The First Time I Saw Him...

It has been fun to think back on the past few months and see what all God has done! To see His hand along this journey is overwhelming at times. I have never felt the love and peace of our Father like I have in the past few months. In the mist of all the changes and adjustments, and those still yet to come, I can feel God's mighty hand of protection over us. His Spirit leads and guides us as we walk.  

In just a few short months there are already so many great memories! I will never forget the feeling of driving to Omaha to meet Nathaniel in person for the first time. With today's technology we were able to Skype everyday for the two weeks leading up to this day but there was still an excitement that words can not describe. I remember thinking to myself, "This is really happening! You are going to Omaha to meet this man! This is crazy!" But the smile on my face and the feeling of my heart about to jump out of my chest allowed me to keep going. There was something about this man that was different from any other. His love and devotion to the Lord shines, captivating me from day one. As I drove I tried to play it out in my head what seeing him for the first time would be like. As I pulled up the airport he was sitting outside waiting. I saw him and my heart skipped a beat (or two or three) I got out of the car to say hi and give him a hug. I have to admit that in the excitement of seeing him, I may have froze a little and wasn't sure what to do. But we laugh about it now holding that memory deep in our hearts. After we got his things in the car we set off to find a place to eat. Where else would you go on your first date other then to Buffalo Wild Wings! One of my favorites! Right away there was something that caught me off guard. Those who know me know that I am not one to be able to look people in the eye for long periods of time. As we sat there waiting for our food I found myself looking in his eyes and not wanting to look away. At one point I poked him saying, "You are really here! Your not just a computer screen." Conversation was easy. It was like we had known each other for a long time. Here he was in Omaha NE at Buffalo Wild Wings what more could a girl want! 

After lunch we made our way to the zoo not before stopping at the hotel for Nathaniel to get checked in. We had a great time walking around the zoo looking at all the animals. My favorite part of the zoo is the penguins. I kept asking if we could go to look at the penguins and he kept telling me no. Finally after sitting in front of the polar bears for a while he agreed to go to the penguins. As we made our way there we stopped to look at the cheetahs. We soon realized that there were no cheetahs to look at yet continued to stand there for a while. We began to talk about what God had done in bringing the two of us together. He asked me what I thought about it all and my thoughts about the boys, about serving in ministry together and the different opportunities put before us. Several people came up to see what we were looking at only to get there and say, "Oh, there is nothing here" as they turned around and walked away, probably wondering what we were still standing there for. We talked for almost an hour, looking at cheetahs that weren't there. Then Nathaniel turned and looked at me saying, "I bought you something. I bought you a promise ring!" Then after a short pause and a caring look on his face he said, "Is that okay?" I looked at him with a smile on my face replying, "I think that's okay. Yeah, that's okay!" He explained to me that this was a sign from him saying that he was committed to seeing this relationship through to marriage. As I excepted it from him I said the same thing back. I was going to wear the ring on my right hand at first (as I needed to talk to some family members and key people at the church first) but it would not fit. It only fit on the ring finger of my left hand! It was then that I found out the reason for needing to check in to the hotel first. He had ordered the ring and it wasn't going to make it to Tennessee in time. After talking with them they said they could have the ring shipped to the hotel in Omaha. He said that he knew if it was there on time he was suppose to give it to me. He place the ring on my finger giving me a hug and kiss! I told Nathaniel later for me to let him kiss me was a big deal. In all of my 26 years of life I had never kissed a guy. So for me to allow that to happen was huge. I can see how God has preserved me in that way over the years. Sure there were times when I could have kissed a guy and for what ever reason I had not allowed it to happen making this moment so much more special. After one more kiss and a big smile on my face I looked up at him and said, "Now can we go look at the penguins!" We both laughed as he said, "Yes, now we can go see the penguins." 

The rest of the day was perfect just enjoying each other's company. After dropping him off at the hotel my mind and heart were racing as I drove to a friends house for the night. In a state of shock I began to realize that my life was about to change! Right away after walking into my friends house she saw the ring and excitement filled her voice and we stayed up into the late night hours talking. 

We spent Saturday talking and hanging out. My heart was beaming as I began to get to know this man even more. As we were driving to the book store he saw some airplanes flying over head. He rolled down his window so he could hear the sound of the engines. We found the little airport and watched the planes as they landed. Nathaniel is a pilot himself. It was fun to watch the look on his face and listen to him explain exactly what they were doing. After lunch at Culver's and a walk around the lake it was time to take him back to the airport. It was hard to say good buy. As he walked away I was over come with emotion. Tears streamed down my face, but they were tears of joy. I watched him and said to myself, "There goes my Marine! He's mine!" Then as I drove out of the parking garage it hit me, I was falling in love with a Marine. He had my heart then and there! 

I spent the drive home telling my parents all about the weekend. Having only told them about Nathaniel a couple of days before there was excitement in their voice. I knew they might have some concerns and think that I was a little crazy but I also knew that my parents trusted me and would support me in my decision as they always have. They have prayed, as well as many other friends and family, for God to bring a wonderful man into my life. Seeing God now answer those prayers has been overwhelming at times. (in my first post i explained in my letter a phone call with my aunt and a conversation with my mom.) God is faithful to fulfill the desires of our hearts when they are in line with His will and He does so at just the right moment!

Below is a picture we took at the zoo after he gave me the promise ring! 

This picture was taken during our Omaha trip as well. 

A note from Nathaniel

This is a note that Nathaniel wrote telling family and friends our story.

Victorious Journey

by Nathaniel McClung on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 1:35am ·

The last week of her life changed me forever. We said our final I love you and goodbye while holding out for a miracle that would change the tragedy into one of great triumph. Her transition was peaceful and the thought of her rejoicing in heaven brings great joy to my heart. What was left here was family, friends, and a father with three handsome boys. I did not realize the road that awaited the boys and I. I was only certain of one thing, God's faithfulness! My enemy was not God and would never be. There is an enemy but it is not our loving Father! Through the prayers and support of many the boys and I began the new life that was thrust upon us with full faith and reliance upon God. Quitting was not an option. As heaven cheered us on we determined to create stepping stones out of each new obstacle we faced. There have been too many to mention. There was no single book to explain the process required for us to heal but I believe the many lessons learned over the course of these last months would be sufficient enough to fill one. Heaven and three boys motivated me to press through the adversity and see the hand of the Lord work on our behalf. That He has done, time and time again. The appropriate wisdom, grace and peace have always been on time for us and very sufficient. After following the steps of healing that the Lord led me through I received a peace to begin the process of finding a needed helpmate. In full agreement with my sons the journey began with great caution and optimisem. We would not settle for anything less than Heaven's best for us. I stood on the promise of PS 146.9. In the Hebrew the word relieve means restore within this text. My heart lept for joy because I knew that His word is true and never fails. The search began after a three month period of fasting, prayer and healing. Although not easy I knew, as I told the boys, the process would have to begin at some point. I did not want to date and was not willing to settle for anyone who was settling for me. They had to know the Lord and be able to hear His voice in response to our prayers to the Lord. She would be a gift from heaven in response to many prayers and that meant she would be very very special. She would deserve the utmost respect and adoration from her four men and those connected to them for answering the call of God's restoration plan.
That brings me to this time and place. I decided, with good council, to place a very descriptive profile on a good Christian website in order to find the right one for our lives. I wanted to someone ministry minded, single without children, and one who loved the Lord more than anything else. I also wanted to make sure that this person realized what a blessing awaited them because of the impact that our Lady had left upon our lives. She left fingerprints of greatness wherever she went. Only God could pick someone to fulfill the required role of raising and nurturing three boys as her very own. Only God could pick someone who would love a man who had once enjoyed many moments of heaven on earth during his first marriage. Her heart would have to be sweet and sincere. God is faithful and His grace is sufficient. We believe that He has answered our prayers. I have met our answer from heaven. I felt the leading of the Lord from the very beginning of this relationship. Not relying on my own understanding, which has been a great lesson learned during the course of this journey, has allowed me to fall in love with a lovely Christian woman from Nebraska. The boys and I are overjoyed concerning the preciousness that God has displayed towards us in His answer to our prayers. Her name is Eden, like the garden! The garden that should remind us of the restoration that Jesus has paid for through His precious blood. She is beautiful. She is a children's minister and has saved herself for only one man whom she believes is me. I am humbled and blessed to know such a Lady. It has been a great story of restoration and healing. Knowing Mandy is completely restored and watching from heaven has helped us move forward and allow God to lead us to this place of salvation. I hope God's hand in bringing someone this special into our lives inspires those who have been praying for the boys and I. Know that we are excited and look forward to your love and acceptance of Eden. She has walked with the Lord and made so many impacts for Christ. She has been a huge blessing to her church, family and many friends. In their eyes and mine, she is an angel. God has been so faithful to answer the prayers spoken over us, to include Mandy's, Eden's, the Boys, and mine. She is from Norfolk NE which at one time I believed was in Virginia. So know that NE stands for Nebraska. My trips to Nebraska have been marked with many blessings and been well worth it. I never planned to go to Nebraska in my life but am very very excited that I took the steps of faith to go after what God had given the boys and I peace about, Eden. In an effort to shorten this letter I will cut to the chase... I have proposed to Eden and she accepted. We will marry in September of this year! I hope this excites you as much as it does Benjamin, age five... and me. We are ready to see the next chapter in our lives written for the glory of the Lord. We know that the road has had many challenges but God has been faithful as we knew He would. His wisdom that we all can freely ask for is needed for the fulfillment of His restoration plan for us. We look forward to seeing the continued salvation of the Lord and His grace and mercy upon our lives.
In His Care,
Nathaniel

ps I thank you all in advance for your love, acceptance and wisdom towards our answer from heaven, Eden. We are believing for great strength, courage, and decernment from the Lord, our families and our friends. We serve a God who masters in turning trajedies into triumphs, impossibilities into possibilities and insurmountable obstacles into paths of greatness and victory. This is the great liberty that we have through the finished work of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. Blessings!

New Chapters...

I never thought I would start a blog, but here I am. With God opening new doors in my life there is excitement to see what He has in store as He writes the stories of our lives with His pen of mercy. I am about to start a new chapter of my life. One in which God was been waiting till just the right time to open and read. Many have told me to write this chapter of my life out and thus the reason I decided to start this blog.

At the age of 26 I have been waiting to find the man I would call husband. It has not been an easy wait. At times I would get mad at God, telling Him I would be single if He called me to but He would have to take away the desire to have a family away. I would battle between being content and not being content. I only dated a few guys over the years. At points I would think that they might be the one but each time God would close the doors. I have to admit that there were times when I would then allow satan to get into my mind and beat me down to a self esteem low. Each time God would come along side of me and bring me up again. Earlier this year (2012) God allowed me to go through yet another scenario of wondering if this guy could be the one. I remember laying in bed one night and just asking God to open or close the door for His will to be done. He once again closed the door, leaving me to wonder what else He would have me learn, how much longer I was going to have to wait. But there was something different this time. I stronger more confidant Eden started to emerge. Instead of letting satan in to beat me once again I stood strong and told him "NO, you are not allowed here anymore." I was done with his games and tricks and would not take it any more. God relieved to me the strong person that was within me. I could feel the Lord with me and knew He was working on me. He was showing me a few things: His timing is perfect, and to get out of my comfort zone. This leads us to this next chapter in which God has relieved His faithfulness. Early in April God opened a new door with a whole new adventure. Through this door God has brought into my life a wonderful Christian man. His name in Nathaniel, and unlike the others there was a part of me that knew from the very beginning that he would be the man who changed my life.

Below is something I wrote to my family and friends to tell them our story!

To my Family and Friends,

God has been doing some pretty amazing things in my life lately and I want to take a few minutes to tell you about it. 2012 has been a year of tears and grief, peace and hope, and great joy. The year started off hard with my Grandma Arnold in the hospital and then taking that final journey home to be with her Lord on January 7th. My heart was broken that the thought of her no longer being here with us but also filled with great peace in knowing that she is no longer frightened and confused. She is HOME with her Savior with her perfect mind! So I rejoice in that! Between my mom and my dad’s side of the families we had four deaths of the older generation in January and February. It got to where I didn’t want to answer the phone anymore for fear there would be another funeral. But God is good and he brought us all through.  Through it all God reviled to me what wonderful and faithful families I am blessed to be a part of.

I started to see some changes in myself. A stronger and more confident Eden was coming out of her shell. God called me to speak at a women’s retreat in Lincoln. My first reaction was NO Way God. But He would not take no for an answer. It was both a blessing and a grow experience to be able to go back to Lincoln and share God’s word with the ladies. God has had three themes for me this year. First one being, this is not our home. With Alzheimer’s my grandma did not remember much but there is one thing she never forgot, she never forgot the God loved her and that her real home was in heaven! The second theme is, waiting in His perfect timing. And the third themes is, get out of your comfort zone!

I am so excited to tell you about this next part. I wish I had the time to call you all and tell you all about it. But I will try not take up too much of your time and keep it short.

God has brought into my life a wonderful man! His name is Nathaniel McClung. He is 35 years old and  is a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps. He is a widower and has 3 adorable little boys. (Ben 5, Jon 10, and Caleb 11). The first thing that I saw in him was the Lord! He is a wonderful Christian man who lives each day walking with God and seeking Him.

Now I know this is going to come as a shock to most of you. Believe me it was a shock to me too. No one is more shocked then me but our God is good and He is faithful!

How did we meet? We actually meet online. I know this is going to sound weird but one night I was at home working on cakes, was on the computer and it literally felt like someone picked me up out of my body set me off to the side got on Christian Mingle and put me back. When I had realized what had just happened and what I did, I actually scolded myself, saying “Eden what did you just do? You said you would never do that again!” (I had done the eHarmony thing about a year and a half ago and it was not a good experience) After the initial reaction and yelling at myself I decided to go with it for a while. Just a couple of days into it Nathaniel started communicating with me. When I looked at his profile and read his description there was something that made my heart skip a beat and I was just in awe.  We started chatting online, emailing and then talking on the phone. Not too long into it we started skype. We literally skpyed for 2 weeks from 9pm to 4am. How we were able to function I am not sure. Only by the grace of God. We eventually settled on meeting in Omaha. I picked him up from the airport on April 20th. We went and ate and then headed to the zoo. It was a great weekend. We just hung out like we had been friends for a long time. In Omaha he gave me a promise ring as a sign to me saying that he was committed to seeing this relationship toward marriage. I accepted the ring saying the same thing back to him. It was hard to see him walk away when I dropped him off at the airport that weekend. I knew then that this was God’s plan. As he walked away I cried saying to myself, “There goes my Marine! He’s mine!” I had been swept off my feet by this man who is a man of courage and a perfect gentleman.

God has shown up in so many ways it is hard to tell you about all of them in just a short message. From the very beginning He was there leading and guiding . After I got back from Omaha I knew I needed to start telling a few key people. I talked to close family (I did tell my parents and brother before Omaha. Didn’t want to shock them too much!) When I called my aunt and began to tell her about Nathaniel she stopped me in mid sentence (I had not yet got to the part about meeting him in Omaha) and said “Eden, Eden, this is so weird. I was laying in bed the other night not able to sleep and you just popped into my head. And I started to pray for you saying, ‘God, Eden is such a beautiful person inside and out, she is working hard on this work out program and trying to take care of herself. You have to have a wonderful man out there for her, bring him to her bring him to her.” Then she said, “Eden this was like Friday night!” At this point I am balling. And I said “Aunt Krissie, do you know where I was on Friday night? I was in Omaha meeting him. Nathaniel was here in Nebraska on Friday!” We cried together rejoicing in God’s goodness.

That night I made my way to the Defor house. I knew I had to let Tim (lead minister at FCC) in on what was happening. I had already told the story to Julie so she was able to tip him off before I got there. The hardest part of this whole thing was the thought of leaving my First Christian family. But God had filled me with His great peace in knowing that He has it all under control and that He was not only taking care of me and Nathaniel but that He was also going to take care of FCC. I know from the bottom of my heart that God brought me to First Christian for a reason and that He is and has been preparing the person that will come in behind me. It was hard to talk to Tim. I had told him over and over that I planned on staying in Norfolk for a long time, and at the time I thought that I would. If you would have told me that God was going to do this in my life I would not have believed you. There were lots of tears (on my part) but Tim was very gracious and understanding. We told the rest of the staff the next day and the elders at the next elder meeting. Everyone was shocked but I kept telling people, “No one is more shocked by this then me!”

This next part is what sold me. If there was any doubt in me that this was God’s plan it went out the window with this one. I was talking to my mom one night and she said she didn't know if she should tell me or if she would tell me without crying ever so she just told me. She said that a few months (this would have been about a month before I got on Christian Mingle) ago she was just sitting at home not doing a whole lot and just started thinking about me, and wanting God to bring a wonderful guy into my life (something I know she had thought about lots of times before) anyway she just started to envision what that might look like. And she picture a man and a little boy walking into the church foyer. It was their first time visiting the church.  I introduced myself to him as the children's minister and started to show him and the boy around. I started to give them a tour of the building and as we walked the little boy wanted me to hold him. We continued walking and soon the little boy laid his head on my shoulder and the father was amazed at how quickly the boy warmed up to me because he usually didn’t do that with people he didn’t know. As we walked toward the children's space and I started to tell him about the program and the check in process, how it worked and who would be authorized to pick the boy up, "you or your wife" and the man said "my wife died last year from cancer" (Nathaniel’s first wife died from cancer last year) then mom told me at the point she stopped and told God "I don’t want him to have to suffer great loss in order for Eden to find him" but she knew that she didn't want me to come into a situation of someone who was devoiced or didn't love the Lord. The she said "two months ago I envisioned for you a widower with an established family." She said "I know I didn't have it perfect. (He is not here in Norfolk and there are 3 boys instead of one) but she knew that was not something she could imagine on her own. My mom said that she has peace because she knows this is God plan for me and everything she has prayed for in a man for me has been answered. At this point my mouth is to the floor. I could not believe what she had just told me. I again found myself rejoicing over God’s faithfulness and goodness. To know that my mom was filled with the same peace that I had meant a lot to me. We are similar in that we would normally be freaking out over something like this, but God filled both of our hearts with Him.

Over the next few weeks Nathaniel and I continued to talk on the phone, text and skype. I skyped with the boys at different times and began to also fall in love with each of them. Nathaniel was wise in the way that he communicated and let them know what was going on from the very beginning. God showed the two older boys and at one point that this was God’s plan. They both told their dad, “Dad, I have been praying for you and praying for Miss Eden and God has told me she is the one.” When Nathaniel told little Ben what was going he lit up and got so excited. He called me and I could hear Nathaniel say “Ben tell Miss Eden what you found out tonight?” then I hear Ben so excitedly say, “Your going to be my new mom!” at that point he began to carry the phone around the house with him. Saying things like, “I am going to set you down here ok Miss Eden. I’m going to play the piano for you ok, Miss Eden.” He then would play and pause for a moment to say “Miss Eden are you still there?” “Yes, Ben I’m still here that sounds great!” Then he would sing for me and pause again saying, “Miss Eden are you still there?” From that moment I enjoy talking with Ben each day to hear him say, “Miss Eden how was your day?” Or he will tell me that I am beautiful and sweet! He just melts my heart!

Nathaniel made a second trip to Nebraska last week on May 10th. While he was here we spent the weekend meeting family and friends. One couple I knew I wanted him to meet was the Porter’s in Lincoln. Doug and Kathy Porter were my host family during my year long internship at Capitol City Christian Church in Lincoln. Their story is something similar to Nathaniel and I’s. Doug’s first wife died of cancer and he was married to Kathy not too long after he lost his wife. He had 3 girls and Kathy had one girl and a boy. Shortly after I started talking with Nathaniel I knew I needed to call Kathy. I asked her and Doug to begin praying and to offer any advice that they might have. I have gleaned so much from them already. They have remained close family friends and I am so thankful that I got to know them and spend that year with them. (I also realized that one of my host families that I lived with in Omaha has a story very similar. His wife died of cancer and he remarried quickly) I can see now that God put me in both of those homes for a reason. He was preparing me for what was to come.

Thursday night we headed to Trumbull NE to meet my parents and grandpa. They were all excited to meet Nathaniel. For me my favorite part was my grandpa. He just lit up from the moment we walked in the door. He was just giddy happy! Through the course of the evening we all ended up down in the living room talking. And out of nowhere Nathaniel looked at my dad and said “I want to marry your daughter” (now I knew that he wanted to talk to my dad, and I knew he had a different ring but was just not expecting him to say something in front of me, my mom, and grandpa) Before my dad said anything we hear Grandpa from his chair say “You’ve got my vote!!!” To hear my grandpa say that meant so much to me! I already knew what my parents were going to say and in some ways my grandpa’s opinion means more to me than my parents. The only thing he wanted was for my grandma to be here to see it. I told him that I did too but that she was watching. And Nathaniel also said “Heaven is watching.”

After my parents left to go home, at 2:30am and grandpa went to bed, Nathaniel and I talked for a little while longer. It was a little before 3am when he went up to his bag and got this little blue box. We made our way back down to the living room. He got down on one knee! He prayed and then proposed. Now I wish that I could remember everything that he said but I don’t. I know he said I would be a good mother for his boys, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and would be honored to have me as his wife. Then he asked me to marry him! And I said YES!!! He opened the little blue box and explained the significance of the ring. He had looked at rings for over an hour. He found a diamond that he liked in a standalone engagement ring. The lady was showing him other rings that he could put the diamond in. Then she pulled out the ring and he said he knew as soon as he saw the 4 diamonds. (picture attached at bottom) he said “the four represented your men (the 3 boys and I) and the one represents that you are the diamond of our world, a blessing from heaven and the glory of your husband!”

Nathaniel and I then stayed up until 5am! I told him (crying) how thankful I was that he ended up talking to all of us and not just my dad. And how much it meant to me to hear my grandpa say, “you’ve got my vote!” He said that meant a lot to him too. I looked at Nathaniel and told him I knew that Grandpa wanted Grandma here, but I said “Nathaniel, this would not be happening if she was here.” When my grandma got sick with Alzheimer’s I knew I would never leave NE. I could not handle being away for a long period of time and come back and not have her know who I was. We never got to that point. She might not have known my name but she knew we were family. And I believe that she has had some part of writing this story from heaven.  

The rest of the weekend was fun. We made our way to McCook so that Nathaniel could meet my brother  Evan and his wife and two girls. We also went to my aunt’s house for him to meet all of them as well. While we were there they were asking him where he was from. When they found out he was from Indiana David (my cousins husband) asked him if he knew anyone from Berne. Nathaniel was thinking to himself “did he just say Berne?” Knowing where Berne is like knowing where Culbertson NE is, a small town that no one knows where it is. Nathaniel said he knew where it was. David then explained that their minister (from the church in Culberson) was from Berne and that there was a Ben Neuenschwander from their church that was from Berne. As conversation goes on Nathaniel tells us that his step mother was a Neuenschwander and that he had worked with their minister one summer in Berne. We then found out from his step mother that their minister was her first cousin. Those were some crazy connections. After my cousin was in church on Sunday she sent me a text saying that they realized that they as a church had been praying for Nathaniel and his boys since his wife, Mandy, gotten sick. And that they had really began praying for them after she started to get bad last fall. This was overwhelming for both Nathaniel and I. We were completely awestruck at the ways in which God has worked in both of our lives and how He was connecting us even through their prayers for him and his family. His goodness is so great! Nathaniel told the boys from day one that our God was a God of restoration.

There is so much more to this story but it has gotten long already. I will go to TN to meet the boys in person next week for memorial weekend. I am so excited and can’t wait to spend some time getting to know them. Nathaniel and I feel so blessed and honored to be part of each other’s lives. We know that God is the one who is writing our story and it is greater than we could have ever imagined. We have built our relationship on Him and know that as long as we lean on Him and His word we will have a wonderful life together. I have waited a long time for God to bring the right man into my life. After talking to my mom she said, “He might be the one who was worth waiting for.” I believe that with all my heart. I have never had a “list” of what I wanted in a man, but there were two things I knew I had to have. He has to love Jesus more than me and I wanted someone who would be the head of the household. Nathaniel fits both of those. We look forward to building our lives together and fulfilling the ministries that God has place within us. Our number one priority is to reflect Jesus Christ in everything we do to the glory of God our Father.

We will be getting married September 1, 2012! We are not yet sure where we will end up as Nathaniel will be receiving orders to be relocated this fall. We asked for your prayers as we start this new chapter of our lives. We understand the uniqueness of the situation, but more importantly we understand that as we trust in the Lord he will continually show us His gracious hand, loving kindness and pen of mercy. As the Lord’s hand continues to write with mercy’s pen we look forward to seeing His plan of restoration fulfilled in our lives.

In Him,

Eden

It has been quite the journey so far. Since the time that I wrote this letter I have been to TN to meet the boys, Nathaniel made one more trip to NE himself before making the long drive with the boys for a two week stay in NE. I have been so greatly blessed by this man and his three boys and can't wait to see the rest of the story God is continuing to write!