Comments for Kensington Widows

Comment on Who We Are by Carol Ray

Carol Ray — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:22:06 +0000

Hi Karen,
My name is Carol Ray and I am the director of a Kensington partner organization called Giving Orphans Hope (GO Hope). Our mission is to educate and mobilize the church to care for orphans. We would like to partner with your group in doing this. The idea that we have is to do a “both hands” event.
“Both Hands is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission. We serve widows in a very practical way in our communities, while raising funds to help willing families adopt.” (www.bothhandsfoundation.org ) This is in line with James 1:27, our mandate to care for orphans and widows.
I have your phone number from the KCC blog, I will try to call you.
My contact info is: cell: 248.459.2307. Carol Ray

Comment on Who We Are by Mary Ellen Iafrate

Mary Ellen Iafrate — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 12:06:09 +0000

I am 63 years old and recently widowed. Are senior citizens involved in this group also?

Comment on Helpful Information by Denielle

Denielle — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:59:36 +0000

Hi, I would like to try to come to the next meeting, when will it be? I want to know if there will be baby sitters for my little 1 year old? And if you send out e mail reminders of meetings.
I came once last year in the fall.
thanks
Denielle Schnarr

Comment on Tell Your Story by Gina

Gina — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:57:13 +0000

I met my husband Paul in the fall of 1983 at Meteor Photo where we both worked at the time. A good friend of mine told me to get to know him because she thought I would like him. He was 5 years my junior but that didn’t really bother me. We were together for many years before we finally got married. I was never too interested in marriage until I got older. We did have one child together fairly early on in our relationship. We stayed together and raised our son together and finally married in the fall of 2006. Our life together was finally going really well and we were very happy together. Paul had just started his own business doing fly fishing artwork. He was a gifted artist and was just beginning to be recognized for his incredible talent when during a routine physical a spot showed up on a lung xray. I wasn’t very concerned at the time because he was always very healthy and never smoked a day in his life. The Doctor had him repeat the xray and it showed up again. She ordered several more tests and a lung biopsy revealed that he had lung cancer. Stage IV lung cancer. The Doctor gave him only 2-3 months to live without treatment. He opted for treatment which allowed us to have him for 19 more months. He left us on February 4th, 2010. It was only 14 months ago but it feels like an eternity to me. At times I still can’t believe that he is really gone. I miss him so much everyday. The only good thing about this situation is that I have met so many wonderful people as a result of his death. The Kensington Widows group has been one of those few blessings in my life.

Comment on Tell Your Story by Nancy Scheuer

Nancy Scheuer — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:29:25 +0000

Hi
Mark and I met at 16 while on vacation in Lewiston, MI. July 1968. We were inseparable from then on and married on October 19, 1974 and were blessed with Heather in Jan 78 and Ryan in May 79. We had a great life. We spent a lot of time together and with our kids, boating, camping, sports, etc. Mark worked for many years for KMart Corp. and at the young age of 44 decided to pursue his lifelong dream of being a cop. He was hired by Oakland County Sheriff Dept. when he was 44 and worked in the OC jail. At the age of 50 he graduated at the top of his Academy class, much to the surprise of his 24 yr. old peers! He then worked on the road in Oakland Twp until his death. He was the epitome of health and a very vivacious, outgoing guy who was always interested in helping others. Many of the people he had to arrest actually thanked him and many he led to the Lord.
On Sept. 28th, 2009 he was adamant about trimming the tree in our front yard and even with all the precautions, a large branch broke and caught his safety harness trapping his chest against a large tree limb, cutting off his air supply. As I stood on the ground under him, begging the Lord to save his life, I knew that Mark couldn’t wait to be with the Lord in Heaven and somehow that gave me peace, amidst all the shock. Luckily I had been home for 12 days due to having my gallbladder out and we had spent everyday talking while we had our coffee and went about our day. I will be forever grateful for those last days.

Comment on Tell Your Story by Jean

Jean — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:03:12 +0000

This group of widows has been such a lifesaver for me and I will forever be grateful. I had been widowed for 3 months when I was blessed with an invitation to join a group of women who had all been widowed too young. At that first meeting I was given a glimmer of hope that I held on to constantly. Emily, who had just survived her first year as a widow, was explaining the 1st anniversary of her husband’s death. She said that she and her daughters chose to look at it as New Years, because being one year in, they were able to look back to see how far they had come in the past year since they lost Scott. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, you can’t see this progress – but it IS happening – healing IS happening – and eventually you will be able to see it – to feel it. This type of wisdom can only come from those who have lived through what you have lived through – and their help, fellowship and friendship is priceless! Thank you to my widows…my friends…my lifesavers!!!

Comment on Tell Your Story by Karen Rohner

Karen Rohner — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:41:46 +0000

Hi. My name is Karen. And this is my story:
My husband, Steve, and I married on March 19, 1988. We were blessed with 2 incredible children, Kelly in May of 1989 and Kevin in December of 1990. We spent most of our time either at the barn watching Kelly ride horses or in the gym watching Kevin play basketball.
Steve loved his job as a sales rep. and I was lucky enough to have my dream job as a stay at home mom! Life was great!!
Steve lost his job on Halloween of 2002. (this was before the rest of Michigan started losing their jobs). Life got difficult but during the time Steve was out of work I remember saying to him, “one day we’ll understand why this happened”. Steve was out of work for 18 months when he finally landed a job. We finally had health insurance and a paycheck along with other benefits of having a job.
On the morning of December 15th, 2004 at the age of 44, Steve suffered from a fatal heart arrhythmia. He died in his sleep. He was the picture of health with no knowledge of any health issues. Kelly was 15 and Kevin had just turned 14 three day earlier. The kids were both home that morning due to a “late start” day of school. Our lives were devastated!!
It’s now been 6 years without Steve. Kelly is now 21 and nanny’s for a local family and works at church. It’s incredible to watch her connect with children. She absolutely has a gift of loving them! Kevin is now 20 and attends the University of Toledo and is a member of the basketball team. He’s an amazing young man!!
Life has been a challenge in so many ways, but we have been able to move forward slowly but surely. We still have so many challenges ahead of us. God will always give us the strength to go forward!
We love and miss Steve so much and will for the rest of our lives!
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. (The very short version!)
God Bless!
Karen
*Now I understand why the kids and I were given extra time with Steve when he was out of work. What a blessing!