All I ever wanted

I grew up in East Point, Georgia.  A suburb south of Atlanta.

It was a "Leave it to Beaver" kind of place.

Families living together.  Kids playing together.  Very little turnover in houses sold.

It was home.  And, it was safe and happy.


All I ever wanted to was to repeat that upbringing for the family I dreamed of.

Chasing lightning bugs.  A family dog.  Neighbors we loved and trusted.


All I wanted was to do what I grew up with a little better.

I had no grandiose dreams.


All I wanted was to be married to someone I loved.  Have kids that we cherished.  And, have a picket fence around the yard to keep the kids and the dog in.


I've finally got as close to that as possible.

I'm married to a beautiful woman inside and out.  She loves family as much as me.

We live in a fenced house, but in Dallas, picket fences aren't the norm.  We have two greyhounds.


The sweetest thing I ever heard was from one of my daughters.  "Your house feels like love to me."


That's not as much about the house as it is the fact everyone in the family is welcome to come here and just be.  No judgement.  No drama.  Lea and I are very much in love with each other and with all of our family.

We have lots of mixed race kids and grand kids.

It's a simple little house.  But, the best part is the fireplace.  It's in the sunken living room (circa 1970).

There have been more good family chats around that fireplace than I can count.

It's a tacky 1970's design.  But, it has produced.


It's not a picket fenced house on a mountain in the Smokies as I might have dreamed.

We have 8 kids between us, and I think 14 grand-kids if my current count is correct.


Life is a marathon.  Keep running.  Finish.  It's worth the pain. 

The Good Lord knows what you need more than what you want.