All Your Gifts

In 2015, everything changed for Joanne Craven. Her life was just beginning the golden years with her husband Bob. They married on April 16, 1977, in a small town called Itasca in Illinois, at the Bethany Church. Their love was so strong, nothing could break them apart. Love can conquer everything, or so she thought. 2015 - Bob and Joanne had plans to retire soon. Bob was approaching 65 years of age and their children were all grown. They had a beautiful home on a lake that they built on land purchased when the children were young. With two grandchildren and just getting news that a third one was going to be born, they took a trip to Florida to witness the birth of their first grandson, and first boy in the family. Life seemed perfect. But the year 1969 came back to haunt them. The year Bob went to Camp Lejeune for Naval Hospital Corps School. He made wonderful ties with a fellow Corpsman, John H. Swift, and through the years ahead, they corresponded with the hand written letter very seldom used today. 13 letters in all, Joanne found later tucked away together in a drawer. She never could have imagined what those letters would bring to her.