I was 22 and she was 18 when we met. She was my first love, I was hers. The attraction was instant, and it wasn’t long before we both knew what we wanted, and we got married a few months later. There was only one problem. She was ready…I wasn’t. It ended after a year and a half and she soon faded from my life completely, but never from my heart or my mind. 40 years later… It was this past May, the evening of my birthday & I was sitting with my laptop responding to birthday wishes, when messenger opened and there she was. I was guarded at first. The ending wasn’t pretty 40 years ago (my fault) and I didn’t know what to expect or why after all this time she would look for me, but the conversation continued. It didn’t take long before I knew this was a God thing. I didn’t know why then, but I do now. Eventually we both knew it was time to take away the phones and computer screens & meet person to person. The minute I laid eyes on her, 40 years melted away. She was as beautiful today as she was back then, and it didn’t take long to realize I was right where He intended me to be and with the one He had chosen for me from the beginning. I recently wrote a post after watching the movie “I Can Only Imagine” in which I said; “I can only imagine what my life would have been like if I could have found the strength then to face my past…the pain, anger, hurt, hatred, fear and deal with it; if I would have let God do what only He can do instead of running from Him; and if I could have been open to the possibility of forgiveness and healing.” Well…I no longer have to “imagine." Yes…our journey has had many twists and turns. At times I gave up, but as we both look back now we realize it all was leading us right back to where He always intended us to be, blessing me (and Andy) again with this amazing partnership with which we can finish out this journey called life! I would go through it all again…to be where I am today! ~Steven (with Andy's additions and blessing)