An End-of-Summer Family Update

I thought it was a good time for another family update since summer is ending/school is going to begin soon. It was a jampacked summer!

First, Shale and I just celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary yesterday. NINE! I know next year will be even greater, but the fact that we’re at nine already is incredible. I did the math I let ChatGPT do the math — that’s 3,287 days.

That was a joyous day. And it’s been a joyful marriage. As with every marriage, we’ve had our ups and downs, our hard times and easy times, but all in all it’s been wonderful. God has certainly given us much grace and has blessed us. I wouldn’t want to go through life with anyone else but Shale.

Our two little girls — who in some respect aren’t so little anymore — are going to begin school in a few weeks. Jovi (7) will be in 2nd grade and Piper (almost 5) will be starting pre-K. No, I’m not OK! This day felt like it was going to take forever, and now it’s finally here.

The summer has been great. Most of the time I am at work, but Shale has been an incredible mom and taken those girls so many places this summer, whether it’s the library, a children’s museum out of town, or doing something else that’s fun. I know she relishes in that—and she should. Those girls are blessed to have her as their momma.

Shale and I just recently went to a Benson Boone concert. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it. No, I’m not ashamed of it! It was a fantastic concert even from the nosebleeds (LOL).

Anyway, I could rattle off a thousand different things here, but I would just like to ask for some prayer.

• Pray for God to give Shale strength, wisdom, and grace as she soon begins her 11th (!!) year of teaching.

• Pray for Jovi to continue excelling in her schoolwork and to learn more and more things.

• Pray for Piper to be OK with school and that though we know it might be hard at first, that she acclimates well and loves it.

• Pray for me, that I continue to be faithful at my job, and in truly all areas. Pray for me to be a better husband and father. And most certainly pray for my own sanctification!

Again, thank you all for reading. It still astonishes me that people care enough to read what I put out there. If you ever have any suggestions for what I should write, or any comments, I am all ears. Thank you all!