I met LaSandra two years into her widow journey.  So young!  Four children in all out energy mode!  She had a quiet peace and resolve even in those days of continual change.  Read on and be inspired. In 1997, Kenneth Hutchinson began to sit behind me in our World History class. I had known Kenneth was smart and articulate, but I had yet to find out how hilarious he was. Oh, but after he began to sit behind me in class. There were jokes for days! He was sitting behind me whispering the jokes so only I could hear them. […]

October 27, 2017 My Story My life was forever changed less than a week after St. Patrick’s day 2015 when my husband, Tyre fell and hit his head.  Three days after his fall he returned to the doctor to get a release to return to work the following Monday.  I was relieved when he returned home with the good news of a clean bill of health.  That same day was also my last day at my job, which was bitter sweet.  I had the privilege of being part of a five member team that started a new state agency.  It […]

A friend gave me Miriam’s book.  I am so grateful for Widow Connection, for Miriam’s words and resources for hope and support. My Richard had open-heart surgery on March 14, 2016.  The prognosis was excellent.  Our son was getting married on April 16th and the goal was to be healthy at the wedding.  Richard had been very involved in all the wedding planning.  It was an exciting time. But then he had complication after complication.  His health began to decline but we were still hopeful for a full recovery.  However on April 14th , Richard passed. He died a valiant […]

Three years after Jay’s death, Shannon prayed that she would someday remarry. Not long after, a friend from church introduced Shannon to her brother, Greg, and after dating five weeks, he proposed. They were married within a few months and were blessed with another child who completed their family. They both know without a doubt that this was all God’s plan for them.

LaTanya’s husband, Demetrius, was always healthy and showed no signs of illness. One day he began suffering from an excruciating headache, which led to a call to 911. The examination determined that Demetrius had brain cancer. LaTanya promptly placed a sign on their front door that stated, “God is performing a miracle here, if you doubt, stay out!” He fought hard for three years before making his journey to Heaven. Their two sons were ages 14 and 4 when they lost their dad. LaTanya’s father stepped in to help with the boys and be the male influence that they had […]

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 […]

Diane came to our group in her early days of loss. With two preschoolers, life required her to move forward as a parent alone, even though she was feeling consumed and overwhelmed with grief. She shared her story. Yes, we wept with her, hugged, and prayed. She and her husband, Jerry, had just experienced the miracle of the birth of their second child just months before Jerry was killed in a tragic biking accident. One day she was delighting in their growing family with her athletic healthy husband. In one evening, everything changed. Diane was suddenly left not only as […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

MY JOURNEY WITH GOD FROM MOURNING TO JOY My name is Joanie Woodall. I would like to share my story on how God has truly turned my mourning to joy. Jeremiah 31:13 My dear husband Joe and I were married for 28 years. We have two wonderful sons Brian and Joey, and I also have two beautiful step daughters and four amazing grandchildren. In February of 2009 God provided for me to go on my first mission’s trip to Africa. Joe was on cancer meds at the time and could not travel, but was my biggest supporter back home God […]

Milena Bekteshi is a young widow I hope to meet. In exploring helping widows in Albania, my friend, Enkelejda, sent me her story. I share it here with encouragement that God’s love for widows transcends differences in cultures and countries. While I cannot imagine the death of one’s husband while in the hospital giving birth to her son, I do know God’s comfort is great enough for any circumstance. Milena’s words: “When you lose a husband the very first thing you want to do is to tell to someone else that had that kind of  loss how  deep is the […]