A Life of Work, Family, and the Lord’s Quiet Guidance.

As my life moved forward, the Lord guided me through many different seasons of work and family, often through quiet impressions that made sense only in hindsight. After years of focusing on education and service, I entered a long and meaningful chapter as an entrepreneur.

For about eight years, I owned and operated my own online retail business. What began on eBay eventually grew into a full online store, and as it expanded, I leased a warehouse in Provo, Utah, where I shipped everything from “As Seen on TV” products to Little Giant Ladders, Sunsetter Awnings, and much more. It was a demanding and hands-on time, but it taught me resilience, problem-solving, and how to build something from the ground up.

In 2011, after years of nonstop work, my wife and I finally took our five children on our very first cruise together — a trip to Alaska. That experience changed me more than I expected. The peaceful sea days, the incredible scenery, and the time together as a family helped me slow down and reconnect with what mattered. I also found myself genuinely interested in how cruises worked: the ports, the excursions, the planning, and the details behind the scenes.

That season also deepened my appreciation for my wife and children. My wife’s steady support and our shared commitment to family helped me see that success meant more than work alone. Time with my children — watching them experience new places and grow together — reminded me that the most meaningful guidance often comes through family. Those moments quietly reshaped how I viewed my work, my time, and my purpose.

When we returned home, families and friends began asking me for advice about cruises. They wanted help from someone they trusted — someone who could explain things clearly in ASL and who paid attention to details. I already knew there were other Deaf cruise agents, and I wasn’t trying to be anything new. I simply enjoyed helping, and I wanted to give people great service.

One request led to another, and before long, this became the next chapter of my life. For the next nine years, I worked as a Deaf cruise agent, helping travelers choose itineraries and understand excursions for destinations like Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Bermuda, the Panama Canal, and several major U.S. ports.

But my work extended beyond planning. Over those nine years, I went on 21 cruises myself — sometimes with my wife, sometimes with my wife and children, and sometimes with Deaf groups both large and small. I was often involved directly on the ship, either serving as the host for the group or training someone else to take on that role. I helped organize meetups, answer questions, support travelers, and make sure everyone felt comfortable and included.

Those cruises weren’t just trips. They were connections — shared conversations, friendships built over meals, stories signed on deck, and moments of joy as Deaf travelers experienced beautiful places with full communication access.

Through each of these chapters — entrepreneurship, family, travel, service, and community — the Lord guided me quietly. He opened doors, taught me through experiences, and prepared me for the next steps long before I understood where they were leading. Every season of work, every challenge, and every opportunity became part of a larger path He was shaping for me.