In April 1988, I proposed marriage to my girlfriend Carey. She said yes! I'm not sure she said yes because she wanted to be my wife, or she was shocked by the question and didn't know what else to say, as we had not dated long. Wow, now what do I do?

Being that we met while serving in youth ministry, we were blessed to know some wise Christian counsel for premarital guidance and then started planning a wedding. Come next January, we were now official family. That family grew eighteen months later to include our oldest daughter, Whitney. Jump three years ahead, Haley and thirty-six months after that, Casey. Within seven years, marriage and three daughters. I was excited, shocked, and overwhelmed by how all this unfolded.

Some wise elders on both sides of our family offered insight into how to do family, but there was one thing I always wanted as a dad and husband, and that was to be there for all my girls.