Rebuilding my life and starting over, I carried with me a lifelong passion for service, wanting to find a new way to help and uplift others. With faith, determination and the support of loved ones, I learned you can overcome even the most challenging of circumstances.

 

After enduring one of the most challenging periods of my life, a profound transformation awaited me. Years spent traversing the globe for ministry work and grappling with the devastating loss of my wife, Jill, to cancer had left me emotionally and physically drained. 

 

Yet, amidst the grief, I found solace in the unwavering support of loved ones and was motivated to provide the best life I could to my son, William. Determined to forge a path forward, I embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery, guided by the belief that even in the darkest of times, there exists the potential for renewal.

 

Jill and I shared a deep-seated passion for making a difference and a thirst for adventure, which led us on mission trips to Thailand and Peru. Through our ministry work, I began helping with pharmacy issues in remote villages. Noticing that illiterate people couldn’t read when they should take their medications, I created a disposable medicine distribution system called Medicine Pak.

 

Thailand represented so many positive experiences in our lives. We even had our son, William, there. However, it was during our time in Thailand that Jill got sick. We learned she had relapsed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma—our world was turned upside down in an instant.

 

We returned to Montana so she could be surrounded by loved ones through her treatments. Jill passed away at the age of 33—it was a devastating loss. As a father, my focus was on staying strong for our son.

 

The years spent traveling for ministry and caring for Jill had taken their toll, completely wearing me down. As I grappled with the enormity of my loss, I made a conscious decision to slow down and focus on helping my son while defining our new normal. 

 

It was important to me to continue making the most of life. Coming out of ministry, it was hard to identify the right path forward. I was working with a construction company, doing high-end marketing. This often required me to travel, walk the job sites, speak with investors and learn about the building and construction process. It was a big shift from my past, but it gave me a way to provide for us as we healed.

 

Meeting Hanna, my wife, marked a pivotal moment in my life. Our connection was instant, and we knew we had a great future ahead of us. We embarked on a new journey together, getting married and expanding our family. With a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose, Hanna and I decided to make a bold move to California, where she is from. It was a chance to take all the positives from my past and use it to help write the next chapter of our lives. 

 

Part of this change included a new career in real estate—a profession that brought together the empathy and compassion from ministry with the knowledge gained through construction marketing. With each deal closed and each family settled into their new home, I feel a profound sense of fulfillment. My life has been defined by service, and real estate has become yet another avenue for me to lead a purpose-driven life. 

 

Today, we have four kids: William, Plum, Jonah, and Juniper—our family is the ultimate blessing in my life. William is passionate about the medical field and has taken on the challenge to make a difference in the world of Oncology. He is an intern at Huntington Hospital and was accepted into the HMRI STEM High School Program. Our three youngest attend Sierra Madre Elementary and love Jujutsu. Real estate has given me the opportunity to be a very involved father and husband, taking care of the people who matter most to me while also serving my community!

 

In rebuilding my life, I've discovered that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light waiting to guide us home.

 

Coming from a pastoral background, I cherish the opportunity to assist clients in navigating significant life choices, much like I had done in ministry. Whether it was helping buyers find their dream homes or calming anxious clients amidst uncertainty, my role is to provide unwavering support and reassurance. This ability to stay composed in tense situations, ensuring clients' well-being above all else, became my defining strength.

 

With a background working in construction, I have a great understanding of how to address issues in a home and have connections with many of the best builders and service providers in the area. There have been several instances where I have shown a property where, at first glance, it looks like it's beyond repair, but with the right vision and strategy, it transforms into something truly remarkable. Clients trust my judgment because they understand the potential I see, and together, we turn those opportunities into successful deals. My relentless work ethic, something I attribute to my Montana upbringing, coupled with my passion for helping people, is how I have helped countless individuals and families achieve their real estate goals!

 

Sincerely,

 

James Peddie
REALTOR® | DRE# 01942468
626.375.1731
Jpeddie@kw.com
www.jamespeddie.com