Clockwise from front: Gracie, Denise, Jeff, Nadine (Our German Daughter)
Denise and I were never blessed with biological children, but that hasn't stopped us from mentoring and loving kids in various ways.
Aside from being my handicapped little brother Mike's legal guardian until his passing in August, I've not experienced a more edifying period of personal growth and love for a young person than Denise and I enjoyed during the year we opened our home to a foreign exchange student.
Nadine Grandel, from a tiny village called Ebersbach an der Fils in south Germany, was a guarded 16 year old when she left home and flew 5,500 miles to Omaha. To suggest the ensuing year was life-changing is a horrendous understatement.
I created a blog for Nadine's family so they could maintain a feeling of connectivity while she was abroad. I dubbed it "Our German Daughter." Since inception, the blog has enjoyed nearly 16,000 visits from all corners of the world.
Denise and I love promotional advertising and growing Omaha Promos, but we cherish our relationships even more. As we prepare to have Nadine come "home" for the third time, I invite you to join us in our excitement and anticipation.
