Cathy was born in Ft. Lauderdale FL to a large family of 2 girls and 4 boys. She grew up in Florida and Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Irving MacArthur in Irving, TX. She worked as a hostess and aerobics teacher and completed 2 years at University of Texas.
Kurt describes the night he met Cathy – “Cathy and I met at my favorite hangout in Austin, TX(on 6th street) called “Anchovies”(a bar and dance club.) Neither Cahty nor I were living Christian lives at the time and were both into the partying scene. Cathy was living in Dallas and was in Austin for a bachelorette party. I was living in Austin and working as anews photographer at the ABC affiliate. Cathy’s friend introduced us at the club and the rest is history.”
After they married they honeymooned in Cozumel. Seven years after they married they had their first son Kyle who is now 10 and then Hunter age 7. Cathy, was a stay at home mom for about nine years before returning to part-time work recently. Cathy is trained as a paralegal in the law industry and has worked for many big firms in Austin, Dallas and Houston. However, she is currently employed as a legal assistant at a small firm in Humble, working part-time, and still makes it home in time to be with the boys when they get home from school. Kurt is a free lance video cameraman or sometimes called a director of photography. Kurt is not a still photographer who shoots weddings as some may imagine. About 50% of Kurt’s video work is in the corporate world and the other 50% is in the broadcast industry. For example, Kurt may shoot and light a marketing video for companies like ExxonMobil. Then shoot a documentary that will air on the Discovery Network. He worked recently for ESPN at the Astros playoffs and World Series games.
When they are not working Cathy loves tennis, swimming and biking. Lots of outdoor activities. She loves to read books, especially late at night. Kurt, loves biking, baseball and reading. Especially Christian authors like Max Lucado and finds the Bible fascinating as well.
Kurt describes his salvation experience “there isn't enough time or space for me to give every detail concerning my salvation experience, but I will try to be brief...yeah right. Although I was considered a Christian growing up, I never was into church or anything relating to a Christian lifestyle. By the time I was in my teens and twenties I was leading a very loose lifestyle of partying, drinking, womanizing and drugs. I'm sorry, but I must be honest. By the time I reached my twenties I truly doubted the existence of God. I considered myself an agnostic at best. To be honest, I thought I was the captain of my own destiny and intelligent enough to handle anything life could throw at me. I was proven wrong eventually. By the time I was 26 I had tried and done it all, in fact, too much. On the outside I was trying to show the world one face, while on the inside I was falling apart. I met Cathy at this time in my life, and although neither of us were Christians, my life slowly starting turning around. My first step was to read every "self-help" book on the bookstore shelves, still believing I could turn things around for myself, on my own. After many years of this thinking, my life and career was not anywhere near where I had thought it would be. One night, sometime after Kyle was born, I was sitting on our sofa after Cathy and Kyle were asleep, thinking I was at the end of me and just couldn't figure anyway out of my hopelessness. I had read so many "self-help" books and found no help! Sitting on the sofa I had the thought that I actually might want to read the Bible, except, I wasn't sure we had a Bible in the house. I then remembered that my parents had given me a Bible when I was about fourteen, and I had stowed it away in a box somewhere in our garage. I went out to the garage to retrieve the Bible and began my journey to actually read and study the Bible for the first time in my life. My life has changed for the better ever since. Cathy and I started looking for churches to attend and eventually both of us were baptized at the same time in a local church. It has been a long and difficult road for me. Once I realized that I would never be intelligent enough, or strong enough to handle my difficulties in life, I turned to God and said, "you win, let's try it Your way", and I have found He is never wrong. I may be, but He is not! It is still a difficult road at times, but I wouldn't want my life any other way now. I have had an actual miracle in my life, and my relationship with Cathy is phenomenal. I thank God alone, because He is the one that made all of this happen...not me! He has blessed me with a great wife and two fantastic kids. Now, if I would only get my hands off the reins of my career, I'm certain He will open new and better doors for my professional life as well. Thank you Lord!”
Cathy describes how she met Jesus – “I was raised a Catholic and always went to church. When I went to college and as an young adult I did not go to church as often. When I married Kurt and had Kyle I was drawn back to church. I started going back to church regularly, and Kurt started going with me. Although, Kurt didn't get much from the Catholic mass and wanted to look at other churches. I met a friend who was a minister's wife and she invited me to her church which was a local baptist church. Kurt had seen the preacher of the same church on t.v. and liked listening to him. We started attending the church somewhat regularly. I subsequently met several christian women who helped me along my path. One, in particular, told me about Bible Study Fellowship. I started going and soon after, I accepted Christ. This was about seven years ago. I still am so thankful that God opened my eyes and gave me peo ple in my path that helped me find Him. I continue to have that same prayer for my parents, sister and brothers.”
We don’t get to see Cathy & Kurt every weeke in ABS because they are the teachers of the 10:50 AM second grade class. Cathy also serves faithfully and diligently in the FAITH team program.
Kurt is definitely a night person, and would love to be able to sleep in every morning, but that rarely happens. Cathy is a morning person, or I used to be when life wasn't so busy.
Kurt, is not a big fan at all of desserts. Kurt is what you would call a "main course" type of guy. Kurt will ask for second and third helpings of the main course and forego any desserts if needed. Cathy is the dessert person. Her favorite is key lime pie.In conclusion, Kurt doesn’t know what God has in store for him with his future but, he hopes that someday God will use him the way He has used Ron Ledbetter. In Kurt’s works “I would be pleased as punch if God would allow me the opportunity (someday) to teach in a manner the way Ron Ledbetter does. Or, that God would use the creative gifts He has given me in video photography and production to further His kingdom's purpose.”
