Our Story

“We were self-centered and we thought marriage was a 50-50 deal.”        

OUR STORY

Eric was 21 and Sherry was 24 when the two united in matrimony, but it was years before they became one.  Sherry was teaching music in elementary school in Orange County while Eric was still in college at California State University, Long Beach.  Eric was obligated to the US Navy after the draft lottery was initiated so they got married while he was in his senior year.  That first year was rough.  It became obvious that two selfish people were attempting to make a life together and there was friction.  The good news is that both were committed to marriage and divorce was not an option.

Eric was commissioned as an Ensign late in 1973, and he began a Navy career that took them all over the country and around the world.

THE 95-5 RULE

It was clear that Eric and Sherry loved each other but there was still picking at imperfections that would erupt into conflict.  Then they decided that there was 95% about the other that each thought was awesome, it was the 5% that drove each one crazy.  So they decided to throw out the 5%, give it no place in their lives and just focus on the 95%.  From that point on things kept getting better and better.

The Navy took them all over the country from San Diego to Seattle (where Brian was born), to Newport, Rhode Island to Norfolk and finally to the Washington DC and duty in the Pentagon.

TRANSITION

While in Washington, Sherry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  At the same time the end of the cold war reduced the size of the fleet which took Eric’s command opportunity away.  Suddenly life changed.  It was clear

God was redirecting their path but what was next?  Over time it became apparent that the Lord had ministry in mind.  Eric and Sherry joined the team at FamilyLife, moving to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1998.

Since then they have worked with most aspects of the ministry especially the conference outreach principally through the Weekend to Remember marriage conferences.

 

MINISTRY

Since reporting to FamilyLife, Eric and Sherry have served at hundreds of Weekend to Remember marriage conferences.

NEW NORMAL

In June 2017, Sherry was ushered into the presence of Jesus.