This was my first church—Amelia Presbyterian in Amelia, Virginia, completed around 1978.

At this time, I was working with an artist, John Dale. John was the artist, and I made the windows.

I was twenty-seven years old, strong, and perseverant. By this time, I knew this would be my life’s work and that if I were to survive, I would have to start thinking as a craftsman and a businessman.

I was also challenged by learning to work with another creative individual.

There were many problems to solve, most in unfamiliar areas. Working on such a large scale made it difficult for me to figure out the cost. This was when I decided that the project would always come first; I could always work overtime, often barely making enough to survive, but always doing my best was my priority. I figured someone else was paying for my education and was most grateful.

Since then, I have never kept my hours, had an hourly rate, or asked for the price of materials. I now charge what the project is worth, which is my way of figuring compounding interest.