We’re not experts. We’re survivors.

We met in 1997 during U.S. Air Force Basic Training—two young recruits trying to survive those long days and longer nights. Most people hear that and think, “Ah, one of those basic-training love stories.” But ours wasn’t typical. Yes, we fell in love fast—hard and fast—but there was something different about us. Something neither of us could explain, but both of us felt. We knew, even as young as we were, that we wanted forever.

Within a year we were married. And within another year we were holding our first baby girl in our arms. We went from dating, to marriage, to parenthood in what felt like a blink. It was fast… and honestly, we had every reason not to make it.

Those first years weren’t a fairytale. They weren’t even close.

We were broke young Airmen. We had a newborn. All our friends were still out living the single life. We were exhausted, overwhelmed, and our intimacy was practically nonexistent. We loved each other, but we were also miserable. Still—we pushed on.

Not too long after our daughter was born, we found our way into a church. We both surrendered our lives to Christ, and things seemed like they were getting better… at least from the outside. We played the part of the “good little family,” but inside we were still two scared kids wondering if we had made a mistake.

Three years into marriage we thought, “Maybe another baby will help.” It didn’t.

After the birth of our son, my wife fell into severe postpartum depression. She was drowning mentally and emotionally. I was struggling to figure out how to support her while providing for our family and protecting our kids. It was one of the darkest seasons of our lives. We should not have made it—but again, we pushed on.

Life didn’t magically get easier after that. Money was tight. I left the military and tried to find my place in the world. My wife poured herself into our children, and I poured myself into trying to build a life for us. Eventually we settled into ministry and homemaking—roles we both loved—but we were also wearing masks. We smiled on the outside because the genuine smiles weren’t there yet.

Just when it felt like we were finally finding our footing, tragedy struck. My best friend, mentor, and father passed away suddenly. His death hit our family like an explosion. Grief consumed me. I didn’t know how I would survive, let alone lead my family through it. But even in that devastation… we pushed on.

And that’s when everything changed.

It was in that season—broken, grieving, and stripped of everything comfortable—that God rebuilt us from the ashes. We had to decide whether we were going to give up or fight for the life God had given us. It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was often the opposite. But something happened inside us. God revealed things in our suffering that transformed us. That is when our real marriage began.

I am madly in love with my wife. I pursue her daily. I’m still crazy attracted to her. And she pursues me the same way.

So how did we get here? How did we survive heartbreak, depression, financial struggle, loss, immaturity, fear, mistakes, and more?

That’s what we want to share with you. We believe your best years—your best love—your best marriage—are not behind you… they’re ahead.

Let us walk with you. Let us show you what God showed us. And let us help you experience the kind of marriage you were created for.

The best is yet to come.