Donald Braun:
CLASS OF 1967
Taylor High SchoolClass of 1967
North bend, OH
Tri - State UniversityClass of 1974
Angola, IN
University of CincinnatiClass of 1971
Cincinnati, OH
Donald's Story
Life
Born: 12/29/48 That's a long time ago!
Schools: Bridgetown Elementary, Miami Heights Elementary, Three Rivers Jr. High, Taylor High, University of Cincinnati, Tri-State College, Harford Community College
Jobs: Sears Roebucks, Pokegon Beverage Company, North American Aviation/North American Rockwell/Rockwell International (same company, but they kept changing names), Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin (another company that changed names), and finally retired.
Martial Status: Happily married over 35 years and plan to stay that way!
Kids: 2 boys Jonathan 17 years old (his name means God's gracious gift and he is exactly that) 12/24/93 and Deron 38 years old
Death: Not yet
After high school I went to University of Cincinnati. It was tough and I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Didn't do as well as I would have liked. Transferred to Tri-State College, in Indiana. Grades were much better. Had a very difficult time with personal life. I was hurt very badly emotionally, but at least some of it I deserved. Someone very dear to me was also hurt very badly. It is really sad when people believe Satan's lies about each other and hard heartedness develops. It results in disaster. Sometimes it takes a disaster to bring growth. I just wish we'd both been a little smarter to either avoid those problems altogether or work through the to a satisfactory resolution. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
Worked at North American Aviation in Columbus Ohio til 1978, then Martin Marietta in Orlando, and then in Baltimore, Md until finally I retired on 4/1/06 (April Fools Day). I probably should have chosen a different day, but I didn't even think of it until after I retired.
Going back to 1973 through 1978, I was basically drafted to lead a Bible Study group that ministered to single adults beyond college age. From my perspective I was total unprepared for such a thing. But I was willing to be used however God desired to use me, and the people in the group prayed for me. Good things happened because what God did. A part of me would like to say God worked through me to do the good things, but it would probably be more correct to say God did good things inspite of my efforts rather than because of my efforts. He deserves all the glory, not me. Started with...Expand for more
six people and within 5 years there were between 75 to 100 people involved on a regular basis. A number of people in that group went into full time Christian service as pastors or missionaries. WOW! God is awesome!!!
In 1978 I moved to Orlando, bought a home and got married on 11/18/06 to a girl I met in the Bible Study group in Columbus, Ohio. Again, God is good!
Moved to Maryland on 12/11/81. During the fall of 1993 I was teaching a Sunday School class when a young lady walked into the class. Later a friend told my wife this young lady was pregnent and considering putting her child up for adoption. My wife called me at work and asked if I would ever consider adopting a child. What a shock!! After much prayer and soul searching we decided to adopt.
Jonathan was born Christmas Eve 1993 and he came home with us on Christmas day. We chose the name Jonathan because it means God's Gracious Gift which is exactly what he is. The complete story about Jonathan is awesome. There should by a Hallmark movie based on our story. There were a total of 7 interrelated successful and happy adoptions that were a part of our story. God is incredibly awesome!!!
You may think I'm some kind of a Jesus freek, but I know I have been blessed beyond all comprehension, and I know who has been blessing me. I have been blessed not because of who I am, my genetics or hard work. I have been blessed because God, through Jesus Christ, has chosen to bless me. I am His and He is mine. God is truly very good.
Now for the rest of the story. In the Spring of 2011 God saw to it that I would get back in touch with my long lost son. I last saw him when he was 5 days old. Then due to a situation I'd rather not discuss, we lost touch for 38 years. Earlier in 2011 we were able to get in contact and even see and hug each other for the first time in 38 years. WOW! God is good! Really, really good!! I found out I have a beautiful grand daughter and daughter-in-law. Is that great or what? There are still some issues in the past I'd still like to clear up with someone else, but I can see at least some of the past issues in my life are being cleared up. God is working on the rest of those issues and that is good!
Someday I'll complete this story and the ending will be an even happier ending.
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