What does it take for the heart of a 42 year old single mom with three children to trust again after having been shaken to the core from abandonment and tragedy; to hope again after years of disheartening upheaval; to dare believe again that beauty can emerge from ashes?

Who was this charming, honest man who touched her life so tenderly that she would risk to love again, to the point of uprooting all? This man who captured her heart with his emails, phone calls and funny text messages from his mysterious forest clad hill in Tennessee. This man who brightened her eyes, quickened her heartbeat, lightened her burden and made her smile. His manner and actions so calmed not just her broken heart but her children’s, that they all grew willing to put the familiar behind for a move across the country; willing to leave friends, church, schools, and crisp Colorado weather.

With sole custody of the children, providing for them as a recording artist and singer/songwriter, she had strongly contemplated moving back to her native Norway to be closer to her beloved family. After nearly 18 years abroad, this seemed a natural and practical solution, especially since a large number of her annual concerts are still in that exquisite land often called “Switzerland by the sea.” But the unexpected blossoming love gave strong competition to Norway’s natural beauty, beloved family members, fjords, and her favorite fresh fish.

What happened to the heart of a 56 year old music executive widower that brought him to a small Norwegian island on a wintry day, to humbly ask an elderly retired artist, for his daughter’s hand in marriage? What made his heart ready now, a heart which was shattered into a million pieces a couple of years earlier from the devastating illness and death of his beloved wife? (His two grown sons had moved out years ago, to work and study in Boston carving out a life of their own in arts and music.)

Who was this lady he fervently pursued, a single mom, with three young children? At the risk of looking foolish and sounding less than collected and sophisticated, he had to admit that this Nordic beauty made his pulse quicken and knees buckle.

She restored a glimmer in his eyes, caused him to laugh like he hadn’t in years, sing louder, dance wilder (even in the grocery store isles), bicycle longer, and work harder. But more than that, he found himself daring to look ahead to tomorrow, dreaming even planning for it. Yes, he had met a lady who has caused him to be passionate about life once again.

As a friend of the Chaffee’s for 20-some years, Solveig became aware of Janice's diagnosis with cancer, when Janice personally emailed her. She followed the three-year ordeal of Janice’s battle through a series of 50-some updates sent to friends around the world. Janice and Jim told the story that led from diagnosis, through several surgeries, stem cell and bone marrow transplants and, finally, her death in 2007. Solveig deeply appreciated the honesty and integrity in their writings, and cherished the personal notes Janice and she would exchange from time to time. 

Solveig followed the process just as Jim and Janice had followed her own full time music career, her ministry to the homeless, and international travels.  After a devastating divorce and growing pressures as a single mom with sole custody, full parental and financial responsibility to provide for her three children, it was essential that she make good decisions for her career and family’s life. Jim was someone whose professional advice she trusted so she gratefully accepted his expertise concerning the reorganization of her career priorities. When he served as executive producer for her Christmas album in 2008 they realized there was more than music in the air.

Jim had first met Solveig in the summer of 1985. As a 18-year-old artist from Norway, she had been discovered at a Music Festival in DeBron, Holland by Jim’s boss, Cam Floria.  Her performance there prompted an invitation to come to the US the following summer to perform at the Christian Artist Music Seminar. At the time, the Chaffee’s were the organizers of the event. In fact, Janice and Jim were among the very first people Solveig met in the USA. After her successful debut in Estes Park, she returned to California to record her Norwegian album in English with the help of Christian Music legend, Larry Norman.  The completion of this project led to a contract with Word Records, a Dove Award for International Artist of the Year, and a second record with Word produced by Wayne Watson. Through out this time, Jim was Executive VP of Christian Artists which handled her US booking, publishing, management for her US dates and her annual performances at Estes Park. Over the years, though separated by demands and distance, these three friends kept in contact and maintained their mutual affection. 

Then came February, 2007. One week before Janice died, life’s road brought Solveig to Nashville for the taping of a Homecoming video with The Gaither’s.  She took time to call the Chaffee’s house to express her love to Janice and her sorrow to Jim; one of hundreds of caring calls.  . 

Now, Solveig and Jim find themselves heading together in a new direction. Their growing love for each other includes a knowledge and respect for their past journeys, the sweetness of mutual friends and the merging of parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, children and cousins spread across two countries. 

Solveig and Jim are ready for this new journey to begin. With their marriage on May 30, 2009, they will blend their families – Solveigs three children - David 16, Kari 14, John 8, and Jim’s adult sons, Elliott 25, Taylor 23 who live and study in Boston. Seven – ready and united in this new adventure.