I was born in December of 1960 and raised in Silverton, Oregon. I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home with wonderful loving parents. We attended church regularly and did bible readings every night at the dinner table. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I have grown to learn how fortunate I was to have that foundation of faith and knowledge of God’s love.

I was introduced to music at a very early age. I began taking organ lessons before I could even reach the pedals below. I always sang in choir and music groups during my junior high and high school years. I loved to sing. I loved music. I performed solos and duets at school concerts. I would sing for weddings and for special music at church. I always had a dream of being in a band.

I took eight years of organ lessons and then begged my parents to let me quit. I was on the fast track to becoming the church organist and by the time I reached high school, I thought I was way too cool for that. In fact, I thought I was way too cool to admit to anyone that I was a Christian. I became complacent with God’s love and living a Christian life.

I was searching for something to fill my emptiness, something to remove my hurt. I thought that partying and drinking would fit the bill. Of course, it didn’t. All the while God was patiently waiting for me to come back to Him, quietly whispering to me that only He could fill the empty space and take away my pain. After many years of ignoring that calling, and trying to do things my way, and failing miserably, I let go and put myself in God’s hands. It has taken me many years and many wrong turns to learn to lean upon Him and not upon my own understanding. Thankfully he is a forgiving and faithful God.