"New" Barbell...

Tim has a new barbell because the one we bought almost 2 years ago started rusting.  We contacted Rogue about the quality issue we were having and they were so quick with their response to send out a replacement that I didn't have a chance to ask them could we upgrade it.  I got in contact with them quickly and they called back what they had set up to send out and allowed us to pay the difference and upgrade the bar.  We just wanted to be certain that the issue we had with the old bar wouldn't happened with the new bar so we paid the higher price for an all stainless Steel bar.  Tim is loving it too.  Rogues customer service was, bar none, the best customer service that I have ever experienced!  They were amazingly Patient with me through the whole process and so incredibly helpful as well.  

Romans 5:8 (NLT)...

Footnote From NIV Life Application Bible:

While we were still sinners - these are amazing words.  God sent Jesus Christ to die for us, not because we were good enough, but because he loved us.  Whenever you feel uncertain about god's love for you, remember that he loved you even before you turned to him.  if god loved you when you were a rebel, he can surely strengthen you, now that you love him in return.

Tim's Physical Results...

As more time goes by and the memories of what was fades into what is now I am more thankful than ever that Tim switched sports when he did.  it was the absolute best change for Tim.  The results from his physical this past Friday prove that.  just check out the comparisons from last year and this year below.  What you will see is that he's not gained in height but he's gained in mass because of how much muscle he's been gaining in weightlifting.  He would have never been able to fight and win and the level he needed to with the giants in the land.  his competitors would tower over him.  we are so so glad that Tim changed sports.  best change ever!!!

Stay Close...

This quote I'm about to share with you is one that we encourage our son to do all the time because it's what his dad and I already do.

When you make this your life practice you will have people close to you that really matter & they will forever be in your life.  

Walt Whitman...

John 3:17 (NLT)...

Senior Year Schedule...

Tim is doing some 11th grade and all of his 12th grade subjects this school year.  He has been given a schedule that he will have to keep for this school year in order to graduate on time in May 2026.  

Other than Church on Sunday mornings and going to bed by 10pm his Sunday's will be a free day for him.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)....

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible:

It is discouraging to continue to do right and receive no word of thanks or see no tangible results.  But Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges us to keep on doing good and to trust God for the results.  In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing.

Matthew 4:4 (NLT)...

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible (v.3-4):

Jesus was hungry and weak after fasting for 40 days, but he chose not to use his divine power to satisfy his natural desire for food.  food, hunger, and eating are good, but the timing was wrong.  Jesus was in the desert to fast, not to eat.  And because Jesus had given up the unlimited, independent use of his divine power in order to experience humanity fully, he wouldn't use his power to change the stones to bread.  we also may be tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time.  If we indulge for example in sex before marriage or if we steal to get food, we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways.  Remember, Many of your desires are normal and good, but god want you to satisfy them in the right way and at the right time.  

Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew scripture, but he also obeyed it.  

knowing bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible!

note that satan had memorized scripture, but he failed to obey it.  Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.  

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)...

Footnote From NIV Life Application Bible (v.6-8):

Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead.  But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria.  He said that to succeed Joshua must 1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, 2) obey God's law, and 3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law - God's Word.  To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua.  You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes - and His opinion lasts forever.  

Joshua is one of my absolute favorites to read about in the Bible.  He was Moses's assistant and successor.  He was one of only two adults who experienced Egyptian slavery and lived to enter the Promised Land.  He led the Israelites into their God-given homeland.  He was a brilliant military strategist.  He was faithful to ask God's direction in the challenges that he faced.   We learn from his life that effective leadership is often the product of good preparation and encouragement.  That the people we pattern ourselves after will have a definite effect on us.  That a person committed to God provides the best role model for us.  

Something we should ask ourselves is Who is our Joshua?  We are part of the chain of God's ongoing work in the world.  We are modeling ourselves after others, and others are patterning their lives after us.  How important is God to those we want to be like?  Do those who are watching us see God reflected in every area of our lives?  We can and should ask God to lead us to trustworthy Joshua's so that we can become more like them as we strive to walk lives worthy of God.  

WHO INFLUENCES OUR LIVES MATTERS!!!

4 Years Ago Today...

Aug. 1st 4 years ago was release day from the hospital for Tim after which he had had a really close call from a super huge loss of salt in his body. His numbers were so low that he spent close to 30 hours in an extremely altered state in PICU. Life threatening events definitely bring things into perspective in a big way. As a family we all know how much we mean to one another. #godplusfamilyiseverything is our Motto. We know what is important and we value every single moment that we are given.

My Future Hope....

As Tim graduates high school next year this quote is my hope as he goes out into the world and becomes his own man.  As he makes a life for himself it's my hope and prayer that this will be our relationship.  He is so loved and treasured by his dad and myself and we can only hope and pray that he will continue to love and treasure us as well as he makes a life for himself as he continues to grow into manhood.  

Phillippians 2:3 (NLT)..

Selfish ambition can ruin a church, but genuine humility can build it.  being humble involves having a true perspective about ourselves (see Romans 12:3).  It does not mean that we should put ourselves down.  Before God, we are sinners, saved only by god's grace, but we are saved and therefore have great worth in god's kingdom.  we are to lay aside selfishness and treat others with respect and common courtesy.  Considering others' interests as more important than our own links us with christ, who was a true example of humility.

James 4:17 (NLT)...

Footnote From the NIV Life Application Bible:

"We tend to think that doing wrong is sin.  But James tells us that sin is also not doing right.  (These two kinds of sin are sometimes called sins of commission and sins of omission.)  It is a sin to lie; it can also be a sin to know the truth and not tell it.  It is a sin to speak evil of someone; it is also a sin to avoid him or her when you know he or she needs your friendship.  We should be willing to help as the Holy Spirit guides us.  If God has directed you to do a kind act, to render a service, or to restore a relationship, do it.  You will experience a renewed and refreshed vitality to your Christian faith."

A Share from the USA Weightlifting Director of Communications...

Thanks @wkedmonds (he’s on instagram), Photographer

@usa_weightlifting - Director of Communications, for getting such a fantastic shot of our son at Nationals.

This was Tim’s 117kg Clean & Jerk lift that as you all well know wasn't counted because the judges thought time had ran out. To be fair Tim took it down to the wire because at 0:01 seconds the bar was at his knees. To the naked eye though they would think he didn't get it in time. but this shot though....

I added that quote to it because it's a quote that we've told Tim time and again.

He really loved seeing USA Weightlifting's Director of communications sharing this to his insta page and the tag line read, "Some of my favorite photos, moments, from the last two months." Tim's photo was taken at Nationals.

He got another one as well that we snagged. It was the moment he was told it was a "No Lift" because time ran out.

Tim is such a great sport about everything.  After all that he went through in his other sport when a bad call happens, and let's face it they do happen, he has learned to let it roll off his back and keep moving forward.

since Nationals Tim has been training harder than ever.  He's making great strides and we are praying they are enough for him to end His last year in youth well when he does states in October and Virus Weightlifting Finals in December.  

All you who are so supportive of our boy we want to say Thank you!  He's such a great kid and is becoming such an amazing Young man.  He is showing the maturity and independence of a grown man at 17 years of age.  we couldn't be more proud of him.    

Great Den/Living Room Idea...

A friend of mines kid (he's a grown man now) does a lot of woodworking work.  He's really great at it.  I have a wall in my home that I would love something like this in.  When we get to the point of doing something like this someday I will definitely have him do it for us.  Only difference would be I'd want floor to ceiling and an opening big enough for a 65", if not larger, tv.  He's on insta and you can go follow him to see all the projects he's done.

Great Post Shared On Insta....

I wanted to share this here because this hits home with my husband and I as parents and our son who is an elite athlete.  We've seen both sides of this and this guy is hitting the nail right on the head with all that he shares here.  

Yesterday's Service Celebrating the Life of our Beloved Nan...

Yesterday we celebrated the life of Nan. The service was beautiful. the video picture montage looked spectacular. I felt like I paid homage to the amazing woman that she was with it. She is so beloved by us all and missed like crazy. We will always cherish the memories we had with her through the years. It was such a blessing knowing such a wonderful woman.

My husband is the amazing man that he is today in part because of his mom and in part because of his dad.  He had such awesome parents.  we will feel their absence every time that we have family get togethers.  Those get togethers will never be the same.  

May God heal our hearts from losing her and from losing pop last year.  may god help us to enjoy our memories of them together.  may he help us hold them in our hearts always as we cherish their memories while moving forward with having our best lives together with the time that we have left on this earth before going to be with our lord and savior.  

my heart is overwhelmed with appreciation for having known nan and Pop for the time that I got to know them.  god has blessed my life with so many people that have touched me deeply.  I am amazed and in awe of his goodness to me.  his blessings have overflowed in my life with those who have touched my life and influenced me in ways that only he could have orchestrated.  

I look forward to the day that I get to be with all those who have gone to be with the lord ahead of me and I hold fast to the great times that we had together in the meantime.   

Thank you lord for your goodness.  for always watching over me and those I love.  for your constant presence in my life even when I'm not as constant as I should be with you.  I know I'm like a roller coaster in my walk with you at times but I'm so thankful that time and time again you reel me in when I'm getting too far off course.  my dedication and devotion will always and forever be to you, my lord, my savior, my everything!   Keep those I love ever close to you.  reel them into a deeper devotion and relationship to you.  may our lives be a reflection of your having touched us.  I love you lord Jesus!  forever your child!  

nan I love you!  Tell pop we all said hello and we love him!  I will do my best to watch over your son and grandson the best I can until we see one another again.  Lovingly your Daughter in love...

Our Matriarch & Patriarch....

Last year May 16, 2024 we lost our families Patriarch and this year we lost our Matriarch, July 18, 2025.

This morning I've been sitting in a quiet house thinking about what we've lost in losing these two incredible people that I've been blessed to know since 2006 when I married my husband.  To say he has an amazing family is an understatement.  His parents were the glue that held everyone together.  If ever we had a need they were right there to help no matter what.  When I look around our home there are so many projects that Pop & Nan had a hand in helping Scot with.  There were even times that they helped financially when we didn't have the finances to take care of some things that had to be taken care of.  

They were such a blessing to know for the short period of time that I got to know them.  I'm thankful that Tim had them in his life for 16/17 years.  He will always remember them and the wonderful times that he was able to have with them while he was growing up.  He got the last best years with them going to Disney World, Legoland, Sea World, Daytona Beach, Biltmore Estate & DollyWood.  He got to share all that with them before they got too old to be able to go anymore.  They both loved going to Disney the most.  They took their kids and their grand kids to Disney.  Tim was the last of the grand kids born.  His cousins were all grown when he came along so Tim got so much time with them on his own.  He didn't have to share their attentions until the great grand kids started being born.  By then though his Nan & Popsie weren't able to go as much anymore.  So the great grands never got to experience Nan & Popsie the way Tim did.  I'm so thankful he had those years with them and that he was old enough to remember them.  

I pray that this family that was held together by their glue will now become the glue that holds one another together.  

Although we are saddened by your absences Nan & Popsie we have peace in knowing that you are with the Lord and reunited with one another and all of your loved ones who went on before you.  We can't wait to see you on the other side someday.  Until then R.I.P!  Our hearts will always remember and love you!  

Your legacy lives on in your children, grand children, great grand children and anyone whose lives you touched.  

Our Matriarch is in Heaven...

Yesterday at 2:15pm the Matriarch of the Neal family, whom we affectionately call Nan, passed on to her eternal home in Heaven with our Lord. No doubt her Husband, who went on before her, along with Jesus were there to greet her with arms wide open. I have no doubt that they are all celebrating together in Heaven.

The bible tells us, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).” Nan slipped out of this life into the next. She’s at peace and so are we.

What a relief it is for us who remain to know she’s in Heaven. To know she’s where she wants to be with her husband, and other loved ones, who have gone on before her. To know that she’s no longer suffering.

We will always love and miss you Nan!

#cherishingeverymemory #thankfulforalifewelllived #familyiseverything