I grew up in Cedar City, Utah in a close-knit LDS community. I was the oldest of five, surrounded by a family that believed deeply in faith, service, and a forever kind of marriage. My father served as a bishop and later a stake president. My mother stayed home with us. The rhythm of church, family dinners, and shared purpose shaped the way I understood life.

I served a mission, married young, and became a father. I truly believed I knew what family was supposed to look like. Then my life unraveled. The marriage ended. I made decisions I am not proud of. There was a DUI, a custody battle, and a long season of loneliness and humility. That season forced me to see myself clearly. It also forced me to decide what kind of man I wanted to become next.

When I met Alana, I was not looking for a rescue. I was looking for someone who wanted to build with honesty. We blended six kids across two households. It was messy and beautiful and humbling. It required new skills I did not have. It required forgiveness that I did not know how to practice. It required a deeper kind of strength - the kind that does not dominate, but steadies.

Step Parent Path is the byproduct of that journey. It is a place where I write the truth I wish I had earlier: how to lead a blended family without losing yourself, how to hold boundaries without hardening, and how to choose love when the ego wants to fight. I am not a therapist. I am a man who has made mistakes and learned to rebuild with responsibility and care. If my story helps you find your next right step, then this work is worth it.