About me

Hi there, I’m David!

Let me start this introduction by telling you who I am not (mainly to set your expectations at an appropriately low level…)

I am not a viral TikTok dancer or thought influencer. I am not a theologian or pastor nor am I a business leader on any kind of “Top 40 Under 40” list. There are river-horse ungulates (yes, I’m talking about hippopotamuses…hippopotami?) with more of a following than I will ever possess (game recognize game, Moo Deng). I am not an athletic or academic standout nor have I ever competed for any sort of national or state title. In fact, I failed to qualify for my middle school Spelling Bee by misspelling the word ‘wierd’—silly me for following the ‘I before E except after C’ *BIG air quotes* “RULE” (but let’s be honest, I was pretty fine with this shortcoming). I also feel it’s worth mentioning that I have not won any “Sexiest Man Alive” competitions. I am not a New York Times Bestselling Author [yet]. Needless to say, I have no laurels on which to rest. I am “just Dave.” I drive a minivan. I wear Crocs. I shop at Costco.

Now you may be thinking, “Well, ‘Just Dave,’ if you are just an un-sexy minivan driver who can’t spell, why do you even have a website? What could there even possibly be in your undistinguished and underwhelming life and career to record and retell??”

Well, first of all, ouch. I mean—when you put it that way…

I guess here is my answer. I know what it means to lose. (I literally have a stack of red ribbons and silver medals from my entire childhood in every category imaginable—judo, track, science fairs, piano competitions—you name it). I lost careers (yes, multiple). I lost relationships. I lost my dignity (ok, that one was kinda on me though…). I even lost a “blueberry” (even though that one was not my fault… a story for a different time). I have had a number of other unique life circumstances that all stack up to feel a tad Job-y (I am just glad I do not own any camels or sheep, or they would certainly all die in some bewildering and tragic weather-related incident (like fire falling from heaven!))

Over the years, I have learned what the hymnist meant when he wrote, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.”

I hope you will join us on our journey, friend—and join the hundreds of other #IzzieFans who have been walking joyfully alongside my family as we navigate the various hurdles of this thing called life. I hope to share my reflections—what I am thinking and reading, things I am learning and being taught along the way. I hope to shed some light on what it costs to be a caregiver. I want you to feel the joy of Izzie’s (and our) victories, and I want you to feel the sorrow in our setbacks and defeats. Above all, I want you to feel the hope that keeps giving us the strength to take just one more step along the way.