Raising Good Sons

David and Julie Lavender met in a 10th-grade chemistry class, and sparks flew right away! High school and college sweethearts, the two married after graduation and began work on their master's degrees. Julie received a master's degree in early childhood education, and David's master's in entomology followed his biology undergrad degree.

With diplomas in hand, David joined the navy as a medical entomologist and Julie continued teaching public school. Over the next 20 years, Julie and David lived in 10 different homes as David's career took them to Florida, North Carolina, back to Florida, Virginia, California, and Washington before finally landing in their home state of Georgia.

By the time David retired from the navy and started work as a wildlife biologist for an army installation, the couple had added four children to the family—two boys and two girls. At the birth of their first child, Julie became a stay-at-home mom and part-time freelance writer. Julie and David homeschooled their four children through high school, and their four favorite humans are now college graduates.

Oldest son Jeremy works as an elementary school counselor. Jenifer, an executive administrative assistant, is married to Adam Sartain, a senior marketing manager, and the two are parents of Benaiah and Maverick. Jeb holds a financial analyst position in the aerospace industry. And Jessica, a seminary event planner, is married to Dawson Goddard, a seminary student and sixth-grade Bible and history teacher, and they are the parents of Danae.

With David retiring last year, Julie and David are enjoying more time with their children and grandchildren, loving the opportunity to spend more time outdoors, and finding lots of time to write together. They are the authors of books, magazine and newspaper articles, and devotions.

Their most favorite hats to wear? Mommy and Grandmommy, Daddy and Granddaddy. View titles by David Lavender

Julie and David Lavender love old traditions of Christmases past and new adventures of Christmas present. Julie adores one particular family tradition—gingerbread house creating—so much that she recently published a children’s picture book called A Gingerbread House.

They love searching for Christmas trees on Julie’s childhood farmland, climbing trees to snitch mistletoe, sipping hot chocolate after driving around town to look for Christmas lights, creating gingerbread villages and keeping them out all year long, wearing matching Christmas pajamas, and retelling the Christmas story with props on Christmas Eve.

With three grandchildren now, Julie and David especially love watching Christmas unfold and anticipating the birthday of Jesus through the eyes of little ones.

Julie, a former public school teacher and homeschooling mommy, has a master’s degree in early childhood education. David, a former medical entomologist for the US Navy and wildlife biologist for an army installation, has a master’s degree in entomology and a biology undergraduate degree.

Julie and David’s six favorite humans are their adult children, Jeremy, Jenifer, Jeb Daniel, and Jessica, and sons-in-law, Adam and Dawson. And their most favorite people in the whole wide world are their three grandchildren: Benaiah, Maverick, and Danae.

Since David retired in 2024, Julie and David enjoy more time with their children and grandchildren, spend hours outdoors observing God’s beautiful creations, and find lots of time to write together. They are the authors of books, magazine and newspaper articles, and devotions.

Their most favorite hats to wear? Mommy and Grandmommy, Daddy and Granddaddy. View titles by Julie Lavender