In May of 1958, I was born in Spokane, WA. My parents raised a family of six, three boys and three girls. I am the 3rd oldest. I attended St Francis Xavier Catholic School from grades 1-8. After graduating from 8th grade we moved to Post Falls, ID where I continued my education. I graduated from High School in Sandpoint, ID. In 1977 I went to work for Burlington Northern Railway.
I believe at this time in my life, my problem with alcohol and drugs began and eventually escalated until it was out of control in the late’80’s. At that point I thought there might be a problem with that ultimate sin called ADDICTION. It has been a thorn in my side, a never ending, chaotic “normal way of living’, so it seemed. All my life I have been trying to figure out the “what for and why nots”. Why do I continuously sabotage my one live that I, until now, have taken for granted for so long? I had been deliberately seeking to fill that “void” in my life, yet just didn’t know or understand how to go about it.
I am not sure how I came to know Jesus or perhaps I just finally let him into my life. I truly believe that He found me, another lost soul, a very broken person. At that time it seemed to be easier just to give up. I truly became a believer and let go to the old ways after I had become truly broken.. There was that hope that this is a way to find true happiness. I reached out to invite the Lord into my life. He had to teach me how to love and live. He showed me the way and the truth. I found what I had been searching for all of my life.
It was while I was sitting in the Kootenai County jail, reflecting on my jaded past and my unpredictable future that lay ahead of me that I decided to start a relationship with Jesus Christ, the only one that I could cherish and trust in now and forever.
By the grace of God I reached out and found the Friends Church and then began my Christ-centered road to recovery from my addiction and all of my life recovery issues. Thanks be to God, the 24/7 Program and to everyone involved, I can finally begin to live life the way God intended for me. I am alive in Christ and he has given me the hope and future that I have been searching for all of my life.