01/23/2026
I never thought I’d do any form of woodworking as a paid job. I grew up loving it as a hobby that I got to do with my dad, and I simply enjoyed getting to use my hands to build something from nothing.
But when my dad died 3 years ago today, my world flipped upside down. I was in the middle of some major renovations on our home in Chicago, and working on the house, learning more and more skills that all had their foundation in everything he had taught me, had such a healing effect on my soul that I didn’t want to stop, even though the big projects were over at home.
So that’s when I made the decision to use my skills and knowledge of home repair to help others by starting my handyman business. It was obviously nice to earn some money doing things I enjoyed, but in all honesty it was more a time for me to simply “be with my dad.”
Grief is hard. And it never goes away. But there is also beauty in it. I’m grateful for the way God gave me time and space to heal through home projects as a way to do the things I loved doing with my dad.
And here we are 3 years later and I’m still loving it!
If you find yourself in a season of grief right now, know you’re not alone. Others have felt the pain you’re feeling. Trust the process, and know that healing will come.
And if there’s a project(s) you can dive into as a way to process your grief, I highly recommend it from my own experience.
Love you, daddio.
