I remember going whitewater rafting with a large group years ago, and we were lucky enough to get the most seasoned raft guide. He’d lived there on the banks of the river for 30 years, skin weathered by the sun, hair to prove it, and he knew every inch of those level 4 rapids. We knew we were in good hands.

Married for the first time in my mid-thirties, I was excited for the journey. But there was a lot of change. It was big city life to rural America. It was church of 13,000 to town of 7,000. It was single, independent woman, to married mom of 3. Career to stay at home mom. Beaches to cornfields. Lots of cornfields.