Family Pic at Mom & Dad’s 50th Wedding Anniversary in Salem, OR

We left the desert of central Washington in January of ’97. A call from a tiny group in Seattle that appeared as a viable church plant, came in answer to our prayers. At this point in our lives, it also seemed timely and wise to buy our own home. The two elders, unsure of the church’s survival, did not recommend this investment. However, my dad agreed with us and gave us $3,000 down payment on an 1200 sq. ft. repossessed house in Wilderness Rim. We nearly panicked when unforeseen closing costs exceeded our resources. However, God answered our prayer for wisdom. By selling our little Festiva to Charissa, who borrowed from Jonathan, we amazingly became home owners for the first time.

With change, also comes loss. Charissa, a senior in high school, went to live with Dr. Riley…