For many years I have reflected on life through the words Faith, Vision, and Service. Those three ideas seem to summarize much of the journey God has led Naomi and me through together. What began as a Storyworth project and family keepsake became something more meaningful than I first imagined—a chance to look back and see the quiet hand of God guiding us through every season of life.
About five years ago, with encouragement from my daughter Ami, I began writing stories from my life and family journey up to that point. Those writings included growing up on our family vegetable farm, lessons learned from my parents, fishing trips, farming adventures, work experiences, ministry opportunities, my marriage to Naomi, and many of the ordinary moments that shaped who we became together. At the time, I thought I was mainly recording memories from the past for future generations. I did not realize that the story was still continuing to unfold, and that some of the deepest chapters of our lives were still ahead of us.
The original book was written before Naomi’s final years of illness, dialysis, suffering, and ultimately her passing into the presence of the Lord. Looking back now, I realize those years revealed some of the greatest lessons about love, perseverance, Care partnering, faithfulness, worship, and eternal hope.
Naomi and I were more than husband and wife—we were a team. Through joys and hardships, ministry and ordinary routines, we learned to depend on one another and ultimately on Christ. Some of our most meaningful moments did not happen during extraordinary events, but during quiet daily acts of faithfulness: praying together, worshiping together, serving others, enduring medical challenges, and trusting God one day at a time.
As I reflect back, I now see the original Storyworth project not as a completed story, but as the foundation for a larger testimony of God’s faithfulness across an entire lifetime. The earlier chapters captured God’s guidance through family, work, farming, ministry, and marriage. The later chapters revealed His sustaining grace through suffering, grief, care partnering, loss, and continuing hope in Christ.
Grief has changed my life profoundly. Yet even in grief, I continue to see the faithfulness of God. Scripture reminds us that for believers, death is not the end of the story. Because of Jesus Christ, those who belong to Him remain united in a hope that extends beyond this earthly life. While Naomi is now in heaven and I remain here for a season longer, I believe we are still joined together in Christ and in worship of the same Savior.
Today, I continue to write, reflect, encourage others, and seek ways to use the experiences God has allowed in our lives for His glory and the encouragement of others. My prayer is that these reflections will remind readers that even ordinary lives, surrendered to God, can become testimonies of His faithfulness, providence, and redeeming grace.
As I continue adding to this story, my hope is not simply to preserve memories for my children and grandchildren, but also to encourage others who may be walking through Care Partnering, loss, loneliness, or questions about God’s purpose in suffering. Looking back over our journey, I can truly say that through every chapter—whether joyful or painful—the Lord has remained faithful. AND the story is still being written!
Naomi before I met her!
Our picture about one year before Naomi’s passing into her new life!
Volunteering at Acacia Academics
