When people meet me they often ask, “How can I have the kind of joy that you do? You were abused as a child; you went through numerous surgeries to have your leg amputated; you’ve been divorced; you’re a single mom…yet you radiate joy. How is that possible?” Because I have had so many tragedies … Read more

I began canoeing when I was 13 years old. I started late in the sport because I was stubborn. There was a river with a strong current — a very strong current — and my parents prohibited me from getting close to the river. I had already had a history of almost drowning in pools, three or … Read more

I have found that the best way to compete in athletics is not measured in statistics and numbers. It is measured by the enjoyment of the experience as well as the enjoyment that others experience while competing both with you and against you. It’s a great thrill to know that you have given everything you … Read more

I moved out of my home early in my senior year of high school and lived in a friend’s basement. His family attended church and were great Christ-centered people. But I had never been to church, nor was I interested in going. I headed off to college (by the skin of my teeth), to become … Read more

I remember it so clearly in my mind. I was sitting at the foot of my father’s hospital bed, listening to the heart monitor, beep…beep…beep. As I stared at the bed, with my family around me, my grandmother stepped in front of me to kiss the forehead of the frail body that lay there. The … Read more

When I was young I played every sport that you could imagine. Growing up in a small town, Humboldt, Saskatchewan (population 5,000), that’s all there was to do. I excelled in football and played for five years at the University of Saskatchewan. Once my football career was over, I got a call asking if I … Read more

As an athlete, I always placed great emphasis on sports in my life. Sports began to consume me. I played softball in high school and college, and my softball performance started to determine who I was as a person. It was the center of my universe, a universe that ultimately came crashing down. During my … Read more

In Russian, we call cross country the ‘Horse sport. We trained three times per day, doing up to 1000 kilometre per month and perhaps 8-10000 k in a year — sometimes 60k in one training run! There are great pressures in this sport, especially in the Olympics. The expectations of your team and country and … Read more

At four days old, I was adopted into a family, with which I went to church every Sunday.  I really came to my own faith at age 16 at a Bible camp when I began asking questions. I knew then I was ready to be part of God’s family. Since then, I have been walking … Read more

I come from a family of eight children. When I was seven years old, my family was dismantled. With no father in the picture, my mother, my brothers and I were kicked out of our one-room flat. My family was separated, leaving me to live with many different people in many different places, including an … Read more