When I look back over the past 26 years, I can honestly say this life has been anything but perfect. It hasn't been easy, either.
There have been seasons that almost broke me, moments that left me questioning everything. But here we are—still standing, still cheering, still believing in this calling.
When Adam first started coaching, I was a 23-year-old newlywed, completely unaware of what my life was about to look like. The time commitment alone shocked me—so many hours spent at a high school, pouring into kids who weren't even ours.
I grew up in a military family, so moving and transitions were familiar to me. I knew what it was like to have a father whose job required long hours, travel, and sacrifice. And I knew what it was like to have a strong mother who "held down the fort" and made sure her kids felt loved through it all. To this day, my mom is one of the strongest women I know. My dad, no matter how far away he was, will always be my hero.
That upbringing shaped me for this life.
Once I got my bearings as a coach's wife, I began to see the parallels. My father's leadership, his sense of duty, his calling to something bigger than himself—it mirrored the very role Adam stepped into. In many ways, my life as a military kid prepared me for my life as a coach's wife.
Here we are, 26 years later. We've made seven moves over the years, most of them in high school football. Last year, Adam stepped into the college world, and while it was an adventure, halfway through the year, we realized our hearts belonged under the Friday Night Lights. So, here we are on move #7—back to high school—and we couldn't be happier.
There is something sacred about Friday nights in the fall. It's hard to put into words unless you've lived it. The energy, the community, the lights—it's electric. But the very best part? The kids. The boys who walk through those field house doors.
We've had some heartbreaks as a coaching family. Moments that humbled us, tested our faith, and left us broken. But the good has far outweighed the hard. Every roster, every season, every team has left an imprint on our family.
And the beauty of hindsight is this: now I can see the full circle. To scroll through social media and see former players thriving in college, excelling in careers, raising families, giving back to their communities—that outweighs every tough moment.
That's the reward. That's the why.
If I could sit down with that wide-eyed 23-year-old version of myself—or with any young coach's wife just starting out, my advice would be simple: buy in. Go all in. Don't just survive this life—embrace it. Go to practice. Let your kids run through the field house. Get to know the players. Sit with other coaches' wives. Be part of it.
Because here's the truth: this life is not easy. It will test your faith. It will break your heart at times. You will question whether it's worth it. You'll scrape yourself, and sometimes your kids, off the ground and wonder if you can keep going. But I promise you—it's worth it. Every single bit of it.
I can't imagine my husband doing anything else. I can't imagine my kids growing up any other way. This life, with all its ups and downs, has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. And after 26 years, I can honestly say—I'm still all in.