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How did you meet, and how long have you been married?
We are high school sweethearts! We have known each other since
6th grade. We started dating in 10th grade and have been
together ever since. We have been married 28 years having been
together for 33 years.
Do you allow time to be with your spouse for a date night?
We have always made our relationship a priority through date
nights even in the midst of a crazy schedule with our boys. We feel
it is important that our boys see their parents date each other.
What brings you the greatest joy as a parent?
3 John 1:4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my
children are walking in the truth.” That truly is our greatest joy.
We find great joy when we see our children living to their fullest
potential and journeying through life lessons that may be hard but
come out on the other side with greater understanding. It is easy
to find joy in their successes—but those are temporary. When you
see character being built in them and them emulating the fruits of
the Spirit, that is where true joy comes.
Who is the financial manager in your home?
It is a shared responsibility. Jason is the financial provider for our
family. I am the one who pays the bills. We both are aware at the
end of the day what has been spent. We always come together
when large purchases need to be made. Neither of us make large
purchases without discussing and praying about what is best for
our family.
When your children were younger, what was your discipline
philosophy?
We have a saying in our home and my children have heard it from
the youngest of age, “Everything you do leads to blessing or
discipline, it’s your choice.” Even today as teenagers they hear me
say this. This was a way in which it taught them to take responsibility
for their actions—understanding that they chose either
blessing or discipline with their actions. The discipline looked
different for each child as their personalities were so different.
One may have needed to have a lengthy discussion about their
actions, one simply needed to hear how disappointed we were in
their actions, and another may have needed some time alone. As
they have gotten older the removal of “entertainment and
communication devices” has been a go-to for discipline. Honestly,
as they have gotten older, having conversations about certain
actions has been the best and the most beneficial.
What do you see in your role as the greatest benefit to your
family?
Leading our children in their spiritual journey to learn their
truest identity in Christ. It is a daily discussion and reminder at
our home. Jason is a strong leader and teacher of daily disciplines
for life in general. Our boys see in him a strong work ethic and he
is a teacher of everyday life skills. I am the resident encourager for
Jason and the boys. I take great joy in providing a home for my
family. We allow the door to our home to be a revolving door for
the boys’ friends, loving to be the place where they want to gather.
What’s a quick go-to meal that isn’t fast food?
And who does the cooking?
Leah does the cooking and has a long list of quick-fix meals to
keep from living in the Chick-fil-A drive through. The crockpot
is a lifesaver for our schedule. Taco bowls in crockpot, meatball
subs, grilled hamburgers and even homemade chicken alfredo are
quick go-to meals for our family.
How long has Madison been your home?
We have lived in Madison for two years. We were lifelong Rankin
County residents, but as our children changed schools in 2021 to
Madison Ridgeland Academy, we moved to Madison County.
What are some of your favorite things about Madison County?
Madison County is so clean, organized, and well put together.
Development in Madison County has been thought through very
well. It is a great community that offers quite a variety in shopping
and restaurants. For us and where we live, we are a few short
miles from our boys’ school and pretty much anything we need is
a quick drive up the road. The convenience to everything is great!
When making a move to a new community after living elsewhere
for many years, there is always great fear of trying to find community.
That is one thing that has shocked us after moving to
Madison. This community is so welcoming. It has been such a
refreshing blessing for us and our family.
How do you spend your summer breaks?
The last several years have been spent traveling around the
southeast for baseball for our boys. It is typically a divide and
conquer type approach as Fletcher is usually in one state and
Asher in another. The last couple summers, Jonas has traveled
to Oregon and Utah to train at altitude for his upcoming
cross-country seasons. We might squeeze in a quick family trip
somewhere if the schedule allows.
26 • NOVEMBER 2023