Testimonial "On January 9, 2009, my three children, my husband and I were on vacation in Minnesota visiting his family. We had been sledding. Mark had taken the boys ice fishing. Mark and I had been out to a movie and to dinner with his old high school buddies. He woke early that morning to go snowmobiling with his brother. I kissed him as he walked out the door and told him to “Be safe.” Several hours later he flew off of the snowmobile and hit a tree. The impact killed him instantly. He was 40 years old. We will never know why he hit the tree. He wasn’t going too fast or traveling in an unsafe or unmarked area. He wasn’t being reckless or careless. In the end, all that really mattered to his friends and family was that he was gone. I found myself struggling to create a new normal for my children and myself. I had to learn how to do all the things that Mark had so easily taken care of in our family. I had to learn what the tools in our garage were and how to use them. I had to figure out passwords to our financial world and then learn how to use them. I still had the roles that I had previously possessed. I was mother, chauffeur, laundry expert, teacher, nurse, cleaning lady, chef, and social coordinator. But now I was also gardener, breadwinner, coach, sports buff, mechanic, wrestling pro, financial planner, and handy man. These roles were harder to take on than I could ever have imagined. We missed our Dad all the time. We still do. Christy called in the midst of the chaos one evening when my mother-in-law was in town helping me with my juggling act. I had heard about Widows Walk, but I had no idea how I would ever find the time or the money to do something that was “all about me.” She encouraged me to come to one meeting and to meet the other women. My mother-in-law offered to baby sit, so I acquiesced. That night was a turning point in my grief journey. Widows Walk nurtured me socially, spiritually, and emotionally. It was a relief to meet other women who were walking on the difficult and unfamiliar path. I discovered that it was important to my family for me to spend one night a week focusing on healing my broken heart and developing my new identity. Widows Walk affirmed for me that Mark’s death wasn’t God’s plan, but that God was holding me, guiding me, and healing me. I believe that Christy’s phone call and Widows Walk was definitely part of God’s plan. I am forever grateful." - Kathy F.