So many stories could be told, but one of the most meaningful comes from the summer of 1978 at Bradley’s Resort in the North Cascades.

Martha cooked the meals, and I washed the dishes. What seemed like simple, everyday work became something far more significant. During those long hours in the kitchen, we shared conversations about life that have continued all the way to the present. From that summer forward, we have stayed connected—praying for one another, exchanging Christmas cards each year, and keeping up with family news across decades.

My wife, Nadine, and I most recently visited Martha at her home in Sedro-Woolley in August 2023. She is still a fantastic cook, and we continue to use her recipes often. It is remarkable to look back and see how God built a lifelong friendship from something as ordinary as shared work in a kitchen at a remote resort.

I married Nadine in the summer of 1979, and we moved to Eugene, Oregon. I later earned my PhD in Physics in 1984 from the University of Oregon, worked as a research scientist for nine years, and then served as a professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for 30 years. Together, we raised four children and now have four grandchildren.

Nadine and I remain active in our church, and we still find joy in soaking in God’s glory whenever we visit the National Parks. Looking back, I can see how those early experiences in the Rockies and North Cascades were part of a much larger story of formation, friendship, and faithfulness.

John P. — Rocky Mountain National Park 1977; North Cascades National Park, 1978