The earliest memory I have of anything space or astronomy related was a big laugh from a roomful of aunts and uncles I received as a preschooler. I made the innocent but erroneous comment that "I've already seen this re-run" as we all watched a Mercury capsule recovery on TV. Obviously it wasn't the first one, and that memory has stuck with me through all this time. I suppose that day may have done something to spark an interest.

The 60's space race was in full swing as I grew up, and I became very interested in it as our nation worked toward getting men to the moon. I also remember seeing the 1966 Leonoids meteor "storm". Anyone who saw that would never forget the sight as dozens; even hundreds of meteors per minute left their streaks across a predawn November sky. I became interested in telescopes and got a pretty nice equatorially mounted Sears 60mm refractor during my middle-school years. I had lots of fun with it, but as my observing experience grew I realized that those deep sky objects I saw at the telescope eyepiece didn't look anything like the amazing pictures I saw in astronomy books. That's when I first learned about astrophotography. and what it could do to make those dim objects seen at the eyepiece come to life as colorful and bright images captured on film. I told myself at the time that "I'm going to do that some day".

I am very thankful that my dream of astrophotography. (along with many other dreams) was allowed to be fulfilled. I praise God for all the things He has blessed me with. I am truly overwhelmed with His care and blessing. I have a wonderful Christian family and my own successful farming business. My wife and I have been married 19 years and have a teenage son and younger daughter. We are also blessed by having both of our parents within minutes of our home. God's grace is abundant and I eagerly anticipate the "Things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him." (I Cor 2-9) God's eternal truth has made my life so much more abundant and fulfilled. I am not worthy of His grace, but He makes this grace available to everyone. Through His grace I feel and know a sense of purpose for my life that I could not have by any other means. My hope is that the visitors of this site will also know this grace and love.