Widow Connection - Joanie Woodall

Young Widows

Lori Fox

I first met Lori Fox on a cold November night. Over our coffee she encouraged me hugely, and her words again reminded me that in God’s plan, no crisis is without abundant blessing. Maybe that blessing is not seen at the moment, but it will be. Our husbands both entered heaven on the wings of Lou Gehrig’s disease, April 21, different years, Bob in 2006, Eric in 2010. Thankfully she has shared her story with us. Read on. I first was introduced to Miriam Neff and her website when I heard her talking on Moody Radio about being a […]

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Widows

Ferree Hardy

A word from Miriam: I met Ferree through her blog. I was encouraged by her determination to be patient and see the positives, the seeds of joy that were watered by her tears. Her popular blog has encouraged thousands. Thank you, Ferree, for letting us share your story. The Day Life Changed Forever Ferree Hardy Ten years ago this very day I woke up thinking it’d be like any other day, but I was a widow by suppertime. It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. On one hand it seems like only yesterday, on the other it’s like […]

Judy Stremler

The late summer sun streams on us in Judy’s garden room. It is an unusually quiet moment. Her five children, ages five to eighteen, are at school. She was in what we call “The Season:” the week of her husbands death. While each day of this week will be marked in her mind by the events of two years ago, evidence spills all around us of lives that must go on. Stickies on the refrigerator, stacks of school papers that must be noted, signed, and dates transfered to the calendar. Parenting does not allow ‘time outs’ to go back and […]

Kathleen Rehl

I met Kathleen at a widow’s conference in 2009 and discovered a kindred spirit. Yes, we were running buddies for a 5K. I loved her moving forward spirit. She was working on a book that I knew would be valuable to all of us helping us with those money questions. That book is now an award winning success. And she has more ideas! You’ll love getting to know her. Kathleen’s Story My best friend, lover, co-parent, business partner, and husband died of liver cancer on February 12, 2007 — 11 weeks after his diagnosis and shortly before our 19th wedding […]

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Military Widows

Kerri Hartwick

I have not met Kerri personally, however, I think her story is important to us all. What a woman of courage! This is taken and used with permission from From Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front by Karen Whiting and Jocelyn Green. Copyright © 2012, God & Country Press, an imprint of AMG Publishers. All rights reserved.) Preparation Kerri Hartwick, wife of Chief Warrant Officer Michael Hartwick, Iraq 2005–2006 Michael and Kerri Hartwick were high school sweethearts. They married during their senior year of college and then decided together that he would join the military. “His dream was […]

Brittany Grider

Brittany Grider first contacted me after reading my article, A Widow’s Might. With her permission, I share how she introduced herself to me. “Hi Miriam. My name is Brittany Grider and I am a 28 year old widow. My husband, Aaron, was killed in September of 2010 while serving in Afghanistan. My worst nightmare had come true, and now I faced life on this earth without my husband, partner and best friend by my side. It has been a year and a half of deep discernment, time spent in God’s Word and with fellow believers; time learning more about and […]

Christina Goetz

Note from Miriam: I first met Christy in Colorado Springs, Summer 2012. She had just moved into her new home with sons Landon, Caleb, and Joel, ages 12 to 3. She hosted a group of military widows. I had the humbling honor of listening to their stories, and their unique needs. Yes, we laughed, cried, and found we had some things in common, though the military experience is truly unique. At her lower level, these young widow’s children romped and played. The city was under pre-evacuation warnings due to wild fires, but we took little notice. We were connecting, I […]

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