I met Roy at fourteen and with the toss of a coin that summer night, I dialed in the love of my life. We wasted years until we found the answer to our hearts' longing in Jesus. 

On the evening of our baptism, Roy suggested our family of four venture on his dream vacation to Alaska. Although reluctant to traverse the country, I was determined to enjoy the much needed family time. 

When an invitation to work at an iconic Alaskan roadhouse forced the trajectory of our summer in an unexpected direction, my tight grip on our familiar Michigan life started to slip. 

Will this quest for an Alaskan adventure be worth the sacrifice for us all? 

Will my new faith in Christ withstand the storms of change and awaken the transformation I didn’t know I needed or will I crumble under the leaden weight of my husband’s dreams? 

After two years of working in a small city close to my family in Canada, my heart remains unsettled. Now, I find myself at a crossroads, not knowing which way to turn.

My calling seemed certain, now I question my career path and my relationship with my boyfriend. My futile efforts to pretend it’s all okay displace me, spinning me loose, and my world threatens to toss me into disarray. But the winds of change bring a hopeful challenge when a letter arrives from a nurse in Alaska inviting me to work at a remote clinic. Perhaps God has more in mind for me than I hope for myself.

Can I rise to this adventure and leave the familiarity of home and country?

Will I be able to set aside my own agenda and trust God’s timing?

Or will my need to have a detailed plan in all areas of my life be an obstacle too large for me to overcome? 

After our wedding rehearsal, my fiancé, James, suggests we roll the dice to decide our fate for his next teaching job. Leaving life’s decision to chance sounds like fun. However, will it align with my innate tendency for order?

Our adventure promises northern lights, snowflakes, and the wonder of Alaska. But luck gives us a double portion of both blessings and burdens that threaten to bury me in an avalanche of doubt and worry.

Will I be able to care for my family in the crucial moments, or am I destined to falter? Where do I turn for assuring direction in this uncertain game called life?

When an accident forces us to change our livelihood, my husband, Bill, suggests our family of seven embark on a commercial fishing venture in Southeast Alaska. Though life on an ocean vessel sounds challenging, it may answer our prayers for financial stability. 

Alaskan waters are captivating, beautiful, and abound in opportunities to teach our growing family. Yet, the chaotic, ever-changing environment grinds with my obsession for safety and pensive personality. We find ourselves left in the wake of failure and unanswered questions. Amid the turmoil, I fight to find my role in keeping the family afloat. 

When given a second chance to succeed with our own boat, will my family and marriage break deep when waves of despair rush in filling me with doubt? Or will we find the reserves to weather the storm?

After completing my fall semester, I’m excited to join my family at my parents’ log cabin and show my new husband how Christmas in rural Alaska sparkles. Lazy mornings on the couch by the woodstove and helping my mom make festive treats will be the perfect way to regroup before my teaching practicum starts. 

Before leaving to enjoy the holidays, we attend a friend’s wedding at a Bible camp outside of Palmer, Alaska. The rustic backdrop couldn’t be more romantic and memorable until Collin and I have a fight, threatening to crush the joy of the holidays.  

As we face a blustery mishap, will I crumble in a flurry of insecurities or will I discover God’s promised peace and a resolve to plow through?