When events in life break us open and we are overwhelmed and unable to see our way forward, we search for truth, beauty and goodness.  We search for “why”.

When I lost my husband John to a sudden traumatic accident in 2014, my heart was broken into a million pieces, like shards of broken glass. Our Dear Lord put the pieces of my heart back into a different form; into a heart that was more gentle, more empathetic, and more understanding of others who had also suffered a devastating loss.

And out of this sorrow has come much collateral beauty, the unexpected goodness that emerges from a deep tragedy.

I told our story to many, and the makers of a wonderful trilogy of movies called “Mass of the Ages” were moved to invite me to be interviewed for their documentary and to speak about John and my love for the Immemorial Tridentine Latin Mass.

Being asked to co-facilitate sudden/traumatic loss grief support groups and other types of bereavement groups has been a true honor in my life. Sudden and traumatic loss involves having no time to prepare for a loved one’s death. It’s my dream that grief support groups for sudden/traumatic loss will someday be more available throughout the entire world.

Continuing to restore sacred art, statues, church interiors and other objects is a constant reminder to me that sometimes restored broken things are more beautiful after restoration than they were in their original form.

It took 11 years to write “Beautiful Agony: a story of joy, grief, and hope”. May our story be helpful to anyone in any way they wish.