When I think about success, I don’t picture a title or a trophy. I picture my husband.

For more than 30 years, he dedicated his life to the United States Marine Corps—three decades filled with early mornings, deployments, leadership, and sacrifice. His unwavering commitment to excellence and integrity has always inspired me. Through every challenge, he remained grounded, focused, and fiercely loyal to the people around him. Watching him serve reminded me that true success isn’t about recognition—it’s about purpose, perseverance, and service.

When he retired, many might have chosen to rest, but that’s not who he is. Instead, he set out to achieve a lifelong dream: hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. From Georgia to Maine—over 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, and relentless challenges—he walked every step with quiet determination. Each mile was a testament to the same discipline, courage, and drive that defined his military career.

I followed along (vicariously) with pride, amazed not just by the miles he covered, but by the sense of peace and purpose he found along the way. He proved, once again, that success isn’t a single moment—it’s a mindset. It’s about showing up every day, even when the path is steep and the journey long.

But beyond the career achievements and the bucket-list adventures, what truly makes him remarkable is his dedication to us—to our goals, our dreams, and our life together. Every bit of progress we’ve made on the homestead, every project we’ve built from the ground up, and every plan we’ve dreamed about for our future, he has been right there beside me.

We often talk about being a team, but he is the foundation of that team. His strength, patience, and faith in what we’re building make everything possible.

He is, and always will be, the most successful person I know—not because of what he’s done, but because of who he is.