Life often doesn’t turn out how we imagine. When life took an unexpected detour, God helped me navigate from grief to advocacy. It wasn’t easy, but then again, nothing impactful ever is.
I’ve always wanted to help people. It’s why I became a nurse and almost forty years later, it’s why I’m still passionate about helping people. Now, I just do that differently than expected. When we’re young we anticipate life to go as we hope, yet it rarely does. I anticipated my Mom to live longer than she did. Her sudden illness and death over twenty years ago rocked my world. As a young mother myself, the loss of my mom was devastating. Until God picked me up and pointed to my new calling.
From Grief to Advocacy
Mom’s sudden illness and short term memory loss opened a new world for me. While grieving her loss and looking for what was next, I took one small step of faith after another. After feeling called to go on a faith-based medical mission trip across the world, my life reset. I joined a new mission group at church where an older friend shared about a memory loss program her husband attended. She suggested I begin a similar group in our community. A few months of research and preparation later, I launched MemoryMinders. Back then, few resources existed for those with memory diagnoses. God showed me how to fill that need and help families like ours.
The first MemoryMinders groups were hosted at my church with my friend’s husband as our original client. We focused on education, mental fitness, physical exercise, nutrition, and socialization. The goal was to enhance lives and memories with tangible help and activities. Soon I was creating mental fitness puzzles and curriculum. Classes grew, I began speaking, consulting, and writing. I found my purpose serving those with memory loss, now including my dad.
A few years after beginning MemoryMinders, my dad also developed vascular dementia similar to my mom. With the new knowledge God equipped me with and the puzzles I created, I assisted him and many others in ways I never could with my mom. God knew the plan He had for me and provided all I needed. Years later, those puzzles and knowledge evolved into books that will help countless more.
God has always directed my path, even when I wasn’t aware. He encouraged me to write and share my writing. Now, my puzzles and writing are being published to assist more individuals and families with memory wellness and faith encouragement. God took me from grief to advocacy, and I pray He continues leading me to impact the world around me.
Life often doesn’t turn out how we imagine. But with God guiding us, it often leads us to a more wonderful path, even if it’s difficult at times. God navigated me from grief to advocacy and enriched my life in ways I could never fathom. I encourage you to follow Him and allow Him to do the same for you.