Meet the Podolls

Advent was greatly blessed when Nate and Joellen joined us in August 2012 with then very little Bram, who was immediately adopted by the slightly older children.  They came the day of our annual Congregational picnic, were invited to go, and loved it.  Joellen joined Advent’s MOPS program, Nate often served as a lay leader and usher, and they jumped into everything.


Maryn arrived in 2013, born with serious heart defects and spending her first 7+ months in the hospital.  She is doing so well now, and enjoys attending school at Cuyahoga Heights Elementary, cooking, music, playing board games, Cub Scouts, and she adores her brother.  Bram is now 10, he also attends Cuyahoga Heights Elementary, and loves swimming, playing with Legos, soccer, video games, playing guitar and Cub Scouts.  Bram is such a caring and empathetic kid who is amazing with Maryn.


Nate is a professional civil engineer who is now employed by Stantec Consulting Services as a project manager, but many will remember that he was transferred here when he was in the Coast Guard.  He had graduated from High School in Newton NJ, and attended the Coast Guard Academy (serving for 22 years).  Joellen is the Professional & School Liaison for Connecting for Kids, a local non-profit that helps to support and educate families who have any concerns about their 0-12 year old children.  Joellen is a Michigan lass, having graduated from High School in Cheboygan before getting her undergraduate degree at Michigan State and eventually her Masters at Capella University. Her family still lives way up in Northern Michigan, and they have created ruts on the highways going back and forth.
Nate and Joellen when Nate was stationed on  the new Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw and Joellen was the Event Coordinator for the Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce, she was coordinating a welcome ceremony for the ship and Nate was her contact.  They married at St. John’s Lutheran, Cheboygan, December 31, 2008.


Both Nate and Joellen are very busy with A Special Wish Cleveland and other local nonprofits.  When there’s time Nate may get to do his gardening and home improvements; and Joellen her fundraising  and traveling. ​