![Building Dreams](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/4085/437814/5ea950bc69ee6/Building-Dreams.jpg)
I LOOKED AROUND THE OFFICE, waiting to audition. Of all the TV shows to be called for! Bathroom Renovations on the DIY Network. I was an actor, a trained opera singer, a musician. By now I’d played myriad roles in my career: from commercials, voice-overs, films, plays, operas, cruise ship entertainment…but no reality television. The producers were looking for a host, someone who could show people how to get it all done: redo the tile, fix the plumbing, paint the walls. An acting teacher in college once told us, “Your job is to audition. To show up. To give it your all. You won’t book every job you want, but you’ll book the jobs that are right for you.” I was a shower upper. I always brought my A game and left expectations at the door. But for some reason, this audition felt different. Is this job part of the bigger plan…?
That audition was a dozen years ago, here in Minneapolis. My home. The place I grew up. Did I say DIY? Well, yes, there was a bit of that in my background. My dad was an Army reservist and counselor. In his spare time, he liked fixing things around the house. The oldest of three daughters, I was always amazed at my Dad’s workroom and its plethora of tools. A room filled with wonder and potential. Whenever a plumber or electrician or carpenter would come in, Dad would ask a million questions, trying to figure out how he could do something himself.
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Guideposts.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Guideposts.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![In the Everyday](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/_tp7FwgnK1720173281975/IN-THE-EVERYDAY.jpg)
In the Everyday
Cooking, cleaning, breaking up the kids’ fights... If only I had a few minutes for myself!
![Worst-Case Scenario?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/DmGYROi_a1720172974956/WORSTCASE-SCENARIO.jpg)
Worst-Case Scenario?
I’d had nagging injuries before and always recovered. Why wasn’t I confident that I would get better this time?
![Honor Thy Son](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/qshJPD_vd1720172660647/HONOR-THY-SON.jpg)
Honor Thy Son
I was a Marine officer, a lifer—or so I thought. Then came Patrick
![Keeping It Real](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/yRx94WnO71720168421503/KEEPING-IT-REAL.jpg)
Keeping It Real
In an age of social media, we're experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. Two friends who met online tell you how to grow an authentic connection
![What You Wish For](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/2e9ixmak51720168129898/WHAT-YOU-WISH-FOR.jpg)
What You Wish For
She never wanted to see her abusive father again
![God's Pillow](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/fPGhojQQd1720167791815/GODS-PILLOW.jpg)
God's Pillow
In 2016, the Soberanes Fire in Northern California was the costliest ever in the United States. It almost cost me my life, despite the promise I made to my wife
!["I Heard You Praying"](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/64-8tMcTu1720167148440/I-HEARD-YOU-PRAYING.jpg)
"I Heard You Praying"
As a hospital chaplain, I had seen hopeless cases. But never one more seemingly hopeless than this
!["I Love You, Dad!"](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/5--oYFJ_T1720166513264/I-LOVE-YOU-DAD.jpg)
"I Love You, Dad!"
Some of your favorite GUIDEPOSTS writers share what they learned from their fathers
![Harold and Me](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/Qhajb_Gug1720166039150/HAROLD-AND-ME.jpg)
Harold and Me
They’re nearly all gone now, the generation we call The Greatest.” This woman’s mission was to honor one of them
![The Race Before Her](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4085/1698982/cgsKBEDzw1720165438215/THE-RACE-BEFORE-HER.jpg)
The Race Before Her
For this Olympic champion, success bred her greatest fear. How five verses set her free