I am happy to announce we have welcomed a new member into the land of Dub. Earlier this year Kimberli and I tied the knot and we have been forging our new life together with the girls. It’s been a season full of a lot of firsts and new adventures. The wedding itself was such an incredible weekend of connection and celebration with all our friends and family. It was such a blessing to see so many old and new connections all in one place to shower us with love. Also a big thank you to Amy and Kel Elwood for such wonderful photos of the wedding day.
After the wedding, Kim and I went on our honeymoon—enjoying the beautiful Olympic National Park. We spent four days in the gorgeous Hoh rainforest and the town of Forks. Little did I know beforehand that Forks is the mecca for Twilight book fans. I was quickly educated by my new wife. Then we made our way up to Port Angeles and the stunning Lake Crescent. We were blown away by the beauty that surrounded us.
The celebration continued through the summer when did our “Family-moon” with the girls. Early into the wedding and honeymoon planning Kim and I wanted to do some kind of trip as a family to mark this new beginning. So, we kicked off our summer vacation with a family trip up to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. I was so excited to show the girls many of my favorite spots in both parks as well as the beautiful Hume Lake which I hadn’t seen myself in about 25 years!
The remainder of the summer was a good balance of time at home and little trips to create memories. We concluded their vacation time with one last trip to cap off the Family-moon summer with a weekend visiting Joshua Tree to see the Perseids meteor shower and show the girls another beautiful park in CA. There were way more people there than we expected, but still had our quiet moments together. We were so grateful for all the opportunities we had to make memories with the girls and forge this new chapter in our family.
I’m overflowing with gratitude and peace entering this new season of life. Thankful for this new life chapter with Kim and all the love and support I have received from Kim, our families, and our community of friends. Transitioning to this new blended family has gone way smoother than Kim and I thought it would. The girls have fully embraced Kim which has been such an answer to prayer.
Obviously, there are still moments of pain and grief as things change, but it feels so good knowing we aren’t doing this alone. I am mindful of a verse that I mulled over these last seven years.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
-Isaiah 43:2
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
I am so grateful for all the love that has been and continues to be showered over our little family. All of those who have helped us with practical needs, notes of encouragement, and prayers that have been sent our way, thank you. We have been so blessed by all of you.