Founders Corner

Thank you for stopping in and spending a little time where I reflect on our life experiences. I am just an ordinary guy surrounded and encouraged by a terrific girlfriend turned into the mother and grandma of our two kids and eight grandchildren. We have been together for over 50 years.

Over a 22 year period, we have lived in three foreign countries, worked in another six, and visited over forty. We have had the privilege of being in the real estate business for over 15 years and then founding an international water filter business.

My claim to fame is that I really enjoy long distance hiking having hiked the Camino (502 miles in 31 days) and the Appalachian Trail (2,172 miles in 181 days). Now I am working on the North Country Trail, 4,200 miles.

It is the relationship with the giver of life that our journey has purpose and meaning. Those of you that we know have also added a deepness and richness to our lives for which we are forever grateful.

A New Perspective of the Coronavirus

A New Perspective of the Coronavirus

I tried to attend our small group on Sunday.  We talked Coronavirus instead.  Then I went for a hike…thinking.  I talked with several people.  I watched the news and heard the governor speak.  I read emails from...

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Gratitude

Gratitude

One day I decided to simply list in my mind everything; people and experiences, for which I could be grateful.  The list was frighteningly long. It was also quite insightful. I never quite got to the end of it. This is the kind of stuff I think about when hiking.  In...

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A Higher Purpose

A Higher Purpose

It was 20 years earlier that I read an article in the Lansing State Journal about someone walking the Appalachian Trail.  I could not shake the image of just walking day after day.  There are several reasons people want to hike long distance trails and...

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There Are Friends and Then There Are Friends

There Are Friends and Then There Are Friends

The question asked was, “What kind of legacy do you want to leave?” That is such an easy question to answer because without trying or thinking, we all leave a legacy whether we want to or not. The hard part is whether the legacy has any value, merit, or enduring value?

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What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

The question asked was, “What kind of legacy do you want to leave?” That is such an easy question to answer because without trying or thinking, we all leave a legacy whether we want to or not. The hard part is whether the legacy has any value, merit, or enduring value?

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First Forest hike of 2019

First Forest hike of 2019

I walk the roads of Greater Grand Rapids, rain or shine, hot or cold, sunny or rain, chalking up ten plus miles a week. This was my first hike in the woods in 2019.

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Water

Water

Water is often a metaphor for life itself. Here is what it looks like in real life.

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A 2019 Challenge!

A 2019 Challenge!

“Our response to the plight of refugees in the coming year will be the measure of our humanity.” Angelina Jolie

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Being Thankful for Generosity

Being Thankful for Generosity

Our water filter enterprise is always in need of additional finances. The need is great and never-ending. The generosity of people and the long days and hard work of our on-the-ground partners continue to inspire us. What is not so common is to be inspired by...

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Connections and Saying Goodbye

Connections and Saying Goodbye

I could tell so many stories of saying permanent goodbyes and truly expecting to never see that person again, yet here are a few that we did end up seeing again. Back in the day…It was 1979. Jan and I had been in Nigeria for ten years. We were moving to Liberia to...

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