25 Years Ago … TODAY

25 years ago … a quarter-century ago … I did the smartest thing I’ve ever done (besides accept Christ as my Savior).  I married my best friend.

Life has been quite an adventure since then.  In every way, Diana has been the perfect compliment to me and my weaknesses…  When we married, I was starting a career I loved as a computer programmer.  We had planned to build a house on a couple of acres my mom and dad gave us adjacent to their property (when we could afford it).  Life was all mapped out and we were good with it.

About one month after our wedding, my mom was diagnosed with cancer.  She had a tough battle, and Diana was right there with me helping.  And it was hard.  They say the first year of marriage is tough, and ours was really hard.  Mom got on the road to recovery (and has done very well since) and life resumed … until God called a couple of years later.

After I ran from His call for a while, life took us to New Orleans and my being a full-time student.  Diana didn’t flinch at the fact that she would have to find a full-time job (even though we’d been able to afford for her to be a stay-at-home mom with our toddler, Krissy).  Those were some of the toughest times, and also some of the best.

Since those days, life has been quite a roller coaster.  I guess everyone can say that about life, but our roller coaster has had some hills, valleys, and sharp turns that would snap your neck.  And in every unexpected turn, there she is … my wife … holding on tight for the ride and not shaken by any of it.  And able to make sense of it all.

Has life turned out like we dreamed many years ago??  Yes and no.  No, we are not where we’d mapped things out.  But that’s okay.  Because, truth is, we wouldn’t be happy being anywhere but where God wants us to be.  And I thank God for my wife, who not only understands that, but is willing to serve Him right along side me.

So, I know I’m a blessed man!!