“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Believe it or not, this was the quote that I used in my high school yearbook to accompany my senior picture. Being only 17 at the time, I really had no idea that this would be one of the Bible verses that would be important in guiding me throughout my life and journey with the Lord.  It was actually that spring of my senior year in 1981 that I met John while we were both on a “Come and See” weekend at the  college we would both attend that coming fall. Little did I know that this meeting was all part of God’s plan and that placing my trust in Him would lead me on the path that He planned for John and me on our journey together. So, it all began 43 years ago today and then 4 years later we would get married and head to Milwaukee where John would start his graduate studies at Marquette.  We have had so many blessings and many crosses as well in our marriage. All of them are gifts to help us know His love and presence in our lives,  including 5 children and 12 grandchildren so far. I will admit that our life isn’t always easy and I certainly don’t understand why God allows such  suffering, but I do still believe that they are all gifts from God and I wouldn’t trade them for anything different. I know that it is through my joys and especially through my crosses that I have been given the grace to experience the love of God and to place my trust in Him. As I trust in Him, He continues to guide me on this journey towards eternal life. I am excited to see where He will lead us next.