At Armstrong McGuire, we celebrate the successes of our clients and the innovative strategies of our team. But on August 16th, I had the privilege of celebrating a more personal success: our son, Devin, got married. What a joy to officially welcome Skylar into our family!

I am blessed beyond measure to call her our daughter-in-law. The boys still outnumber us 3-2, but for the first time in 26 years, I am gaining on them.

There were so many wonderful moments throughout the weekend, but I will focus on only two:

‍The Beauty of Vulnerability

‍Watching Devin overwhelmed with emotion was beautiful. Devin is a rule-following, first-born—kind and caring, but rarely one to show his softest side. On Saturday, he did. From the moment Skylar stepped into the church to their vows, their first dance, and our mother-son dance, his emotions were on full display. It reminded me that what we see on the surface—from our colleagues, donors, board members, or even family—rarely tells the whole story. While weddings are not an everyday occurrence, I encourage us all to look for ways to allow those in your personal and professional lives to show you how they really feel. Creating safe spaces for people to share their true feelings is powerful for them and for you.

‍The Power of Example‍

Our younger son, Carson, was Devin’s best man. In his toast, he shared how their fierce childhood competitions shaped him. He said that Devin never “gave” him a win, and while that might sound harsh, it was one of the things he admired about Devin. Carson said it taught him tenacity, discipline, and work ethic—qualities that helped him become a 4-time All-American in track and field. He reminded us that we are the examples we set. Someone is always watching. Lead well. ‍

Hearing Carson describe the power of Devin’s love in his life and watching Devin receive those words was a beautiful gift to me.

I took time before and after the wedding to be fully present (and recover!). While I was out, I asked for tips on building strong relationships with your children’s spouses. Many of you sent me the wisdom you have gleaned. Thank you! If you have advice, I’d love to hear it—drop me a note at shannon@armstrongmcguire.com.

Cheers to Devin and Skylar Williams!

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Shannon Williams is the Managing Director of Armstrong McGuire and leads the team of Senior Advisors who help our clients with organizational development, leadership development, and fundraising.