Widows With Kiddos President

Sarah Goodwin

In June of 2003, my life changed in the most unexpected way. I met an incredible man aboard a cruise ship in Alaska—a stranger who, in just a matter of days, became my friend. I had fallen ill during the trip, and this kind-hearted man, Daniel, whom I had just met, selflessly took care of me. I remember him gently wiping my forehead with a cool cloth, tying my shoes, and walking me around the ship for hours in the cold Alaskan air to help me feel better.

Three years later, we stood face-to-face and promised to love and care for one another for the rest of our lives. What I didn’t know then was that our 15th wedding anniversary would also be our last.

In August of 2021, Daniel was admitted to the ICU with severe complications from COVID-19. For eight long weeks, I stayed by his side—now the one wiping his forehead, praying for healing, and loving him more deeply with each passing day. On the 56th day, he unexpectedly suffered a stroke and went home to be with Jesus. He was 41 years old. I lost the love of my life, the father of our four children, and the man who had promised to grow old with me.

The first year without Daniel was a blur of heartbreak and disorientation. Though we were surrounded by love and support, the loneliness was overwhelming. His absence echoed through every part of our daily life—from the empty chair at the dinner table to the quiet moments after the kids were asleep. I was grieving not just the loss of my husband, but the loss of the life we had built together.

In the midst of that grief, I longed to connect with someone—anyone—who truly understood what I was going through. About a year after losing Daniel, I found a local widows group and decided to attend a gathering. I was anxious, heart racing, and I remember thinking, “Please Lord. Let this be a place of comfort.”

I walked into that room, filled with 15 women sitting around a table, all eyes turned to me. After a long pause, someone quietly said, “You are so young.” And in that moment, something shifted in my heart. God gently stirred a calling in me—a vision to create a space specifically for young widows, especially those still raising children. A place where they wouldn’t feel out of place, but seen. Understood. Known.

Three years after Daniel’s passing, Widows With Kiddos was born.

Becoming a young widow feels like standing in the ashes of a life you loved—grief as thick as smoke, emptiness in every direction. But over time, and with faith, I’ve witnessed God begin to weave something beautiful from those very ashes.Through community, we begin to see that even after devastating loss, life can hold meaning again. He brings healing to the widows and the fatherless.

Daniel had a servant’s heart. He loved deeply, gave generously, and cared for me from the very beginning. It is in his honor that I now walk alongside other women on this road.

At Widows With Kiddos, we believe that no widow should walk this journey alone. Our prayer is that every woman who connects with us finds hope, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose. This community was born from pain, but it exists to be a light—for every widow still tucking children into bed at night, still signing her name alone, folding one less laundry pile, and still looking for a place to belong.

You are not alone. There is beauty ahead. 

Sarah's Story

Why We Exist