The number 25 has become my favourite number. This may seem very odd considering I write today on our 40th wedding anniversary! That is correct, we were married 40 years ago on October 25, 1986!

However, there is so much about 25 in my life that makes it significant:

• I graduated from Bible College on April 25, 1986.

• We decided to get engaged on June 25, 1986.

• We were married on October 25, 1986.

• There is a 25 month age gap between us.

• 25 months after we were married, our son David was born on November 25. We dedicated him to the Lord December 25.

• Side note: His child, our granddaughter was born on December 25.

• When I was 25, our first daughter, Laura Beth was born.

• On January 25, our youngest daughter, Sarah Joy was born.

• We hit a major life crisis when I was 25; the trauma of a church split, subsequent job loss that effectively closed the door to ministry, at least that’s how I saw it at the time.

The door opened to a career in financial planning in March, 1991. One of the most significant events in my career was going through the global financial crisis in 2008. Through it, I found organizations called Advisors with Purpose (AWP) and Kingdom Advisors (KA).

• I subsequently completed the KA Core Training. Surprisingly on October 25, 2012, while at an AWP Conference in Toronto, I purchased the book Money, Possessions & Eternity, by Randy Alcorn. This proved to be transformational in my life.

• When I entered the 25th year of my financial planning career (incidentally when I was 50), I accepted a role that was described this way: “a pastor to advisors.” We moved from Newfoundland to Ontario, which I would never have been able to do without Cathy’s support!

We have together served Christian financial advisors across Canada since then! We have received best wishes from so many and even gifts from the UK as we celebrate our 40th!

Today is the 25th and the morning started with greetings from South Africa, saying this: Congratulations on your 40th anniversary on the 25th day of October 🥳🥳. May God continue to use you both as an example and a blessing to the nations!

The photo of of us taken in South Africa is on a rock near the Cape of Good Hope. The photo of our wedding day includes an amazing depiction of the Master providing direction through rough seas. This has been meaningful in our lives. We had no idea on that day about the rough waters we would navigate or where life would lead us.

We are grateful for the many experiences in this life and we have set our sails to continue this journey together.