I was born in Walnut Creek, California and raised in Bayview, Idaho. I had a happy childhood. I have one sister and two adopted brothers who are cousins.
I started drinking when I was 14. I was really drinking by the age of 16. I drank because I wanted to be cool. The summer before my senior year in high school I got a DUI. I spent one night in jail. I graduated from high school and got a job at Louisiana Pacific at Chilco.
At 22 I bought a new mobile home and put it on land in Athol, Idaho. I was still drinking. It did not affect my life or my job. I felt I was working hard and I could do what I wanted. My dad drank. I thought it was part of life.
At 17 I used meth a couple of times. It started out as recreational use. Later on I used it for work because I could get a lot done. I married at 25 to my long time girlfriend Sonia. We have two daughters. We split up and I moved to Florida to work for my dad.
I no longer used meth because I didn’t know where to find it so I started using cocaine. I was arrested for possession. I was a white guy in a black neighborhood, nothing like being conspicuous. I was arrested after that for a probation violation. While I was in jail I accepted Christ as my Savior. I ended up in a Christian men’s center. While there, I supervised a construction crew, I attended church and was in a singles group. I was doing well. I quit going to church, a year later I was back to drinking.
My probation ended and I came back to Idaho to have a relationship with my daughters. When that didn’t happen right away I became depressed. I was around old friends and was soon drinking and using again. I was arrested three times for drugs. I was put on probation and a six month rider to Cottonwood. Upon completion of my rider I was transferred back to Kootenai County Jail. I applied to the 24/7 Program and was accepted. I was there for 8 months before being released into the 24/7 Program on 9/9/09.
It took the extra time in jail for me to humble myself. I realize I can not change without God. I wanted to be in a place where God was alive and His Spirit was moving. I feel this at Hayden Lake Friends Church. As of January 17, 2010, I have been clean and sober for one year.