About Us
"POPI" and MATT
This is not your ordinary “about us” segment.
And, we’re not ordinary. Neither is our connection. Father-in-law and son-in-law, BFF? Really?!
We explain a bit about the way our relationship enriched over the years in The Long Ride .
There is a life code developed in the white hot furnaces of our nation’s crawl westward: “The Cowboy Way.” It’s not political, not religious, and not just a cute slogan. You saw it lived out on the Ponderosa ranch of “Bonanza.” You even heard it in the songs cowboys still sing today…”where the only law, was doing what’s right.”
Sure, we’ve lived in the city. We don’t now. Matt in the high plains ranch country of Utah, Gary in the horse country desert foothills of southern California. Gary is a retired naval officer, businessman, missionary and rancher. “Retired” means that the things he does now don’t bring a paycheck. Well, he does get paid a little as a substitute teacher, but his role as a teacher is more as a steward of the worldview he’s earned in his hard-scrabble clawing through life. It is also a high-value currency in the exchange between teachers and parents and the children they are suppose to prepare to lead in the next generation. This takes a prime role in forming the concepts for Generational Fathering.
MATT PETTIT, L.M.F.T. That means Matt is the clinical expert as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Through his work at a large residential ranch in the wilds of Utah and his private practice, Matt daily plows the hard ground of sadness and challenge serving as the bridge between kids in max trouble and their parents who feel desperate and out of control. His “work” includes group therapy around horses often leading the teens on cattle drives, vision quests, and mountain survival hikes. Living stories along the legacy trail leave stories of hope and horror, of the good and the awful with few generational blessings and way too many generational sins. After 13 years of practice, Matt is filling his notebook chock full of stories sad and wonderful. Matt is married to Cari, Gary’s daughter, and they wrangle three cowboys and attend two princesses in the mountain ranch country of south-central Utah. As a practicing Christian, Matt’s outlook and his worldview is rooted in his personal commitment to Christ as his life cornerstone.
GARY TAYLOR, C.O.O.T…As in the “old coot” of the family. Rancher, businessman, missionary, pastor, writer, even retired fighter pilot Navy captain. It all might look good on a business card, but Gary is counting on “father” to be the headline on his epitaph. It only became true in the last quarter of his life that he shifted his energies and his commitments from “success” to “significance”. It was a shift from projects to legacy. Gary has determined that what he wants to be remembered for is not what he did, but what he will leave behind: multiple generations of good and godly men and women as beacons of righteousness in a turbulent world.
Aug 14, 2010 @ 07:35:05
How can I turn down a request from a fellow Capo classmate? Looking forward to your book. Best of luck!
Aug 25, 2010 @ 16:17:44
Hey, John, I’m a bit behind on the protocol of good blogging. Didn’t mean to be rude and not thank you for the visit. See you in October?
Aug 14, 2010 @ 14:19:32
Good luck on your wild ride or is it walk.
Aug 14, 2010 @ 15:58:00
I have four sons of my own. My father had been a workaholic and an alcoholic all of his life. His excessive drinking finally caught up with him, and he passed away just short of his 54th birthday. My wife’s Dad is 63 years of age, and he’s still attempting to leave his mark on the world by being successful in business. My sons never see him… not even for their birthdays… he’s just plain too busy!
What I would have given to have had just one grandfather present when my eldest son was called up into authentic manhood.
Well done Gary! You’re a champion! The weight that you’re providing in your own family, and then modeling to other families… WOW! What a legacy! I’m proud of you! Keep offering.
Aug 14, 2010 @ 16:36:58
Great stuff! A good start! May He bless the journey!
Aug 15, 2010 @ 01:57:21
Hey, Gary,
Have I ‘reported for duty’ or not. Do you actually read, and respond to the remarks put into this thing…I actually preferred to communicate directly by email, but then I am
from another generation!
Pa Kettle
Aug 17, 2010 @ 02:07:15
Great site guys. Keep up the good work.
Aug 18, 2010 @ 17:35:37
Just thought I’d stop by and let you guys know I like your website. It’s very well done.
Aug 25, 2010 @ 15:38:08
Guess I’m still catching on to the protocols on my own blog. Thanks for stopping by, but didn’t mean to be rude in ignoring that light, uplifting touch of a visit. See you next meeting.
Aug 19, 2010 @ 11:31:49
Sad to read Daren Lewis’ comments on his family. Too many like that. Paul Lewis and his Dads Only is and was the real answer. Great site, keep up the good work. I am a dad of three, Gfather of 12 and GGfather of 21, I have seen it all.
GARY AND MATT NOTE: So, gang: We see the tale of two Lewis clans. One godly with huge current manifestations of His Grace and founded Family Universary and Dad’s Only newsletter and a fathering book or two. The other, my friend Daren, has huge current manifestations of His Grace. God extended his mercy through both genetic chains but only when Daren was invaded, incomprensibly, by the Holy Spirit did he break his father’s and grandfather’s bent and become the father God intended for him to be. He now leads fathering and manhood retreats in Australia.
Aug 19, 2010 @ 15:23:16
Good start on this Gary.
Eager to hear all about the WALK.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY and GOD bless you, I know he does.
Mary
Aug 25, 2010 @ 15:35:34
Well, Mary, I didn’t get back to you as promptly as I wanted. Poor manners. I appreciate your dipping in to GenDads. Hope it has some value for you. About that “Walk”. I think the last blog put you back on the trail with us. Stay tuned. See you in October?
Nov 26, 2010 @ 18:21:54
Thank you – I liked this post.
Nov 29, 2010 @ 08:04:32
Responding to “About Us” must mean you like who we are and what we’re up to. Happy to have you subscribe and tell us more.
Nov 29, 2010 @ 13:05:06
I enjoy your weblog
Nov 29, 2010 @ 16:09:24
Always good to have visitors who are touched by our blog. Sign up for email subscription so as not to miss a one.
Dec 02, 2010 @ 18:30:27
Now that’s something like it!
Dec 05, 2010 @ 09:39:55
That’s a pretty broad and positive comment, so if it’s sincere and you are lured to more, subscribe and get some of our posts. Good stuff.
Jan 10, 2012 @ 18:02:14
Gary,
Thanks for the inspiration of your life and servant leadership.
I am grateful for you investment in others and particularly in the next generation to follow us. Looking forward to rendevous with you in glory.
Joyfully In Christ,
bud