A little bit about us...
We have been married since March of 1989 and have been blessed with three children, all of whom are married and live nearby (yay!!), along with two precious grandchildren... so far! We genuinely enjoy being together, whether that means hiking with our dogs, exploring a new town, relaxing around a firepit with family and friends, or sitting on our back deck doing absolutely nothing at all.
For 14 years, we led a Marriage & Family small group at our church. During that time, we came to realize what a tremendous need there is for help in marriages, so we took a big step and launched a full Marriage Ministry. What began with a team of 12 incredible coaching couples grew quickly…so quickly that we created workshops to help meet a need while couples waited for coaching. Those workshops didn't just fill a gap... they exploded in popularity and became an essential part of the ministry. From there, we hosted conferences, special events, and continued to build a thriving program for more than a decade.
Today, through Hitched Hiking Marriage Ministry, we continue to serve as Marriage Discipleship Guides, helping couples build stronger, Christ centered marriages through intentional 2-on-2 coaching, workshops, and conferences. We believe deeply in the power of investing in marriages, and there is nothing more rewarding than walking alongside couples, equipping them, supporting them, and celebrating their growth as they navigate the trails and terrain of life together.
Meet Julie
If you can't find me with family or friends, there's a good chance I'm outside somewhere. I enjoy gardening and feeding the birds and wildlife that visit our backyard. I really enjoy biking, hiking, and spending time at the beach. One of my favorite things to do is being with our kids, whether it’s competing at pickleball, playing any number of games, and going on vacation together. I also enjoy exploring new towns and poking around old, abandoned buildings, imagining the stories they have to tell.
A few fun facts about me: I don't like seafood (and yes, there's a good story behind that), I love fruity chewy candy, and I still eat licorice laces like a 12-year-old. I enjoy talking to strangers, learning their stories, and finding something genuine to compliment them on. My love language is Acts of Service, and helping people comes naturally to me - halfway through their sentence, I've already grabbed my keys and am heading out the door. I'm also the author of a children's book called Meet MaggieMazing!, which has a special story of its own.
Most of all, I love spending time with Steve. Whether we're traveling somewhere new, enjoying everyday life, or simply sitting on the back deck together, he's still my favorite person to be around. We enjoy doing a lot of things together, but serving in marriage ministry side-by-side is one of my favorites. Marriage ministry has been in my heart for many years because I genuinely enjoy helping couples grow stronger, and spending time encouraging wives along the way is especially meaningful to me. There's something incredibly rewarding about inspiring people, challenging them when needed, and cheering them on as they navigate the journey of marriage together.
Meet Steve
Marriage ministry and working with couples at all stages of life, from soon-to-be marrieds to relationship “veterans”, has been a strong passion for me for well over 20 years. While this spark was initially lit through God’s work in me in my own marriage, it spread to a passion for teaching and guiding individuals and couples and just sharing what I was learning along the way. It is beyond gratifying when we witness healing come to a couple who is lost and hurting. The impact is generational.
I’ve found that the more I learn about marriage and God’s perfect plan for this one of-a- kind relationship, the more I learn about Him and his mind blowing love for each one of us. I try to remain a faithful learner and believe that God’s Word, the Bible, contains a perfect blueprint for our lives and marriages.
When not working in marriage ministry, I spend time in my “tent making” profession which is in the world of financial services as a Retirement Income Planning Specialist. We are blessed to have our kids, grandkids, and some fantastic “BFFs” close by – and I enjoy every opportunity possible to play pickleball, golf, have bonfires, go for walks, or just be together. I do have a bit of an adventurous spirit, and, over the years, I have enjoyed scuba diving, flying a plane – and jumping out of one too!
Most of all, I treasure time with the love of my life, Jul. Whether we are traveling, hiking, sitting on the beach, or just hanging together at home for our morning coffee, I genuinely look forward to each day with her.