Biography

I was born and raised in Greenville, SC into a lower-middle class family during the 90s.  As a middle child with two brothers, I learned how to play both sides to any argument and was quick to deflect blame.  My brothers and I grew up playing Super Nintendo, watching Nickelodeon, and playing any sport we could make up.  I grew up attending public school and was a member of a United Methodist Church, where I received infant baptism.  At the age of 12, I confirmed my infant baptism and accepted Christ into my heart.

Soon after, my family moved to a small town in a poor area to care for my grandmother.  There's not much to do in a small town, so I spent a lot of time on my Uncle's farm.  There I learned a lot about business and hard work, but I loved it.  My high school career was a busy time.  I was in the marching band, Men’s tennis team, Ensemble chorus, and cross-country team while taking AP and IB classes.  I made All-County Chorus all 4 years, All-State Chorus all 3 years, 1st place SATB Choir at the state festival, sang at Disney's Festival of Lights, marched in the Citrus Bowl Parade, #1 seed in Men's tennis for 4 years, Region Champions for Men's tennis for first time in school history, ran in the state meet for Cross-Country, passed the AP Calculus Exam, graduated 11th in my class, awarded an Honors Diploma and accepted to Clemson University's Engineering School.  Everything I set my mind on was accomplished.  Sometimes, and this is especially true with my academic accomplishments, with very little effort.  At this point, I was unstoppable.  But that was all to change.

My freshman year at college was a disaster.  I couldn't keep up with the pace and I didn't know how to study.  My idea of studying in high school was skimming over my notes 5 minutes before the test was handed out.  My high school didn't even offer physics because I was the only one to sign up for the class.  I was woefully unprepared and it showed.  After my first semester, I had a 1.5 GPA.  I lost my scholarship and was on academic probation.  My second semester wasn't much better.  After my first year, I was $13,000 poorer and had failed about 4 classes outright.  My academic career seemed over.  This was the first time I had ever gotten on my knees to ask for answers; the first time I actually needed God's help.  My life changed forever after this experience.  I knew God was there and I knew he would see me through it.  I buckled down hard and once I got past the 200 level classes, I loved it.

After graduating with a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering, I married my high school sweetheart and settled down.  I started an engineering job quickly after graduation and life moved on.  We built a house, upgraded our vehicles, and began thinking about children.  As time moved on, we didn't have a care in the world.  After almost two years of trying, we finally were expecting in spring of 2018.  We were thrilled, but we didn't know the first thing about pregnancy or raising children.  At 8 weeks, we announced our pregnancy to our families over the Mother's Day weekend.  By the next Wednesday, we realized we had already lost the child.

There is no amount of preparation that can keep you from going into a severe depression after losing a child, however old they are.  There is also nothing that can be said to give you hope in that moment.   All you have is your spouse.  We were in a slump for months after this event.  But God intervened.  Two weeks after my wife's D&C, we conceived a boy.  Fearfully and wonderfully made, he was.  Since then, God has blessed us beyond measure.  We now have three beautiful boys that bring joy to all they meet.  Our God in heaven is great indeed.