THE AUTHOR’S NAME on a book cover gives the impression that the author is the source of said book. But that belies the team effort that is necessary for a book such as this to come into being. Especially with a book as personal as this, drawn out of my own grief journey, others become indispensable in bringing this message into your hands.
First, I want to thank Joe Champion, senior pastor at Celebration Church, and Anne Eppright, GriefShare leader, for your words, thoughts, hugs, and care after the death of my husband, Al. Though I knew all the stuff already, your Christian love and support was like water to my soul as I walked through my own dark valley of grief.
Thank you to Dr. Edward Decker, my former professor at ORU, for challenging me on a few theological points in an early draft of this book, resulting in a presentation that is cleaner and truer to Scripture. You have always stretched me to be better.
Thank you to Debbie Marrie, vice president of product development at Charisma House, for seeing what this book could become, and to Adrienne Gaines for your hard work in nurturing this manuscript into something worthy of publication. Thank you to Lucy Kurz, Maureen Eha, Margarita Henry, SueLee Charron, Nicole Ponder, Rachel Sammons, Ann Mulchan, and the entire team at Charisma House for all your efforts in bringing this book into the world.
A huge thank-you to Karen Neumair, COO at Credo Communications and my illustrious literary agent, for believing in me and this project, and for talking me down off the dangerous cliffs any author encounters from time to time.
My heartfelt personal thanks to Woodley Auguste, Omar Galarza, and Mady Galarza for your friendship and listening ears. You’ve seen and heard me during some of my most painful moments, and you’ve loved me anyway. And for us as a team, this is only the beginning.
To my husband, Al Tanksley, I love you and miss you every day! Although you cannot read these words, because of you I know what it is like to be cherished as a woman. Thank you for believing in me and loving me with every fiber of your enormous heart. I know we will meet again in glory.
And most of all, thank You to Jesus. You walked into the jaws of death, took the keys, and walked out again so that Al and I and all the rest of those who trust in You can live forever. You have walked with me through my dark valley of grief. My worship and love for all eternity will never be enough thanks.