But First… I Need to Tell You What God Did in My Heart
Before I Introduce You to Someone…
For more than two years, you’ve walked beside me through the hardest season of my life.
You cried with me when Quintin went to Heaven.
You prayed for my children.
You celebrated the smallest victories that probably didn’t seem small to anyone else…but to me, they meant everything.
You’ve watched me wrestle with grief, faith, loneliness, and the question I never imagined I’d have to ask:
What does life look like after losing the love of your life?
You’ve watched me survive.
You’ve watched me heal.
And because you’ve walked this journey with me, I wanted you to hear this part of my story from me first.
Before I introduce you to someone…
I need to tell you what God did in my heart.
For those who don't know the day Q died, I died too and I had a hard time learning to live again. You can read about that on my blog “The Day Q Died, I Died Too“
Healing Didn’t Mean Forgetting
One of the biggest misconceptions about grief is that healing means you’re “over it.”
I don’t believe that’s true.
Healing didn’t erase my love for Quintin.
It didn’t erase almost twenty-five years of marriage of memories and over 30 years together.
It didn’t erase the tears, the anniversaries, or the moments I still wish I could pick up the phone and hear his voice.
Healing simply taught me something I never expected.
It taught me that love and hope can exist together.
Grief and gratitude can live in the same heart.
Missing someone deeply doesn’t mean you’re incapable of experiencing joy again.
For a long time, I believed honoring Quintin meant standing still.
God slowly showed me that honoring him didn’t mean refusing to live.
It meant living the life he always prayed I would have.
Healing didn’t happen in one moment.
It happened through hundreds of small acts of obedience.
Showing up.
Reading Scripture.
Being vulnerable in my grief on my public Coffee Chats.
Trusting God on days when trusting Him felt impossible.
One faithful step at a time.
If you are looking for encouragement on how to allow God to do the impossible in you please check out blog that might help below.
➡️ I shared personal blogs like
The Hardest Decision Wasn’t Facebook Dating
The hardest decision was believing God could still have something ahead for me.
I worried about my children.
I worried about what people would think.
I wondered if opening my heart again somehow meant I loved Quintin less.
It didn’t.
But fear has a way of making us believe things that simply aren’t true.
There were nights I prayed for clarity.
Days I wrestled with guilt.
Moments I wondered if I was confusing healing with betrayal.
Through it all, God never rushed me.
He simply kept reminding me that He wasn’t finished writing my story.
Part of that reminding was a full surrender…. you can read about why I chose to take off my wedding ring below.
➡️ Related Reading: Taking Off My Wedding Ring
God Used the People Closest to Me
My sweet daughter Ella.
And my Amazing Mom Nina.
One of the things I’ve learned is that God often speaks through the people who know us best.
For me, that included my children.
One conversation with Ella has stayed with me.
She reminded me of the story of Lot’s wife.
She gently challenged me not to spend my life looking backward.
Those words settled deep into my heart.
Around the same time, I found myself thinking often about my mom.
Her encouragement.
Her unwavering faith.
Her belief that God could redeem even the hardest chapters of our lives.
Little by little, God wasn’t asking me to forget the past.
He was inviting me to trust Him with the future.
If you are looking for encouragement in your journey, I would encourage you to look at these blogs below
➡️ Related Reading:
One Quiet Step of Faith
Several months ago…
After countless prayers…
Conversations with my children…
And wrestling with the Lord…
I quietly downloaded Facebook Dating.
Even typing those words still makes me smile because I never imagined I’d say them.
I wasn’t looking for someone to replace Quintin.
No one ever could.
I wasn’t trying to force another chapter.
I simply wanted to be obedient if God happened to be opening a door I never thought would open again.
So I took one small step.
Not because I had all the answers.
But because I trusted the One who did.
I put a smile on my face despite the fear and I took the leap!
That’s Where I Met Raymond
That’s where I met a man named Raymond.
Over the last several months, we’ve quietly gotten to know one another.
We’ve prayed together.
We’ve laughed together.
We’ve shared long conversations about faith, family, grief, and God’s faithfulness.
He’s shown incredible patience while I’ve continued healing.
He’s been kind.
Respectful.
Steady.
Most importantly, he’s consistently pointed me toward Jesus instead of himself.
We’ve intentionally protected this season while it was still growing.
Not because we were hiding.
But because some chapters deserve time to develop before they’re shared with the world.
I know many of you have probably wondered if this day would ever come.
Truthfully…
There were many days I wondered the same thing.
I don’t know exactly what the future holds.
Only God does.
But I do know this:
God brought Raymond into my life at exactly the right time.
This Isn’t Really a Story About Dating
If I’m honest…
This really isn’t a story about dating.
It’s a story about God’s faithfulness.
It’s a story about learning that healing isn’t betrayal.
Joy isn’t disloyalty.
Moving forward doesn’t mean leaving someone behind.
It simply means trusting God enough to believe He still has purpose for the days ahead.
I still love Quintin.
I always will.
Nothing about this new chapter changes the incredible love story we shared.
If anything, it reminds me just how deeply I was blessed to experience that kind of love.
And it reminds me that the same God who carried me through unimaginable heartbreak is still carrying me today.
Looking for encouragement along your journey, check out the blog posts below.
➡️ Related Reading:
- Learning to Dance Again
- Don’t Turn Back: God Is Doing a New Thing
- Can You Love Again After Losing Your Spouse?
Thank You
Thank you.
Thank you for praying for me.
Thank you for praying for my children.
Thank you for allowing me to grieve honestly.
Thank you for celebrating God’s faithfulness with me.
This next chapter isn’t replacing the last one.
It isn’t rewriting history.
It’s simply another reminder that God never stopped writing my story.
And if you’re reading this wondering if He’s finished writing yours…
Can I encourage you with something He’s been teaching me?
The Author never abandons His story.
He simply turns the page when it’s time for the next chapter.
Today, I’d like you to meet someone.
His name is Raymond.
And while I’m incredibly grateful for the man you’re seeing in these photos, I hope that’s not what you remember most after reading this.
I hope you remember the God who carried me through heartbreak, gently healed my heart, and reminded me that hope is never wasted when it’s placed in Him.
This is the story of how God faithfully led two lives to intersect at exactly the right time.
It’s the story of how God never stopped writing mine. ❤️
Lori I am so very happy for you! You deserve happiness again. Q would be happy for you and the children. Sending love and hugs to you and Raymond❤️
Charlotte, thank you for your sweet words. ❤️ I truly believe the greatest way we honor those we love is by living the life God still has for us. Quintin will always be part of my story, and I’m so thankful for everyone who has given me the grace to embrace this next chapter. Thank you for celebrating with us.
Thank you for sharing. I’m happy you’re finding that joy and grief can co-exist, and a new love doesn’t replace the love for the departed. I’ve been following you since the death of Q, as our stories were eerily similar – date, age, heart, at home, kids same ages, etc. Your journey gives me hope.
Colleen, your comment touched my heart. ❤️ You’re exactly right—love isn’t replaced, it’s expanded. The love Quintin and I shared shaped who I am today, and I’ll always treasure that gift. If my journey has given you even a little hope that joy is possible again, then sharing it has been worth every vulnerable word. I’m praying for you as you continue walking your own path. 🤍
I’m watching my mom experience the same thing. It’s always interesting to be reminded that things happen according to God’s plan, not our own. Congratulations! I’m very happy for you.
Thank you for sharing this. ❤️ Please give your mom a hug from me. Every grief journey looks different, but I’m praying she continues to trust God’s timing and finds peace in knowing He walks beside her every step. Thank you for celebrating with us!
I am so happy for you! You are blessed to be able to hear what God is telling you. My husband passed 3 years and 4 months ago. I have thought and prayed about my future but I still don’t know how to listen. Thank you for sharing your story.
Jennifer, my heart is with you. ❤️ First, I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband. I remember feeling exactly like that—wanting to hear God’s direction but wondering if I was missing it. What I’ve learned is that God rarely reveals the whole roadmap. More often, He simply asks us to trust Him with the next faithful step. Keep spending time with Him, stay in His Word, and don’t rush the process. He is faithful, and He will guide you in His perfect timing. I’ll be praying for you. 🙏
Lori, I’m so incredibly happy for you! ♥️
Kim, thank you so much! ❤️ Your encouragement means more than you know. Thank you for walking alongside me through the hard seasons and now celebrating this new one. I’m so grateful for your kindness and support. 🤍
God bless you on this journey and trust him for a happy ending – or beginning. I learned, much like you have, that you never get over a loss like you did when Q passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t move forward and find a new kind of happiness.
Kay, I couldn’t agree more. ❤️ I don’t believe we ever “get over” someone we deeply love—we simply learn to carry both the love and the loss differently. Thank you for reminding others that moving forward isn’t leaving someone behind. It means trusting God with the chapters He still has to write. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers.
Wonderful! God is great! Enjoy! 🙏🏻❤️
Thank you so much, Mary! ❤️ God has been so faithful through every season, and I’m incredibly grateful. I appreciate you celebrating this chapter with me. God bless you!
I am so happy for you! raymond sounds like a really good man. God is so faithful to carry us through and He will always bring joy after sorrow, we have to allow Him to do that work in us. Praying many blessings for you and your family. ❤️🙏
Kelly, thank you so much for your sweet encouragement. ❤️ I’m taking this season one prayer at a time and trusting God to lead each step. He truly has been faithful through every valley, and I’m so grateful He never wastes our pain. Thank you for praying for our family—it means more than you know. 🙏
Good for you! Hello, Raymond.
Thank you, Vicki! ❤️ Your kindness made me smile. I’m grateful for everyone’s love and support as I navigate this new chapter. God has been so faithful every step of the way!
Many blessings to you I’ve been on FB dating and it’s been a nightmare so you did get Lucky or it’s the way god intended it to happen. All the best
Cindy, thank you so much. ❤️ I truly believe God’s timing and His ways are always better than ours, even when we don’t understand them. This journey has taught me to hold my plans with open hands and trust Him completely. I’ll be praying that, if it’s His will, He brings the right person into your life in His perfect timing. Until then, may you continue to experience His peace and His presence. ❤️🙏
So happy for you! Raymond is a fine name for a new love— my husband of 32 years who died almost 4 years ago was Raymond. God bless you both!
“The Author never abandons His story”.
YESSSSSS. 😘
Promise of Light
[Verse 1]
I left my troubles by the shore so wide
The waves took them away they couldn’t hide
The weight I carried vanished with the tide
I’m walking lighter hands open wide
[Chorus]
Forget the pain let the wind reframe
Remember love it’ll break your chain
Life’s too heavy when hope turns hollow
His promises lead where light will follow
[Verse 2]
The sky whispers truths my heart had ignored
Each sunrise declaring I’ll be restored
He paints the night stars His word the sword
With you on my side I’ve won this war
[Bridge]
No shadow too dark for His gaze to pierce
No storm too wild for His calm to clear
What looks like the end is just His steer
Closer to grace so loud so near
[Chorus]
Forget the pain let the wind reframe
Remember love it’ll break your chain
Life’s too heavy when hope turns hollow
His promises lead where light will follow
[Verse 3]
I let go of fears with each passing breath
The dawn feels warm though the path met death
He’s leading me home where joy can possess
Every piece of me oh I’ll confess
Love, Karen
PS The Bridge ( Faith is the bridge of where you are and where God is taking you!) Look again at the bridge of the song and I am sure I sent the song to you by messenger in the past!
Thank you so much for sharing this ❤️
A beautiful story about
A beautiful story about God’s timing.
I have a similar story,–but I am nearly in my 8th year of waiting to love again. Blessings to youxxx
I’m so happy for you! God is good….
When I lost my husband (going on 17 years this fall), I was so angry. I could not even say those words. I would talk to God while looking in the mirror. I figured that was the best way to see him since I’m created in his image. I remember yelling and screaming and bawling my eyes out. I remember finally being able to say God is good all the time into the mirror, while bawling my eyes out and almost forcing myself to say it.
I remember feeling a sense of betrayal when I started dating again. It took me a little while to feel that it was OK and then I remarried.
I am so happy for this new chapter in your life and it is so nice to see happiness radiating from your face! Is genuine and wonderful to see!