Deeply Rooted
Our names are Brian and Tamara. We are two VERY different people from two different worlds who found each other and built a life rooted in love, respect, and purpose. We are partners, lovers, and parents. A blended family learning each day what it means to live with intention. For us, legacy is not a distant dream or something measured only after we are gone. It is the daily choices we make, the way we raise our children, the values we embody and pass on, and the way we show others they matter through love and presence. Our family believes that legacy is alive, here and now. We believe that legacy shapes us as much as we shape it.
Our story is woven from different worlds. Tamara’s Bahamian and African American family is deeply rooted in resilience, family values, hard work, respect for elders, and high standards. Brian’s deep Danish roots are grounded in tradition, simplicity, hard work, and a love of community. Together, we have built a family that reminds us that we are building a legacy that reminds us that what we are passing is not one story, but many woven together across generations.
The Hope That Found Us
We know the pain of grief, the growth that comes with healing, and the strength it takes to start again. We have gone through each of these individually and as a couple/family. And we have growth. Grief has taught us compassion and presence. Healing has taught us patience and courage. Starting again has taught us resilience and the beauty of second chances. Our family is a second chance for both of us.
We know the ache of wanting to be parents together. Brian was a father before we met. But we wanted to fulfill our dream of having a family of more than one child. We fought infertility due to Tamara’s PCOS and finally began our journey of parenthood later in life than many do. Our oldest together is an IVF miracle. Our youngest, a COMPLETE surprise miracle.
The Joy that Found us
That longing for family has shaped everything for us. Our children are a gift we treasure deeply, because we were once not sure if they would ever be ours. They are the center of our lives. The heartbeat of our days. Every choice we make is about giving them a life full of love while leaving them a strong and living legacy.
We know JOY. The joy of raising children across cultures and belief systems, traveling together, and creating memories. We live joy in the small, everyday moments in our home. In the hugs we give, in the talks we have with our kids, in the words of forgiveness, in the laughter we share, in the cuddles, and in the words of forgiveness we practice when we hurt each other. We know the joy of being truly loved and having a home filled with laughter.
We are not perfect. FAR from it. We have moments that are less than ideal, but we wake up grateful each morning, knowing that we are already passing on a legacy of love to our children. One that will live in them long after us.’
Living Legacy by Design grew out of this truth
For some, legacy means creating generational wealth. It means building something that provides for our children and grandchildren (and beyond) long after we’re gone. For others, legacy may take the form of values, traditions, love, healing, or memories passed from one generation to the next. We believe there is no single “right” way to define legacy. What matters is being intentional about the life you live and what comes from that intention.
We believe legacy means
- Healing from the things we’ve inherited that have hurt us, so our children don’t carry what was never theirs.
- Creating strong family bonds shaped by intention and love
- Honoring both the triumphs and struggles of those who came before us.
- Giving others all the love and attention they deserve. Showing people that they truly matter.
- Planting seeds of hope and love that will grow in those who come after us for generations to come.