My life since 1963…

Let’s do the personal stuff first…

After graduating from Reynolds, I left the state to attend Virginia Tech.  Loved it; great university; a growing experience.  Having been raised by a career Marine, my plan was to join the Marine Corps and become an officer.  Instead I unexpectedly married between my sophomore and junior years, which introduced fatherhood…at 21.

That marriage blessed me with three beautiful daughters and eventually five beautiful granddaughters.  However, given the youthful circumstances, the marriage never had a chance.  God was not at the center of my first marriage; I’m actually surprised we made it seventeen years.

I remarried too soon to a bright but untrusting woman.  I was blessed with another daughter, my miracle child.  Katie was the third in vitro (IVF) baby born in Atlanta.  God had everything to do with that blessing, but again He was nowhere to be found in our marriage.  A few difficult and painful years later, the marriage ended.

My career took me to Ohio in 1993 where I met a lady who would become my third wife.  Without going through the complicated circumstances leading up to our marriage, both of us had individually accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord.  God has blessed us in the most miraculous of ways, but that’s what He does.  Lisa and I are blessed with a son and daughter.  (If you’re counting, that’s five daughters and one son).  Sixty-five years young with a thirteen year-old daughter and a sixteen year-old son.  Every day, I pray for the opportunity to give my youngest away when she marries…at thirty-five!

I’m in reasonably good health, but not without some issues.  Dad died at 50 of a heart attack and mom at 61 of cancer.  I have taken good care of myself, but my “not so straight” path through life has taken its toll.  I consider myself on borrowed time.  I thank God every day for the breath of life.

Career-wise, after college, I entered and have remained in technology…

First IBM, then Caterpillar, then Oracle, and several other application software companies.  I have started some companies and closed down a few others.  On one occasion, I was president of a publicly traded technology company, but have also been fired numerous times.  I tell my one and only son to find something he enjoys and that makes him happy, but try not to work for someone else.

Financially, I have made, spent, lost and/or given away at least three small fortunes in my lifetime.  Before I invited Jesus into my life this really bothered me, but I have since learned that life is not about possessions.  It’s about loving others more than yourself, helping others not as fortunate as you, and thanking God every day for every day.

Blessings to you, my friends and classmates…

Kent