My Family

I've been married to Debbie for 27 years.  She was born and raised in the mountains of Virginia.  This might help you understand where some of that red neck in her comes from.  We we're High School sweet hearts. I asked Debbie out on a dare and she said no.  The challenge was on.  Obviously I won.  27 years later I wouldn't have it any other way.  Do we have a perfect marriage?  No!  But we strive daily to have the marriage God wants.  I love Deb more today than when I asked her to marry me.  She is an awesome wife and partner in the ministry.  I thank God regularly for allowing me to have such an incredible wife.  Any woman who can put up with me for 30 plus years is definetely special.

Michelle is my baby girl and will always be my baby girl.  Born in Virgina she has just a tad of that hillbilly in her also.  I'll never forget watching her come into the world.  The emotions felt are disagreeable.  I instantly fell in love with my little girl.  Raising Michelle was a breeze.  The only thing she ever really did wrong was talk too much.  Non stop may I add.  There were times I truly wished I had a mute button.  I remember when Shell gave her life to Christ, when she went on her first date and when I gave her away to Lawson Clary.  I couldn't have hand picked a better son-in-law.  He is better than me in golf and I hate that.  He is also smarter than me (a lot) but that doesn't bother me.  They have a great marriage and have given me Hudson, my grandson.  We all know that little fellow loves his Big Daddy (my nick name) dearly.  I am so proud of Lawson and Michelle for what they're doing with our children's ministries.  Having to make another children's church upstairs now to provide more space.  I look forward to seeing God use them to change the lives of children and to give me more grand children.

Andrew is my 19 year old.  A sophomore in college.  Got his height and speed from his Mom and his good looks from his Dad.  That cocky teen age attitude came whole heartedly from Dad.  I coached Andrew all through recreation football, basketball and baseball.  It's been a wonderful experience to watch him grow into the man he is today.  There definitely have been some bumps in the road, but that's just his Mom coming out.  Andrew has a lot more of his Mom in him than the other two.  More laid back and not as wired as me.  Much quieter and  he loves to sleep in.   I've enjoyed the time we've spent together in sports and the outdoors.  I have some awesome memories from watching Andrew play sports and kill his first big buck. I'll never forget the night I led my boy to Jesus Christ.  Andrew is studying to become a chiropractor.  I love that hard headed young man dearly.  Pray for God to use him in a great way.  By the way, that hard head is from his Daddy.

Jacob is my 9 year old and is exactly like his Dad.  A lot of people call him Dean jr.  He doesn't stand a chance.
He enjoys sports as well.  Just finished football Tuesday night and basketball starts next week.  Jacob is a talking machine also.  He'll talk to anyone about anything.  Loves to read.  He has an incredibly kind heart.  For some reason I nick named him Roscoe P. Coletrain when he was little.  Jacob seems to love living life and eating.
 Not sure where that desire to eat all the time came from!  My little man is close to accepting Christ.  As we read and prayed Monday night he shared with me the plan of salvation and what a Christian is.  Won't be long until he is a child of God also.  I beleive God has big plans for Jacob.

I thank God on a regular basis for giving me such an awesome family.  I love each one for their unique differences and personalities.  I can only hope to be the Father, husband and example for them that God has called me to be.