Our first year, like most young married couples, was filled with getting to know the real us. I would discover his passion for hunting. I already knew that being one with nature was part of him. Our honeymoon took us to the north shore of Minnesota, but it was bow hunting season in Wisconsin. I knew that, because we planned our wedding to avoid opening day of the season. Still, on that romantic trip, we stopped at my grandparent’s farm and Paul went hunting. I went along and sat in the car reading a book as I waitied for him to return with a huge deer. Time went by – maybe an hour or so. I had visions of his being trapped in quicksand with no way out. I thought maybe a wild animal was gnawing on his arm. In my panic, you’d think I would get out to look for him, but instead, I beeped the horn. Within minutes he appeared from the woods in a rage. It seems he had just drawn his bow and was ready to shoot a magnificent animal, when I laid on the horn. The incident almost ended our marriage, then and there.

As for me, I’ve always lacked self-confidence. When we would attend his work functions together, I always felt inadequate and out of place. He displayed confidence and could strike up a conversation with anyone. I always admired that trait in him. Eventually some of it began to rub off on me.

His love of hunting would become a seasonal event each year. I’d find dead pheasants in the refrigerator – with feathers and other parts completely in place. I became accustomed to weekend hunting adventures without me. Many times, he would come home empty handed, but in the midst of it all, he was getting a taste of another thing he loved – God’s beautiful creation. I discovered that this nature boy of mine, knew so much about flora and fauna, he could even come up with a cure for something out there in the woods.

During those first few years, we learned to be patient with each other as well as with our challenges in the workplace. He was working for a printing company, setting type like Ben Franklin once did. He was learning all the tools of the trade. I was trying to figure out the scribbles of my shorthand and learning how to adapt to my career in the business world. He was making $1.50 an hour and I brought home $1.25 and hour. Between the two of us, we had enough to pay the rent and eat. We bought our first house for $14,000 a few years later. We created three new lives during those early years. I became a housewife. The jobs on the ladder to success were many. We moved from Milwaukee to Appleton, Wisconsin. A few years later, we moved to Minneapolis. All of our moves took us to new jobs and new churches. We became involved in all of them. Most of our friendships came from our Sunday gatherings.

During my years as a housewife, there were times when I felt trapped. Most mothers do, I think. Especially when this is their full-time career. You go through changing diapers, cleaning up messes, trying to find time to teach, cuddle, read to and love your children, but often neglect yourself in the process. Dirty dishes would sit in the sink until suppertime. Chores would go undone in order to take a sick child to a doctor’s appointment. Potty training – sewing clothes rather than buying them – making sure they were healthy and happy – having a hot meal on the table. All of that was an amazing part of my personal growth. I had a family that depended on me for those things. Still, I felt unfulfilled. Mainly because the budget was exceeding the income. I felt I should be contributing. Eventually I was able to take jobs that would allow Paul to be home with our children while I worked a part time job at night.

During that time in Appleton, we experienced challenges, roadblocks and loss. Our family was growing, our struggles always led us to prayer as we muddled through. I could write a whole book about our children, but that will have to wait. This story is about us. I think every marriage goes through some rocky roads along the way, but if you share a common faith, you have much more of a chance for success. Maybe it won’t be material success, wealth or notoriety, but the one thing that matters most to both of you – your relationship with God will continue to grow. Ours wasn’t without problems though. We came from different backgrounds and many of those old habits wouldn’t change for a long time.

Paul was on the road to success. His years of training in printing, publishing, art, advertising, graphic design would allow him to eventually start his own business. By this time our kids were all in school and I started to focus on something I loved doing as a child. I became a volunteer drama director for our children’s high school. This would lead me back to school myself. I discovered that I could still write scripts. produce and direct them and be with my children while doing it. A win-win situation.

And then the bottom fell out . . . .