After Brad passed away, Jenny was contacted by a few widows/widowers and found comfort in sharing stories with them. She offered that same support to me and I found it very healing to share with someone who had experienced the same loss that I had. She understood the pain that came from losing her spouse and best friend. She also "saw the bigger picture" and trusted that God had a plan for her life.
After a month of emailing back and forth, I called Jenny and we began to converse nightly on the phone. During one of my trips back to Houston to visit family, Chloe and I met Jenny and her kids (Zeke - 7 and Kaelyn - 4). Jenny lives less than 1 mile from the house where Sara grew up (and where Sara's mom still lives).
Jenny, Zeke, and KaelynWhen Chloe and I got out of the car at Jenny's house, Kaelyn met us at the car and asked, "Where is Chloe's mommy?" I told her that Chloe's mommy was in the same place as her daddy. She smiled and nodded...and truly understood. Jenny, Zeke, Kaelyn, Chloe and I spent the afternoon barbecuing and swimming. Our time together felt so natural. We had a lot to talk about and I felt an immediate bond with Jenny and her kids.
During the months that followed, Jenny and I began dating. Soon after Sara died, I began to pray about the future. Though I did not put a list on paper, in my mind I desired my future wife to be a widow. There is an understanding between those who have lost their mates, and I love the fact that Jenny and I can talk openly about Brad and Sara. I love hearing stories about Brad and Jenny's lives together because that has formed who she is.
Over the past months, Jenny and I have spent lots of time together and our relationship has continued to develop.
Guadalupe Peak in west Texas
Christmas in Houston
Sea World
Randolph AFB Banquet
Watching a movieDuring this past week in Lake Tahoe, I asked her to be my wife. We are looking forward to our future together as we mesh our families into one.
To read the Wims' story, go to www.thewims.blogspot.com
239 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 239 of 239Loved reading this. I know your Sara is smiling up in heaven right now. Our God is so good! My heart is very happy for you and your family.
This makes my heart so happy! Congratulations!!!
Dear Brad & Jenny,
I'm Katie Wise Friedman's mom in Denver. Our Katie is now with your spouses in heaven. I'm so very happy you found one another and pray you will grow into the precious family that God has planned. I pray our Jon will one day be blessed in the same way with a new and wonderful soul mate and mother for our Clark & Quinn Kat. Congratulations and may God continue to richly bless you.
I've never posted before but have been following your story since Sara got sick. I am elated for you Brad and so very happy the Lord has brought you a wife. I pray you have many many happy years together. Congratulations!
Congratulations! This story brought tears of joy to my eyes. I am so happy for you guys and pray for only the best. I have enjoyed following your story. Congrats again!
Congratulations!!! What a story. You both look so happy, and so do all the kids. God bless you all and the happiness you have found in each other after such tragedy. I am certain Sara and Brad would be proud!
I am so happy for your entire family!
Isn't God good?? All the time!! :)
Sara and I and a few ladies had a conversation once back in Japan about what would happen if our spouses died. I remember clearly hearing Sara say that if she were to ever die, she'd want you to find happiness, find someone you love to share your life with and that person would honor her memory. It sounds like Sara would be smiling down from heaven about this. Congratulations to you guys.
teresa
Congratulations! What a happy ending to two tragedies! Best of luck!
Congratulations to you both! What wonderful news!! I didn't see this blog until just today (3/25), but it has made my day! I am so very happy for you all! God bless!!
A Great Big CONGRATULATIONS to both of you. I pray that your lives together will be blessed abundantly.
Brady, I am a friend of Jenny's, you are a very lucky man, but I don't have to tell you that;)I have been following your blog since Jen asked for prayers for you. I always say "the lower the valley, the higher the mountain top!" May you enjoy your view from the mountain top!!! God Bless you!!!!
I have browsed through your blog several times over the past couple of years and don't quite remember how I ever got to it in the first place. I said a couple of prayers for you in the last year for you and your spouse if there was one in your future. What a lovely little surprise to see today after not looking at your blog since around Christmas. May God continue to provide and bless you and your new family. Hugs!
Congratulations and God Bless You both. I began reading your blog off and on when Sara was first diagnosed. I just happened to check in today and what a fabulous surprise.
Brady, Chloe, Jenny, Zeke, and Katelyn,
I am so happy that God has helped you all to find each other. It is evident in both of your blogs that there is so much love from all of your families and friends. May God bless you as you move forward in your new lives.
I don't know you but, I have been following your blog for awhile after someone sent it to me for a prayer request. I've never posted a comment...but couldn't help but do so now. I cried when I read about you and Jenny. I was so hoping you would meet someone. God is so good!!! I'm so happy for all of you!!
So I'm a little late in catching up on my favorite blogs. Yours and Chloe's is one of my favorites! Chloe is growing into such a beautiful little girl!!! I am crying while typing because I am so happy for both you and Jenny! I look forward to reading about a great future! If you guys merge your blogs or change to a new one of you together keep us posted! I'm so happy for you all! God is great and glory be to Him!!!
You two are a beautiful couple. I am bad at checking up on blogs but what good news to see that you have found such joy again!
Congratulations!! What a precious family y'all make!!!
Contratulations! You make a beautiful family. God bless.
I started reading your blog just about a week before Sara died after seeing a link posted on Facebook. I graduated from DPHS the year after Sara did.
I'm so happy that you and Jenny found each other. God is so good!!! Many blessings to both of you and all the kids!
I haven't visited your blog in a couple of months. Tonight I thought of you and thought "I need to check in on him and Chloe...I just have a sneaking suspicion there might be some big news." So happy for you and your new family.
I know this is SOOO late but I just came back to your blog after not seeing it for a few months! I am SO excited to see your news! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
you and Chloe have been in my prayers and what a wonderful testament to God's faithfulness!
Congrats again!!!!!!!
yay!!! Congratulations Brad & gang!
It's been a long time since I've checked in with you. I've been thinking about you a lot recently and I just sat down to see how life has been treating you. And, WOW, words cannot say how happy I am for you!!! It's amazing the path life takes us down, not always the one we want, but most definitely the one that is just for us......My heart is crying in joy for you and your family! I know I'm so far removed from you, it's been a long time since I've seen you, your family....but, I just have to say I'm so happy for you!!! I just cannot describe it, what a wonderful feeling! Congrats to you both, May you have a wonderful life.... Truly deserved!! Lots of love from us..Patti & Rob kimmel
I have not checked your blog in months!!! I am so happy for you and your new family! God is just so good, isn't he? Congratulations!!!
Oh my goodness...I am so happy to read this! Our God is so good...to take something so hard and make something beautiful (like your relationship) out of it!
Congratulations to you both!!
Brad and Jenny Congrats to both of you. Please keep us posted on what's going on and how the kids are doing. Been following you brad for 2 years now and anxious to see how Chloe is growing up.
Missing your updates!
We have not had an update on all of you for a long time. Please let us know how everyone is doing. Chloe must be getting so big and also some news on Jenny and her Family.
would love to have an update on all of you. Chloe must be getting so big and would Love to hear about Jenny and her family.
Just wondering......are either of you going to update your blog to your latest information? I check several times a week and nothing????
Congrats, we are waiting on wedding pics.
have you stopped posting about your sweet little girl? will we not hear from you again?
Brad/Jenny,
I have prayed for you often, and was so glad, months ago, to read of your engagement! I continue to include you all in my prayers on random' occasions (God knows when you both need prayer, and I believe He moves through His Spirit to prompt prayers as they are appropriate.) My daughters and I are eagerly awaiting a blog update with your wedding photos! We have also been through challenging times as a family, but it all makes us, as you said, who we are and stronger because of it. My eldest daughter is now on a mission trip in Zambia! (blogspot in my 'follow' list.) Love to you all, in your blessed joined family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I check daily on yours and Jenny's blogs for updates too. I hope everythig is okay. Prayers for you all and I look forward to hearing how things are going!
I went to school with Jay Sullivan and learned about your blog through a prayer request on fb. I have followed ever since. Our God is so good! Brady, you and Jenny are truly amazing people of God. I honestly pray that I will not be in the shoes you two have walked in but if I do find myself there I will be as strong, faithful and hopeful in our God as you four (Brad and Sara) have been. Your kids are so blessed to have parents like you. Congratulations to you guys. Please give us an update soon.
I have a prayer request, Steve Richardson is battling melanoma cancer in his brain. He had a scan last week and six new tumors were found over a two month time. They are looking to seek treatment out of the country. Please pray for this family.
This is the most amazing true life love story I've ever read in my life. My daughter has cancer and I came upon your blog...and have been reading it for an hour. Sara was such a warrior, God's Warrior. Your story only strengthens my belief in God's timing. Through the dust and ashes, the pheonix rises. Congratulations and best wishes for a beautiful life together.
OH WOW!!! I haven't blogged in a while so I got on today to catch up on everyone and look at this!!! I've followed your journey for a very long time and am so happy for you two! Congrats!
Kami
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