Riley, Lizzy, Ashley, Sonney, and JD on a camping trip at Sue-meg State Park. Photo Credit: Penelope Ray, 2008 It was 2008 when we found them. JD and I were particularly broke that year after losing our home in the ...
Honoring the journey of a widow as she navigates her grief and its persistent presence is one of the most precious gifts you can give. Saturday, August 30, 2025 is National Grief Awareness Day. It is a special day set ...
Yesterday I woke up prepared for the worst. It was the eighth anniversary of losing Rick to lung cancer. But I realized that, as the years go by, the major events aren’t as painful as the loss of the little ...
When we get anxious or panicked, how many times have we been told…”Just breathe”… or “Take a deep breath.” Breathing is one of those things our body does automatically. God created us with so many parts that work tirelessly and ...
I woke up this morning to the sound of my grandchildren whispering, their bare feet padding across wood floors, stopping just short of the bedroom I was in. I’ve landed at Ashley and Micah’s house, my oldest daughter and son-in-law. ...
I missed getting to write my posts here for several months because I was caring for an 88-year-old with memory issues and declining health. As her struggles grew more severe, and my time and energy was consumed with her care, ...
One of the Hope for Widows sisters used the word “bittersweet” to describe what she was feeling. I hate labels. I always have. I dislike being called “a widow.” I live with it because it is a fact. I still ...
Widows can feel like a novice in our new life… one so drastically different from what we knew. Where we once felt confident and strong, we can suddenly find ourself questioning everything. Our mind is in a fog and the ...
I opened the door on the second knock and extended a practiced, firm handshake. My hair was pulled back plainly, clothes were modest, and my face was void of both makeup and smiles. I was ready. “Keith Allen, KO Insulation” ...
I was having a lazy morning in bed, doing the Wordle and Spelling Bee on my phone. It’s my typical wake up routine now that there’s no job to run to, and I appreciate every minute of it. For most ...