Before I can say anything about launching this
company, I have the honor and extreme pleasure of thanking a number of people
that have made a huge difference in my life along the way. First, I would like
to thank my best friend…my Lord and Savior…Jesus Christ. It has been an
extremely personal and wonderful friendship. Without Him, I would not have the
opportunity (or be taking the opportunity) to enjoy this new life. Second, I
want to honor and thank God for my parents. I failed to honor my parents sincerely
growing up because I was immature and selfish. I hope that as I continue to
reflect on my life that I will be able (and cautious) to continue to thank them
for their love and their perseverance through some of the most difficult
situations that a family could ever go through. My brother is the greatest big
brother that anyone could ever ask for, and I got him without asking for him. God
called him to protect and serve the community as a law enforcement officer and
I am honored and grateful to have him in my life.
Along the way, I had the pleasure of developing
friendships and relationships with folks that made a huge impact in my life,
but a number of those relationships failed because of a mutual emotional
poverty. I was wrong for the hurt that I caused, and I forgive those who hurt
me. I know that our lives are better now because of God's intervention and
divine grace.
A very special thank you to the faculty and staff
(and vision) at Regent University. This school and institution played a very
powerful role in God saving my life after I had faced certain destruction. I
was a broken and depressed young man when I arrived, but God was there and he began the process of restoration.
To all of my friends, co-workers, and
executive leaders at Dominion Enterprises: I love you and miss you all very
much. To this day, I have not found a better group of people to work with. A special thank you to George Brooks, Cindy Samford, and Carmen Ramage for taking a chance on me.
To Lisa and Milan: we miss you guys very much. Thank
you Lisa for sacrificially believing in me on this leg of our journey!
To Mr. Carlos Wallace, Liz Faublas, and JaleneMack: thank you. I can't tell you how much it meant to me for you to take time
out of your busy schedule to speak to me and encourage me throughout my
program.
To my children, Tiras and Zechariah. God could not
have given me any better than the two of you. It's hard for me to believe that
I have one child in college and another one in kindergarten. You both are very
strong and have also been a major inspiration behind Breathe 150. When I grow
up, I want to be just like Tiras. You're going to make a great husband someday,
son. Zechy…I Breathe 150 because of you. You will always be my little Sour
Patch Kid…my Happy Gilmore…my Bat-a-saurus…my Alpaca…my joy.
Brenda Valentine: I miss our conversations, but I know God personally came and escorted you home Himself. I
believe that with all of my heart. Angels are only allowed so much time on the
earth before they have to go back home to glory. I know I really can't dance
well, but save one for me.
Bill Valentine: There's probably not a man alive
that I respect more than you. It's because of you that I have the life that I
do. You gave me your daughter and she has brought an immense amount of fulfillment
to my empty soul. If you would
have denied me her hand in marriage, I would be a man without direction and
without a purpose. I'm eternally grateful to you for what you gave me.
Finally…..to the most beautiful woman in the whole
wide world: Tracey Council. I don't know where to begin. You take my breath
away Mittens. You're my wife! Yes…you are my business partner…but you are my
wife. I have the best of both worlds. There's not a woman alive that can hold a
candle to you. You're the most beautiful and the smartest woman I know and I'm
grateful to have you. I wish I can build a time machine so that I can go back
and marry you every day for the rest of my life. I just never want our joy to
end. Actually…it won't. I get to have you for all eternity. Thank you Jesus!
So…this is how it begins!
Everybody now….Breathe In!!
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