmas 2022 Video

We had a great Christmas with lots of fun and laughter. Good times were had. We created some good memories for years to come. Our family has been through a lot in recent years but God has showed up in a mighty way and we are so blessed and thankful. Enjoy this short video of our Christmas. 

T's Gaming Computer Setup...

T just got everything just the way he wants it with his new gaming computer and desk.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  2022 will soon come to end and I'm thinking about all the memories of this year.  More good memories than bad ones.  Life isn't always easy but as long as we keep a good attitude it can always be great no matter what comes our way.  And although we don't know what the future holds we know who holds the future!  That my family and friends is a handy piece of information to have.  Only those who know Jesus can really relate to that statement.  

Jesus came to seek and save the lost so that we don't live eternally in hell but that we can live eternally in heaven with Him.  It was the whole reason for His birth.  His story had an end here on earth "physically" before it even began just like each and every one of ours does.  But His story didn't end just like ours won't either.  We may not know how our story ends here on earth but we will live eternally in either one place of the other.  It's totally our choice.  And we may have memories of ourselves of our beginnings.  We will always carry those memories with us and cherish them.  But may we always keep in mind that "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!"  He's the reason to press forward each and every day of our lives.  He gives meaning to everything!  Without it life here is pointless.  

On this Christmas Day my greatest hope and wish is that the lost are saved.  That they find and have a real relationship with Jesus that will carry them through all of the rest of their lives.  That they grow in the knowledge of God.  That they teach it to their children and that their children teach it to theirs and so on and so forth.  Growing God's Kingdom to make an impact on the world we live in makes all of life worth living.  It brings blessings that cannot be contained.  That's what the real meaning of Christmas means to this southern gal.  

Happy Birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas Everyone!

  

T’s Christmas….

We still got to surprise T with a little Christmas. 

VR grips for his VR handles. 

A gaming keyboard that does all that T needed a gaming keyboard to do. 

An electronic cube game and a steam gift card so that he can buy pc games. 

Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday Jesus!

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

T’s New Setup in His Gaming Room…

T loves his new setup in his gaming room. He now can play games on his gaming computer on his one desk and do school on his laptop on his other desk. They are side by side and go great together. 

Tucker and His New Toys…

Tucker is such a blessed dog. 

One Last Training…

T got one last training session on before Christmas Day. He’s got a lot of work to do moving forward. He will get where he needs to be though. It was a bit of a hard/frustrating day for him as he realized just how much work he needs to do moving forward. Being sick for months has put him behind the eight ball so to speak. It’s all good though. 

Two More Events Scheduled for 2023

T will be competing at the 2023 East Grand Prix. He will weigh in May 12th and fight May 13th. We will drive to this event. It’s about the same distance as going to Kentucky to visit our family. 

T will also be competing at the USAT Nationals event also. He will weigh in on July 6th and fight July 7th. 

The calendar is starting to fill in. T is looking forward to all that he will learn this year as he fights in his “New” age and weight division. We will also drive to this event because it’s so close to us. Again it’s like making the trip the Kentucky to see the family. Thankful we can drive to these events with the price of plane tickets. 

USA TaeKwonDo Athlete Academy Sparring Training Camp 2022 Videos…

Earlier this month T got the opportunity to be before one of the Olympic coaches. He was thrilled to have this opportunity and learned a lot and had so much fun too. It was an intense training where everyone was showing off their skills. Since then T has been training harder and sharpening his skills where he saw that he was weak and needed to do better. He is hyper focused going into his first year as a Junior fighter and his mindset is great. He knows this could end up being more of a learning year than a winning year but he is still gonna give it everything he’s got, do his best and leave the results in God’s hands as he always does. There’s always ebb & flow with this sport. Some years you are winning more and others you aren’t. It happens to even the best fighter but you keep moving forward. T is looking forward to seeing a lot of growth in himself this year. With each camp or cross training he gets to do he’s trying to improve himself more. He’s a very realistic guy and he gets that from both his dad and myself. So proud of all he’s already accomplished and all that he still will accomplish in this sport as he continues to focus, grow, and learn. He will make a great master someday with all that he has learned and is learning. Here are some of the videos that we were able to take. You have to really look to find T because the place was very full. These are just raw footage. I put no music or anything with them. 

Orthodontist Appointment 🦷

So T got his rubber bands on his braces today. He will now be coming in every 6 weeks until the braces come off. He’s ahead of schedule with everything and should be getting them off sooner than expected. 

Driver's Ed Eye Exam...

T had his Driver's Ed Eye Exam yesterday and aced it.  It was a quick in and out to get this done.  Now he has the classroom portion done and his eye exam done.  All that is left now is his driving portion and we will be on a waiting list for that portion.  Just hoping his turn doesn't come up when he has comps to attend.  He's wearing one of the shirts that his Aunt Debbie, Uncle Jeff, Corey and Sarah got him.  

Another Update on Me...

So after our weekend travels to Kentucky and back with Scot doing almost all of the driving, which was very different for us, I went to the Chiropractor today to get adjusted.  He basically told me to avoid any traveling that is more than a few hours away until he releases me from care for the car accident that I was in.  I'm making improvements with each visit but I still remain in lots of pain a good majority of the time.  I do as little driving as possible and as little lifting or anything that requires lots of strength as possible.  The less I do the more things can stay in and the longer they stay in the more healing can occur.  I'm ready to get back to normal living.  I hate that this accident is keeping me from doing the things that I normally do and used to have no trouble doing.  It's been a real bummer to have to contend with this here at the holidays.  I'm grateful though that things weren't much worse.  It's good to keep things in perspective.  Our lives are busy but it's ok to slow down a little to allow yourself the time you need so that you can make forward progress.  The good thing is that I've been able to watch more Christmas movies as I've rested and recuperated🥰. 

2023 Carolina Rumble...

T is officially signed up for his first tournament/training camp of the 2023 season.  He is looking forward to training with Olympian CJ Nickolas.  CJ is on Team USA and is World Ranked #6.  This will be an incredible opportunity for T plus he'll get to have quite a bit of fight time with guys that he doesn't normally get to train with.  This will help him gain valuable experience for the new division that he will be in from 2023-2025 as a Junior Fighter.

Neal Family Collage - A Work In Progress...

I'm working on a Neal Family collage.  I only need one more pic of four of our family members and then it will be ready.  Maybe it will be good enough to actually print to a canvas too 🤞🤞🤞.  Here's what it currently looks like though.

Beautiful 😍 Sunset…

Caught these pics of the beautiful sunset as Scot was driving on the West Virginia Turnpike. 

Neal Family Christmas 2022

We had a great time celebrating Christmas with the family in Kentucky this weekend. We even got to see our first snow of the season even though it was just flurries and a dusting of snow on the ground. The kids had a blast opening and playing with their gifts. Family is Everything!!!

T’s Christmas…

T’s Christmas is a new gaming pc and desk. We had to get these items on Black Friday sale to be able to afford doing it for him. He had to be involved in order to get what he needed so no surprises for Christmas this year for him.