About Carole & FJ

Carole and FJ Griffitts

Retirement. Lazy days. Travel. Hobbies. Family time. Church activities. Camping. Hiking. Grandkids.

These were supposed to be the stuff of the twilight days of FJ and Carole. Well … life did not turn out that way. Invisible disabilities and caregiving and FJ’s chronic illnesses intruded.

Why author a book after forty years of serious limitations? Two reasons played into their need to share about invisible disabilities.

First, for those with chronic illnesses FJ and Carole want you to know you can survive and even thrive. You can find new purpose in difficult circumstances.

Second, they wish abled people to realize what life is like for people un-abled to fully take part in normal life.

They hope to author more books—but separately. FJ has plans for books from articles he wrote for his churches’ newsletters. Carole proposes to adapt writings from her journals for devotional books. Watch Sunbreaks Books for announcements.

Professionally speaking

Joe, smiling, standing in front of purple and white lilac bushes, wearing blue plaid shirt.
FJ Griffitts

FJ

Education

  • BA, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, 1973.
  • MDiv, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, CA, 1980.

Employment

  • Pastor for 26 years.
    • Speaking, writing, and counseling.
  • Army Reserve Chaplain for 17 years.
    • Speaking and counseling.

Writing

  • Article, “Sunday Morning Yuk,” published on Believer’s Bay.com.
  • Two articles published in Wolf Print, an Army Reserve magazine, now defunct.

Joe’s Brigade Chaplain, (LTC), Donald R. Moller, affirmed this article. “I just read your article, ‘Holy Math—What A Difference!’ from the October WOLF PRINT. It was an excellent article, well written and definitely to the point! Also, probably the best thing I’ve read in that column! It makes me even more proud to have you serving in our Brigade and in the USAR.”

  • Edited monthly church newsletters and authored devotional-style main articles for 26 years.
Headshot of Carole. She has white hair and is wearing a yellow blouse. She is smiling. Blue background.
Carole Griffitts

Carole

Employment (when still able to work)

  • Office jobs.
  • Library technical support.

Writing

  • Designed website and writes blog, Navigating the Storms since 2016. For people with invisible disabilities and people who care about them.
    • Blogs as a guest writer on chronic illness blogs.

Speaking

  • Speaks about living with dystonia to students preparing to be health care providers. Washington State University Health Sciences, Spokane, Washington.
  • Participated in panel discussions and forums, and as a speaker.

FJ and Carole

  • Sunbreaks in Unending Storms.

Check these out

Pictures of Carole and FJ Griffitts appear on Photos. More images will be added in the future.