I do most of my working out at the Gym or in Karate however I have started some awesome challenges with a friend and I want to keep up that progress. Plus there are times that the gym or class just can't happen. So this is my workout area. I have a wish list including a real step (not the step stool from the pantry), a yoga mat (because the floor is not padded very well) and some kind of bulliten board to pin my challenges on. I'll keep working on it but for now this is it. I store my gym bag & karate bag under the bench and grab them and go.
It's amazing how much better I feel when I work out! This is defiantly a new way for me that I hope I can continue for a long time!
In less than a month we will have been at Christian Karate Academy for a year (well Anthony and the kids ~ since I wasn't taking classes for almost 6 months I guess I can not claim that for myself)
They have a tournament once a year. It was yesterday. Caden was the only one to compete in it. I almost wanted to compete in the forms competition.
It ended up being a very wonderful experience.
Here are a few videos
The first one is Caden doing his form, then the awards for the form competition, next one is his first sparing match, then his second. He drew the bi for the first round so he only spared two times to get second place.
I have a ton of pictures however I am going to narrow it down . . .most of the one's that I have edited are on facebook already.
This is the 7-12 year old (Core) class yellow and orange belts that are competing.
Here they are breaking them up into groups.
Listening intently!
Ready. . .Go!
They all did so great!
I love this one because look at the judges eyes! I'll bet it's not an easy job to judge a competition especially when you are watching two kids at a time do forms.
Caden loved every part of this tournament! I think that Karate is the perfect sport for our whole family. It challenges everyone of us to push ourselves and be better than we were yesterday. I personally have overcome things and hope to keep moving forward to my goal. (which I haven't exactly set yet ~ it's kind of been class by class . . .week by week for me ~ I am excited to test this week! So I guess that is my first goal ~ Orange belt with 1 green tip!)
Awards for forms tournament. . . Caden placed 1st!
Getting ready for the sparing competition!
These are pictures from his first match . . . I haven't gotten the second match edited yet. I am going to work on those and the rest of the one's I took hopefully soon!
These boys did an amazing job!
Caden kind of surprised us. He is kind of the blocking king. Which I hadn't ever noticed before. I spoke to one of Caden's teachers and he said that he has done that before. He said he probably got nervous and just didn't want the other kid to get points on him so he did a lot of blocking. Which worked for him his first match. Not so much his second match. . . .just something to work on in the future. We kind of had no idea what was expected when we went this time.
Great job boys!
I love (almost) everything about Karate!
Caden with his trophies for the day.
Master Lewis & Caden after the tournament.
We are thankful for this man and his family. Their vision & heart for kids & families in leading them closer to God and making an impact on this world is amazing. I can't imagine the lives they touch and have touched!
We had a worship night at church tonight. It was so great! I know I've shared before of my love for worship! Tonight we did quite a few Hymns and it was so nice to sing them! We do not go to the early service so I miss singing them. I am thinking we should maybe try to make an early service occasionally. I still love praise and worship though also!
I took this late this afternoon! I walked outside and it was so windy and I saw these dark clouds . . .so I took a picture.
. . .and reminders of spring . . . I have seen all of the tree's around town with the white buds and I keep wanting to take a picture of one. We don't have one of those tree's though. . .I need to go to the park and see if I can find one. They are so pretty!
A few more from tonight. This is Ron our Worship leader and his intern Chase ~ Chase has been the one giving Caden his drum lessons. We are very impressed with his progress there!
Such a great worship service!
Thank you to all who were involved in making it happen!
I took a video of the last song we sang. This was my first video with my new camera so please excuse the horrible movement and lighting . . .I haven't figured all of that out yet!
To say that my family has fallen in love with Karate would be an
understatement! Of course my "love story" was a short one . . .it got a
little intense and I got busy with school starting so it was defiantly a
"summer romance". Okay that was fun but now time to be serious!
I started a new project 365 blog this year so who knows maybe I will start "family blogging" more also!
So today the kids went back to Karate after having a two week break over Christmas. I do not normally go in the dojo but today I was invited in so I took the opportunity to catch my kids in action.
Carolina and Caden sparing.
Caden ready to jump back in!
Favorite picture of the day. . .working with Master Lewis on body grabs.
We really look forward to decorating Christmas Sugar cookies with
Grandma Ellen each year. This year for the first time we went to her
house and did it with the kids cousins also! We also happened to have
my niece Khloe for the weekend so she joined in with us. Caylea loves
helping the little ones so much!
2015 started out the same as the last few years. Learning to live without my sister. Having a grieving heart and trying to find joy in the midst. God sent me those I needed in my life when I needed them for as long as I needed them. . .even if at times I felt like I needed them longer. I have some great friends that will probably always be my friends. . .made some new friends that will be long time friends and said good bye to some friends also. It was a very busy year.
I dreaded the time up until Chris got remarried. I've learned though that having Brenda in our lives doesn't take anything away from Brandy. It doesn't mean we don't love her just as much or miss her terribly what it means is that Chris Brenda and the kids are a family. In all reality that is what we want. Brenda doesn't replace Brandy but she adds to our family. I appreciate her for who she is and what she is doing and for loving Chris and the kids. The only part that makes me at all sad besides just missing the kids because I do not see them several times a week is that they will eventually be living in another country. However I trust God!
In the months leading up to summer Anthony and I felt like it was time to move to another church. I do not know if we were ever suppose to be at Edmond Road maybe we were. . .maybe we weren't. Maybe God allowed me to be there so I could be with family and close friends during the first few years after Brandy's passing. I could play a million scenarios out here for you to read and I would still never know the truth. God's reason's.
I do know this that we stepped out in compete faith. We prayed about it for months leading up to making the decision. The decision was made once I accepted what God had been telling me. God has really been working on me in the area of faith and trust.
I won't lie it hasn't all been easy. I miss my friends and family and friends who were family. Most of the one's I expected to talk to I still talk to and I am thankful for that! I miss being comfortable enough to walk up to anyone and talk to almost anyone at church about their day.
I have been through a lot and I am just not one to want to make new friends. It really just has never came easy for me. . .
I love the church God has brought us to, I love the people. I love the love I see. I love their mission. . . "We come in to go out" and they mean it. I love their worship. I love that my husband is involved. (& was before we even joined) I love that they have asked me to photograph some events. I love love being a blessing with my photography!
Kind of a cheesy picture but I didn't have my camera at church and decided I wanted a picture
I know that God has brought us to this church. Like my husband said 15 year relationships do not develop overnight. They sure do not!
Church is just such a big part of our families life. It has defiantly been a big change. This change has defiantly brought me closer to God. I have had to put my life, my children's and husbands lives and relationships in His hands. I trust him about who is to be in my life and who is not. I won't lie and say none of it hurt because a lot of it did. However I believe that He knows what I need more than I do.
I think this quote sums up so many "moves" God has planned for me better than I ever could. I think I am finally getting it! From the move to Louisiana to the move home to the move to another church . . .and many other moves and changes in between. God's God ME! (and He has you too!) Love you my friends!
We started off with a plan that involved letters that spell out WE LOVE YOU . . .my sister Amanda started the ball rolling and painted the letters. We chose a date and met at the park. It was such a cold day. It even started snowing if you look in the last picture you will see a few snow flakes.
I pretty much love all of these pictures and love love all of these kids!!
oh and this is the picture Amanda wanted that started these others pictures. . .
My husband wanted to go see Crowder and we waited too long to go buy tickets so they were sold out :(
Well on Numana Sunday at church Anthony was talking to someone who knew a youth leader who had some extra tickets.
This was such a great concert . . .my family didn't love the first few bands they were a bit of a rap style. . .however Crowder was so worth the show and we also enjoyed Finding Favour and Lauren Daigle (whom just happens to be one of Carolina's favorites!)
