Military Widows

Darlene Parks

Darlene Parks has said yet another, “Good bye.” Her hardest ‘Good Bye’ was in December, 2008 when her husband Dan was tragically killed in an accident leaving her with children ages 17, 14, and 13. With our email meeting, she shared her reality today. “On Saturday, I sent my youngest child off to college; It was again another bittersweet moment.  On our way to the college, we stopped at a rest stop; I noticed another family also taking their son to college.  I saw the husband and wife comforting each other and thought…that should be me.  I dismissed the thought, […]

Cheryl McGuinness

I have not met Cheryl personally, however, I think her life and continuing walk of faith is an example to us all. I’d encourage you to read her book “Beauty Beyond the Ashes.” Howard Publishing Co. 2004. 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.   Forgiveness at the Foot of the Cross Cheryl McGuinness’s husband, Tom, had been a copilot on American Airlines Flight 11 when it was […]

Jo Rozier

Jo and I  connected  after he heard an interview I did with Greg Wheatley from Prime Time America on the Moody Broadcasting Network…   Jo wrote to Greg: I was floored.  I arrived home before the segment ended and I just sat in the driveway to make sure I heard the entire story.   Work consists of serving in the United States Marine Corps.  I am the father of two (a teen and a preteen), one of whom is adopted.  Since June of this year I’ve been the primary Caregiver for my elderly parents who are showing signs of dementia and for the past 8 […]

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 […]