“One More Thing” - Thursday, June 27, 2024, 6:56 PM

Jun 27

A week ago, my wife and I hosted the biggest party of our lives after the biggest moment of our lives and everything feels like it’s been moving in slow motion ever since.

Right now, I'm peering across a tropical infinity pool, with a mind full of surreal moments, being mindful to jot them down for the very instant my memory decides to fail me.

Tomorrow I’ll be back in Los Angeles, diving head-on into the first chapter of our union as America celebrates its independence.

Past, present, future.

I’m in a weird space where it feels as though I’m weaving through all of them at the same time. I can see all three so vividly… so exquisitely.

James Bond told me The World Is Not Enough, but James Pailin told me that he’s proud of me, so I’m more than content with what God has supplied me with.

He’s given me life, a wife, friends, and family… not necessarily in that order, but all are definitely in order, which is truly a blessing.

My younger brother and I didn’t get to finish our standing game of table tennis before I departed, but we did succeed in rallying against a common enemy that has tried to thwart our trajectory indefinitely.

In his best man toast, he spoke about an angry entity that has set its sights on crippling the incredible bonds we spent our lives forging, and in my downtime, I’ve had time to reflect on what’s truly at stake.

God. Family. Football.

That’s not my personal mantra, but if I were a Dallas Cowboy, I’d probably prioritize my life in a similar way. Keeping the main things the main things can be hard to arrange, especially when the bright lights start to display.

I believe there’s a huge difference between seeing stars and actually being one, so as the quarterback of the family I recently started, there is only one question.

What’s the next play?

If I’ve just won the championship of relationships, what will become of me after I finish celebrating tonight? It would be foolish to think this isn’t a critical time to reassess and re-invest in the most important people in my life… starting with my wife.

But how?
Then when?

I’ve read many times that we are the sum of every decision that we have made up to this point.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

So after making a very big decision, I think it’s important to make the smaller ones that follow it as timely and meaningful as possible.

God. Family. Purpose.

That actually is my personal mantra, code, credo, and lens that I choose to interpret all that my eyes see, ears hear, hands touch, nose smells, mind thinks and heart feels.

Sometimes it takes a while for me to come to my senses as there are often competing interests, but amid this sea of words, there is but one word I want you to take away from it.

Appreciation.

At my wedding, I did everything I ever wanted to do… except, publically thank every family that had a special hand in uplifting Korina and me to the peak we now stand on.

I will do that now.

Thank you Au family.

Thank you Adomfe family.

Thank you Baker family.

Thank you Barclay family.

Thank you Bergstad family.

Thank you Bell family.

Thank you Bernard family.

Thank you Berry family.

Thank you Bishop family.

Thank you Black-Hubbard family.

Thank you Brooks family.

Thank you Brouwer family.

Thank you Carter family.

Thank you Castille family.

Thank you Childress family.

Thank you Chung family.

Thank you Coblyn family.

Thank you Cole family.

Thank you Collins family.

Thank you Cooper family.

Thank you Davis family.

Thank you Derouselle family.

Thank you Douglas family.

Thank you Duran family.

Thank you Dymowski family.

Thank you Eda family.

Thank you Edmondson family.

Thank you Egbele family.

Thank you Eisa family.

Thank you Ekundayo family.

Thank you Everett family.

Thank you Ewell family.

Thank you Glaspie family.

Thank you Gwyn family.

Thank you Hamilton family.

Thank you Hall family.

Thank you Harris family.

Thank you Hoffner family.

Thank you Jones family.

Thank you Johnson family.

Thank you Kandola family.

Thank you Kong family.

Thank you Kristky family.

Thank you Lewis family.

Thank you Marsh family.

Thank you McDonald family.

Thank you Mills family.

Thank you Minor family.

Thank you Mobley family.

Thank you Molina family.

Thank you Newell family.

Thank you Ngamalue family.

Thank you Osuala family.

Thank you Owens family.

Thank you Parker family.

Thank you Parlan family.

Thank you Partridge family.

Thank you Pastor family.

Thank you Patterson family.

Thank you Payne family.

Thank you Phipps family.

Thank you Powell family.

Thank you Remy family.

Thank you Richard family.

Thank you Roberson family.

Thank you Robison family.

Thank you Rodriguez family.

Thank you Shaikh family.

Thank you Simkins family.

Thank you Simmons family.

Thank you Stafford family.

Thank you Stoll family.

Thank you Tallosi family.

Thank you Terry family.

Thank you Thomas family.

Thank you Torres family.

Thank you Trotter family.

Thank you Tucker family.

Thank you Valerio family.

Thank you White family.

Thank you Weber family.

Thank you Webb family.

Thank you Wims family.

Thank you Xu family

Thank you Yi family.

Thank you Yu family.

Even as the rather verbose and wordy young man that I can be, I find myself at a loss trying to find the words to express my gratitude for your continuous support. All I can say is thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your energy.

Thank you for your gifts.

Thank you for your insight.

Thank you for your influence.

Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for your correction.

Thank you for your care.

Thank you for your assistance.

Thank you for your example.

Thank you for your presence.

Thank you for every meal.

Thank you for every opportunity.

Thank you for every word of encouragement.

Thank you for every dollar and every cent.

Thank you for every resource.

Thank you for every prayer.

I pray that God bless your hands and that you prosper in all you set your mind and heart to do. I pray that you experience a peace that surpasses all understanding and a joy that has no end. I pray that you are recognized and rewarded for your unique talents and abilities and that you thrive wherever you are placed. I pray that a double portion of wisdom, strength, and health be added to you and your family. I pray for job security and fulfillment that engulfs your entire body and all that it touches. I pray that God’s favor opens doors that no man or woman can shut, and his power gives you a boldness that no situation can shrink. I pray that you feel the unlimited, unconditional, and unwavering love that is encamped around you from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

This is my prayer for you, your children, and your children’s children and it is my pleasure to follow those words with action, assistance, and care in any way that I can.

With that, I want to extend an extra special thank you to Korina and my family who came near and far to witness our union. Family is absolutely everything to us and we lay at night thinking, preparing, and planning how we can give the next generation every advantage we had and more.

We love you Pailin family.

We love you Barefield family.

We love you Barnes family.

We love you Burt family.

We love you Christian family.

We love you Cromwell family.

We love you Daniels family.

We love you Ellis family.

We love you Fields family.

We love you Harris family.

We love you Harrison family.

We love you Hutson family.

We love you Johnson family.

We love you Malcolm family.

We love you Malone family.

We love you Mitchell family

We love you Murphy family.

We love you Nathaniel family.

We love you Phillips family.

We love you Rhodes family.

We love you Richmond family.

We love you Robinson family.

We love you Smith family.

I pray that God enlarges your territory and increases your wisdom. I pray that nations will call you blessed and that your gifts will set you before kings and queens. I pray that you experience kindness, generosity, peace, and patience in your comings and goings and that the wind be at your back when it is your time to run. I pray for health and against any chronic or short-term illness hindering your quality of life or that of your household. I pray that you stand out as courageous leaders among your colleagues and peers blazing a trail of integrity and excellence for all to follow. I pray that you be the head and not the tail, lend and not borrow and that you do not get weary of well-doing. For our path is not an easy one, but it comes with a great reward. I pray we have more opportunities to spend time together, celebrate one another, and embrace each other as life has a way of pulling us apart. I pray that the love we share grows and flows to all of the branches of our family trees. I pray that you feel loved, seen, heard, and as an invaluable member of this family and society.

This is my prayer for you, your children, and your children’s children and it is my pleasure to follow those words with action, assistance, and care any way I can.

I thank you and I love you.

Last, but not least I have to thank the team of professionals behind the scenes who made the production that was our wedding better than we could have ever dreamed.

Thank you Mom & Dad

Thank you Mr. Barefield & Mrs. Harrison

Thank you Annie & Annie McNutt Event Consultants

Thank you Morgan & The Milestone at Aubrey

Thank you Mo, Terre, & ESNTL Aesthetics

Thank you Terrance Bishop

Thank you Ayana Makeup

Thank you DJ GS & Alice and Oak Media

Thank you Sheila & Sheila Flowers

Thank you Crystal Whitaker

Thank you Jose, Abigail, & Emily Chappell Productions

Thank you Big Time Selfies

Thank you Anthony E.