Our Founder’s Story

At age five, days after my daddy tried to kill our family, I was rescued from human trafficking when he kicked me across the driveway and drove out of my life. Miraculously that week, God gave me hope and this message for the world:

“Like cars go on gas, the world was made to go on love. Families aren’t working because there’s not enough love in them. Churches aren’t working because there’s not enough love in them. Businesses aren’t working because there’s not enough love in them. And countries aren’t working because there’s not enough love in this world.”

Decades later, my sister’s baby tragically died at birth. As she taught me how to love her through her terrible grief, I was now able to help my close friend, who also lost a child.

Soon after, on a cold winter night, that same friend and her children, who regularly played with mine, were murdered by her husband, on the very night our daughters were going to spend the night together! Suddenly, I was plunged into learning how to help the traumatic grief of my children, who were already hurting from losing our home.

Decorated in bluebirds, my sister’s empty nursery became our temporary home, where we took Sorrow’s hand and let her teach us how to love the hurt away. These bluebirds inspired me to write projects to help families through the worst dangers and sorrows.

When my youngest came of age, I asked her how she was doing from all that trauma and grief, and she replied, “I’m okay because you held me while I cried every day until my tears stopped. You still struggle, Mom, because no one did that for you.”

I grew up in a culture that expected constant smiles, which has some advantages. Sadly, few had the courage to endure such tears back then, and I was forced to bottle them up and carry the hurt deep inside for much of my life - but my girl proved that we really can love the hurt away.