James grew up in poverty in the rugged mountains of the Northwest. Stacy grew up in a middle class family in the privileged suburbs of Houston, Texas. James became the first of his family to graduate from college, and has been a marketing executive in the oil and gas industry, a magazine publisher, a public speaker, and a pastor.
On the other hand, impatient to start life, Stacy skipped college and dove into the beauty industry as a hairdresser. Later, eager for more normalized work hours, she went into apartment management. After marriage, Stacy worked at home editing an international Christian magazine that she and her husband owned and operated. She was also an author and public speaker; but, most importantly, a homeschooling mom.
Some might see James and Stacy as two radically different people. And, in many ways they would be right!