It's been a very long time since I've posted anything on my page, and I can't tell you why I'm moved to write this morning.

In June of 2012, after "dabbling" with online dating services, I returned to eHarmony as I found it to be the safest and provided more compatible matches than any other.

On July 20th, 2012, I checked my "what if" matches, women who were not 100% compatible, but the differences were minor enough, "what if" you contacted them and things worked out.

There were 3 or 4 women who were presented as "what ifs" who I sent brief messages to, expecting no response as few respond unless they read your profile and become interested.

The next morning a woman responded, told me she really appreciated my profile and felt motivated to change her's to reflect the person she is and not just superficial likes and dislikes.

We exchanged a few messages over the subsequent week until she told me she didn't think we would make a good match because I was slightly older than her, but she would like to continue corresponding.  I was grateful to have a pen-pal, and was impressed with her honesty.

Before she sent that message, 2 other women responded, thanking me for contacting them, but they too were honest about being a good match.

I was very encouraged as I was finally communicating with emotionally mature women who had the courtesy to respond even if it was negative.

Long story short; the first woman and I continued to communicate and over the next 2 weeks, God used us to fall madly in love with Him!  It was amazing!  He used our budding relationship to heal my broken heart, then allowed me to fall in love with this woman.

Feeling love for her brought up so much pain as I had loved only Nanette for 25 years, and every love emotion was connected to directly to her.  It was very difficult to feel excited about being in love again, yet weeping over the love I had lost. 

Fortunately, God had brought a woman into my life who could understand and travel that journey with me.

We didn't meet "face to face" until late October, but we knew in early August we were going to marry. 

She lives in California, I live in Iowa.  I flew to meet her and we knew at first sight that our emotions, and souls had already been connected by God.

She flew to Iowa 2 weeks later when I proposed to her.  We married on New Years eve.

I'd love to say everything is perfect, but that would be a lie.

Our love for each other, and our marriage is more than I could have ever hoped or dreamed of. 

After losing Nanette, I believed I could never love anyone as much as I loved her, but God is in control, and He has wonderful plans for us if we just trust Him and let Him have His way in us.

Things are not perfect because my wife still lives in California and I still live in Iowa.  We have managed to spend at least 2 weeks each month visiting each other since my first visit in October, but that is too expensive and a marriage cannot endure separate living conditions.

But we know God has a plan, and He will guide us through the journey ahead.

I still grieve the loss of Nanette, as does my wife.  She has shed tears over how Nanette's death impacted our family. 

A pastor who had lost his wife and remarried counseled me at a mens retreat in 2011 and said this; "No loss of love for the former, no less of love for the latter".  

In other words, my love for Nanette will never change, it remains as it was the moments before she died, but I could not marry a woman if I could not feel the same depth of love for her.

I know it's not the same in that we are still learning about each other, but I know without any doubt that we are one and that God has given us a gift of love that few people experience even once in their lives.

There is healing, life and love after you lose your best friend, but you have to put God above all others.

Thank you for all your support and Love.