32 years married on October 9, 2025…
Rob and I were both single through most and all of our 20s, so marriage came as a surprise and blessing to me as I am the older of this duo. It was shortly before meeting Rob that I went through a major burn-out in ministry in LA and it was in the reflection time during the recovery prayer journey that I began to hear God whisper to me that I need family support to do ministry. This was the first time I had ever sensed that message, and it caught me off guard. My immediate response was, “well, if that is what you are saying, Lord, then I guess that means staying here in Columbus, Ohio where the rest of my family is doing ministry, because I don’t see any potential ministry mate around unless you are going to drop someone out of the sky!”
God truly has a sense of humor, for it was probably less than four weeks after writing that prayer in my journal that God indeed dropped someone out of the sky – it was a trained missionary pilot who God brought into my life in the person of Rob North.
Thirty-two years later, our journeys to serve God’s leading in our lives have taken one or both of us to five continents, serving seven Nazarene-sponsored higher education institutions and so many beautiful people from many culture groups. We have been blessed with wonderful family, including two sons and one daughter-in-law. Our life together has had wonderful highs and deep-in-the-valley lows. It has challenged us in covenant love and what that means practically in our life. Marriage counseling has been needed and useful at certain junctures along the journey, but we have been determined to seek forgiveness, mercy, and restoration whenever called for. We are still discovering new arenas in our relationship and trying to understand the other’s limitations and needs.
God knew for sure that I needed a ministry mate husband who could help me navigate the journey ahead of me. I am beyond grateful and amazed at the surprises of God in our lives.
Thank you for the many that have prayed for and supported us and the ministries God has called us to. We could not do it without many of you who have and continue to walk this journey with us!!! To God Be the Glory!!!