T Minus 19 Days until the Invictus Games!!!

How is it even possible that we are less than 20 days away from the Invictus Games?!? We still have a ton of Jeremiah for the Gold T-Shirts at the new discounted donation of $10 so make sure to visit this page to find out how you can order yours!!!

Now onto what you really want to hear about...Here is an update from Jeremiah!



The last training camp before Invictus and the Warrior Games was in Colorado Springs. It was beautiful, as always, and I was sad to leave. This trip was great for multiple reasons. One was being able to see the whole team together again. It is always fun and there are many laughs along the way.

During this trip we got to see what the altitude would feel like and require of us while hand cycling. I was told during the camp that I would not be swimming during the Warrior Games because of the rating I was given by the Olympic Training Committee (OTC). The lead coaches did not like this news because I would be swimming against able bodied people with leg kick ability. They decided to do this because they wanted to set me up for success and not failure. So I will just be swimming at the Invictus Games because we do not yet know how we will be rated. With that decided and out of the way I still had to swim for two days at this camp and that was fun. 









I hand cycled two days of the camp. On day one I rode 12.59 miles and day two I rode 17.89 miles at the Air Force Academy. There were such beautiful views and the track was on a mountain. It was fun and fast going down but low and slow coming up. 

We went to Fort Carson for two days and shot air rifle. On the last day we had a match and I tied for first in the match and came in second during the noise finals. It was a good group to shoot with! 

For three days I shot archery with the new competition bow I was given. It was frustrating trying to get used to a new bow and a new way of shooting. On the brighter side, Ashley and I had a camera crew following us all week long videoing and taking pictures. They even recorded my breathing while shooting air rifle and archery. They got some cool underwater pictures while I was swimming too. At the end of the week both Ashley and I were interviewed about what life has been like for us since 2009, and how these adaptive sports have aided in my recovery. 

During the week, Ashley, along with all of the other NMA's (non medical attendants) were taken on a horse back ride through the the mountains of Colorado Springs. 

There were other perks to this trip, as well. On the flight out Ashley got to experience what first class was like. We also found out that the jounalists that followed us all week had plans to come to Georgia to follow Ashley in her normal, everyday ventures of being a disabled veterans wife, as well as a mother. Needless to say she was not sure about doing this at first but after talking about it and seeing how many more people we may be able to reach for Christ, she said yes. 

We had one really excited 5 year-old when we got home and he was excited to see what we got for him while we were gone.

Thank you so much for all your support! I can't wait to represent everyone at the Invictus and Warrior Games!

T-Shirts On SALE!!!

Alright everyone!!! We have a TON of t-shirts left after that second order we made...well maybe not exactly 2,000 but probably around 200 and with only a month left before the Invictus Games the t-shirts are going ON SALE!

All adult size t-shirts are now $10 and children sizes are $5. BUT for every adult size you buy you will get a free child size, while sizes last.

So what are you waiting for? Click here to find out how to order yours.

Willa Says...

Willa says, "Don't forget to wear your Jeremiah for the Gold 

t-shirts tomorrow!!! And share, share, share!"

Exactly Where I Was

I remember exactly where I was when Jeremiah called to tell me he had been invited to compete in the Warrior Games and the Invictus Games. I was standing in my kitchen looking at a sink full of dirty dishes that should have been washed the day before but when I heard the word London they no longer existed.

It was a short conversation that mainly involved a lot of excited screaming on my end and my brother's even toned, matter of fact, sharing of the facts. Two important competitions in less than a month of each other.

For several days all I could think about was could I get there...was there enough time to save enough money? I vacillated between the thoughts, "I HAVE to go" and "It's ridiculous to think I could go". Besides, I had another trip partially paid for already that was around the same time and I couldn't get enough time off work to go to both.

Eventually...it probably just took me a day and a half but eventually, I settled on I HAVE to go. So I cancelled the other trip and my brain started kicking into gear. At every turn and idea I knew the Lord was fueling my creativity.

Fundraisers, t-shirts, this blog. I wanted to help my brother tell his story; our family's story.

In all honesty the fundraiser part of it started out so I could go to London. Is that wrong? Sure, Jeremiah would be competing in Colorado Springs as well but I wanted to go to LONDON!

Turns out I didn't have to worry about how I was going to get over the pond because Jeremiah and Ashley had an extra, paid in full, ticket, which they offered me and I gleefully accepted! All of a sudden the pressure was off but I had already set this fundraising thing in motion so, apart from helping get some family to Colorado, what were we raising money for again?

Then Ashley filled me in on the fact that not all of Jeremiah's training and travel expenses would be covered.

So what started out as an admittedly, partially selfish endeavor has turned into us being able to write them a $300 check for a travel case for his archery gear. And I tell you what, last night when I told Ashley we would have a check for them today, a joy seeped into my chest that I almost didn't recognize.

So, I guess I just wanted to say thank you. You guys are the ones who made that possible.

There is a lot being said lately about Jeremiah and rightly so but this really is a celebration of Ashley as well. She would be the first one to say that the last 4 1/2 years have not been easy, but in the face of all the loss and all the tragedy she has loved my brother well. She stayed when a lesser woman would have left.

She won't be competing in these games. There won't be the potential for her to win a gold medal in London or Colorado Springs this September but as far as I am concerned her treasures are stacking up in Heaven.

So, Ashley, I guess I just wanted to publicly say thank you. Thank you for staying and loving my baby brother well.

I remember exactly where I was when I found out Jeremiah had his first MRI 4 1/2 years ago. I was on the traction table at my chiropractor's office in Columbus, Georgia checking Facebook.

I remember exactly where I was when Ashley called to tell me they were taking Jeremiah to the hospital. I was in my car driving to my Growth Group.

I remember exactly where I was a lot during that first year of Jeremiah's illness, so remembering exactly where I was during all the exciting times of this season is just another blessing of the Lord. Restoring sorrow with joy, tears with laughter, regrets with excitement.

That is what He does...it's who He is.

My favorite thing about this season so far are all of the smiles I am seeing on my brother's face. Even in pictures he looks like a man with purpose.

God is a God of restoration, friends.

I think I had forgotten that in the last several years of my life. Not like forgotten like I didn't know it intellectually any more, but more like my heart had forgotten.

Let Jeremiah's story, our family's story, remind you of the things in your life that need restoring that maybe you have stopped believing God for. I know I have. It can be painful to look back on forgotten dreams and a little scary to begin to hope again.

And then I decided to spend some time looking up verses with the word hope in them. There are a lot of good ones but I landed in the book of Lamentations. Seriously, the whole third chapter resonates. I can't speak for Jeremiah and the rest of our family but it sure resonates with me.

20 I well remember them,

    and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind

    and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

    to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly

    for the salvation of the Lord.

Help Us Have the Mother of All Garage Sales!!!

Since we don't have enough to do before the games...HA!...we have decided to have an EPIC yard sale in Columbus, GA in an effort to help us raise a good portion of our need.

That is where you come in! If you are in the Columbus, GA or Franklin, TN area and have some things you would like to donate for the sale, please e-mail Jeremiah's sister, Kathryn at kathrynmeans@yahoo.com and we will coordinate a time and place for delivery or pick up.

The yard sale will be sometime in July so stay tuned for more details! We would love to see you and help you turn someone else's junk into your treasure!

Now, go clean out those closets!!!

In Honor of Memorial Day...

....we are hosting our first T-Shirt Giveaway!

In order to enter for a chance to win a free t-shirt...

1. Leave an encouraging comment for Jeremiah and the family on this post.

2. Share a link to this site on your social media sites so your friends can be introduced to Jeremiah and his story.

If you know Jeremiah, he hates being the center of attention, but one good thing about his story is it sings of God’s faithfulness, provision, and healing power. That is why we want you to share his story. Fundraising is a far second!

I'll be announcing the winner of the t-shirt tonight at 8:30pm CST. So GO! You have 12 hours!

T-shirts, Instagram, Training, Oh MY!

It's been a busy week!

The t-shirts have been ordered, we've raised over $500, and we are making lots of fun plans. But that is just the extra stuff! The most important thing is how is Jeremiah doing in training?!?

 Jeremiah reports that training is going well. He completed 14 miles on the hand cycle in 1 hour 6 minutes and 14 seconds. He has a time trial race coming up that will be 9 miles and he "wanted to see how hard he could push it."

He has been training in air rifle at a first class facility in Ft. Benning, GA with a former Olympian. His trainer has high hopes for him and he will be shooting in the Nationals Competition in June to see if he qualifies for the USA Para-Olympic Team!

Jeremiah is also having a lot of archery practice with the arrows he made himself!

Ashley says keeping up with everything Jeremiah needs, in order to get ready for the games, has officially turned into a full-time job; an exciting one, but she stays busy!

One of the most exciting things that has happened this week is the response we have had from complete strangers being touched by Jeremiah's story. Making God's name famous throughout the earth one person at a time.

We've also set up an Instagram account for Jeremiah (@jeremiahforthegold) so all you IGer's can follow his training progress before the games. Ashley has posted several great pictures already so go follow him!

Ok, so let's get down to business...After tallying everything up (gear and equipment for Jeremiah, travel expenses for Jeremiah and Ashley for training leading up to the games, and travel expenses for extended family members to the games) we are looking at $11,000***. I'll be honest, that number scares and excites me. In fact, as soon as I saw it on my calculator I took a deep breath and said out loud, "Okay, Lord...Let's see what you do."

I don't have to tell you that is a TON of t-shirts (if you haven't purchased yours yet click here to find out how), so Ashley and I have been brainstorming with some friends and what we are cooking up is pretty, stinkin' exciting! We'll have details on one of the ideas tomorrow, so stay tuned! Like I said, it's been a busy week, and Gabe thinks so to. For those who don't know us, this is my awesome nephew, Gabe and even though he is a big 5 year-old, today's training with Daddy was exhausting!

From our family to yours, have a beautiful and intentional weekend!

***UPDATE*** Most of you know that in order to take donations electronically via PayPal or GoFundMe these sites charge a fee which is a percentage of the amount raised. For our $11,000 total need this ends up being just shy of $1,000 so we are editing our amount to raise to $12,000.