FAMILY

MY CHILDHOOD FAMILY

I feel so fortunate that as a child, my parents instilled clear family values that provided structure and a strong sense of right and wrong. As kids, we all try to figure out who and what we want to be, but I know that those consistent core values helped me build a sense of identity while the rest of the world around me was uncertain. With their loving foundation and faith, my parents shed light on the dark and scary parts of life, creating a feeling of security and safety.

I am the youngest of four children and my parents are still happily married. As an adult who has lived a lot of life so far, I can clearly see how blessed I was to have such an amazing family and upbringing. Growing up, my parents never shied away from showing how much they loved each other. They showed us that quality time with family is key and that kindness, honesty, and mutual respect set the stage for many other important traits like generosity, compassion, empathy, and integrity.

Strong core values and family can shape not only who we are, but also how we live our lives. This foundation is set from our earliest days, and it informs our future, our relationships, our work, and how we deal with challenges. My amazing role models and family life lessons are in large part the reason I am the person I am today. They shine through all that I do.

 I'm so grateful.

MY NEW FAMILY

In 2013 my life was forever changed, for the better, when my closest friends and family bore witness as I married the love of my life, Ashley. Ashley has been an absolute blessing in my life and I am lucky to have her in my corner supporting me and helping me through the hardships with love. She is the spark that lit the flame for our new family.

 As a family, Ashley and I have been on a quest for wellbeing, growth and an even deeper commitment to our love. It is widely understood that addiction affects more than just the addict; it affects the entire family system and community, as well.  The healing of one family member can facilitate the healing of the other. Ashley and I discovered that it is possible to restore relationships through courageous and compassionate communication. We learned that by overcoming hurts and resentment, we can move forward in recovery, as a family.  We created the JAWS DIARIES to bring people together to discuss common issues such as boundaries, co-dependency, enabling, trust, communication, and self-care.

 Our marriage hasn't only been focused on recovery and healing; together we have also set out to make the world a better place and make great memories. Two of our greatest achievements so far have been the birth of our wonderful daughter, Delilah, in 2017 and our cute as a button son Wyatt in 2021.

 As young parents in a post-pandemic world, Ashley and I know that we are responsible for this next generation. We have a role in the roots of this tree of life, and what kind of people our future decision-makers will grow up to become. My parents taught me to prioritize quality time together as a family, promoting the idea of creating memories and leaving a legacy to be proud of. I know that core values are creating a blueprint for my children's future relationships and how they will live their life.

 Ashley and I agree that core family values are the bedrock of parenting and that they will serve as a compass and guide for our children. We want to help them establish well-defined high morals so that they can grow in character, make healthy decisions, and be prepared for a successful transition into adulthood.

THE FUTURE FOR MY LITTLE FAMILY

There has been a big shift in our world to focus on mental health and wellness. As we share with others and hear stories of people struggling with an abundance of mental health issues, we notice a central theme; that childhood and beginnings have a greater impact on the future than we ever realized. 

As parents, we spend most waking hours trying to make a positive impact in our children's lives through our actions at home and at work. We have learned from great mentors that values will give our children structure and boundaries within which they can thrive. But for many people, most of their time outside of work is not spent with their families. That is why Ashley and I are investing in our family's happiness and our kids' future.

It's the beginning of the next adventure for my family as we head to Tennessee to create new dreams and memories for generations to come! I can say that it hasn't all been easy but I'm excited to see what the future holds as our little family carries the torch my parents lit.