Woman's World

9-Year-Old Uses CPR to Save Church Member’s Life

mdillard — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:00:42 +0000

After watching a video about CPR, 9-year-old Logan VanGemert was called upon to help save a fellow church member — and he knew just what to do. Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

Logan VanGemert’s Martin, Michigan, elementary school was participating in the Kids Heart Challenge, a program that awards prizes to students for learning about heart disease.

“If I watch all the videos, I’ll win a superhero cape,” the 9-year-old told his mom.

That day’s video demonstrated how to perform CPR. Logan tried to focus on the video, but he couldn’t stop thinking about that cape.

The next day at Logan’s church, the adults attended services in the new chapel while the youngsters gathered by age group in the old wing.

Logan joined 50 other 3rd to 5th graders led by Tom and Beth Adriance. They played a Bible verse memory game, then prepared to sing.

As the music began, without warning, Tom slumped out of his seat and landed face down on the floor.

“Tom!” Beth cried out, racing to his side.

Beth tried rolling Tom over, but he was limp and too heavy.

“I need help!” she called, and Logan was there. They rolled Tom onto his back, and he didn’t have a pulse.

“Oh no, he’s not breathing!” Beth panicked.

Beth had CPR training, but performing it on her husband of 45 years terrified her.

“I can’t do this!” she sobbed.

Then Logan stepped up.

“I can do CPR!” he declared, and as he dropped to the floor, the video he’d just watched came to his mind.

Logan pressed both hands against Mr. Tom’s chest and pushed with all his might.

Logan was still pushing when another adult arrived to take over and yet another arrived with a portable defibrillator.

At the hospital, doctors told Beth her husband had suffered total cardiac arrest.

“His EKG is showing what we call the death rhythm — people rarely even make it to the hospital.”

It took several weeks and bypass surgery, but Tom was finally ready for visitors. And Logan was one of the first.

“My hero!” Tom couldn’t stop thanking Logan.

Because he’d kept the blood flowing to his brain in those critical first moments, Tom experienced no neurological damage at all.

Logan received hero awards from his school and his church. He also received his superhero cape. He wore it proudly when he and Tom spoke at a recent Heart Association meeting.

“I couldn’t let Mr. Tom die,” he told the group. “I needed to remember what to do, and the Holy Spirit showed me.”

“God was watching out for Tom,” says Beth, “and He used Logan to give us a true miracle.”

Audiobook Walking Club Helps Women Find Books and Friends

mdillard — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:00:53 +0000

When book lover Stephanie Pao’s job left her feeling unfulfilled, she took a leap of faith and started a portable romance book truck and launched an audiobook walking club. Not only is she now living her dream, but she’s helping women to meet, read, walk and make new friendships. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

“There’s got to be a better way,” Stephanie Pao sighed, frustrated after another long day at work.

She’d been in the marketing field for many years, but was always dealing in products and services that she never felt passionate about. Maybe one day I can market something that excites me.

Giving it some deep thought, Stephanie zeroed in on what she would love to be doing. I’ve always loved books! What if I opened a bookstore? she pondered.

Then one day, she was walking along the beach and saw a vintage VW truck. It sparked an idea. I could get a truck and have a portable bookstore! her spirit cried.

Expanding the dream

She soon found a vintage VW pickup on Facebook Marketplace that was already restored by the seller. He was so excited about the idea of it being a bookstore that he even helped build and design the bookshelves.

After stocking up on books from distributors, she was ready to open her business, which she named The Fleuria.

She began posting about her journey on social media and her website and sharing dates and locations. Then Stephanie started parking the romance bookstore on wheels all over Los Angeles and Long Beach.

When the first event attracted over 100 people, she knew she was on to something.

The Fleuria has given book lovers new opportunities to connect and build lasting friendships
Stephanie Pao

As the popularity grew, Stephanie got another idea. An audiobook walking club could help people meet new friends while walking along the beach listening to their favorite books, she brainstormed.

Stephanie used to love audiobooks when she was a kid, borrowing them from the library on cassette tapes. During the pandemic, walking became one of her favorite pastimes, so the thought of combining the two seemed like a win.

She began promoting the Audiobook Walking Club on her website by taking RSVPs. Before she knew it, nearly 100 folks signed up. She was shocked and excited for the new venture. This is so amazing, Stephanie thought to herself.

A whole new chapter

Now, Stephanie hosts as many as three walks per month in the South Bay, Redondo Beach, Long Beach and Hollywood areas.

Those who sign up enjoy the free experience by meeting up for coffee beforehand, then heading out in a line with headphones on to listen to their own audiobook while enjoying the fresh air, exercise and companionship.

The Audiobook Walking Club now has nearly 200 members who walk with Stephanie
Stephanie Pao

“It’s a nice little mental escape,” one woman says with a smile.

“I’ve been into audiobooks for years, so this is great!” another fan exclaims.

“I’ve read over 750 audiobooks now!”

As another perk, Stephanie hosts some of her favorite authors for events, book release parties, panel discussions, book fairs and dinners.

Her plans include opening a stationery bookstore out of an Airstream trailer, which is already in the works, and expanding the Audiobook Walking Club around the country, with other hosts leading walks in other cities.

“It’s never too late to try something new and different,” beams Stephanie. “I’ve never felt more fulfilled, and I’ve met the most amazing readers, walkers and authors along the way. I’ve gained so much confidence and joy, and I’ve learned your job can actually be fun!”

Her Goats Inspired a Life-Changing Therapy Farm

mdillard — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:30:29 +0000

When chef Alice Clarkson was unexpectedly gifted two goats, her first thought was that she could use them to make cheese. But she soon discovered the animals had a far deeper impact, lifting spirits in unexpected ways—it inspired her to change course and dedicate her life to helping others. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

Alice Clarkson’s eyes widened in surprise as her husband, Richard, excitedly approached her.

“Happy Mother’s Day!” he exclaimed, holding two adorable goats under his arms. “I thought maybe you’d like to make your own goat cheese!”

Alice was raised in a cooking family and became a caterer once her two sons started school. It was a busy life that also included taking care of their farm in Colden, New York, where they had alpacas, donkeys and a very old quarter horse. Yet Alice enjoyed her little goats, naming them Luna and Miss Beetle, and loved making her own cheese and yogurt with their fresh milk.

Before long, after experiencing their sweet and affectionate nature, she and Richard decided to get more goats for the farm.

I don’t know what it is about these sweet animals, but my heart tells me God has a plan, Alice’s soul whispered.

A healing haven

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Alice’s friend, whose son was struggling through the shutdown, asked if he could come out to the farm and spend time with the goats.

“Absolutely, yes!” Alice responded with excitement.

When the boy arrived, the goats were drawn to him right away. The fuzzy creatures offered love and comfort and made him so relaxed that he laid with them and took a nap.

Once word got out, more and more families with kids who needed to experience a connection that was hard to find during social distancing came to the farm. Alice was also contacted by a recreational therapist who worked for a day rehab program.

“Could this be a place where group homes can come?” she asked.

The goats bring joy and healing to every visitor
Alice Clarkson

It was something Alice had never considered before, but she now realized there was a real need.

“Yes, we would love to bring them!” the therapist replied.

When chef Alice Clarkson was unexpectedly gifted two goats, her first thought was that she could use them to make cheese. But she soon discovered the animals had a far deeper impact, lifting spirits in unexpected ways — it inspired her to change course and dedicate her life to helping others.

“There will never be a time when love, kindness and goats aren’t needed,” says Alice Clarkson, who started an animal therapy farm to heal hearts.

A new calling led her to start a therapy goat farm!

Now, Alice has 32 goats on the farm and 150 therapy sessions per week
Alice Clarkson

Faith on the farm

Leaning on her faith, Alice sent up a hopeful prayer — and she soon got the miraculous opportunity to revamp their old barn to make it accessible. Within eight weeks in 2021, the barn was ready for those in wheelchairs and Rowandale Therapy Goats officially opened.

Alice wanted to keep goat sessions free of charge, but she had to find a way to fund the farm. She remembered that her son had recently purchased goat milk soaps.

“I have mama goats producing milk!” she exclaimed. “Why not make soap?”

Alice and her son sell goat milk soap to raise funds to keep the farm running
Alice Clarkson

The first batch of goat milk soap was just 10 bars, but now she and her son make more than 25,000 bars a year, enough to pay for the farm and goat therapy for all.

Goat cuddles are beneficial for everyone — from tots to seniors. To date, the farm has 32 adult goats consisting of five different breeds and sees more than 150 bookings per week.

Alice now works with more organizations, like the Wounded Warrior Foundation and children from mental health centers and area schools.

“Every client leaves changed,” Alice beams. “I have seen immovable hands move to reach out to pet a goat and I have heard the nonverbal speak to them. There will never be a time when love, kindness and goats aren’t needed. We can change the world with those three things.”

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Candle Company Rebuilds After Fire to Help Special-Needs Workers

mdillard — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 21:00:41 +0000

When Mark Gross joined his family’s business after college, he discovered its unique employees made the job especially rewarding! Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

“Smells wonderful, Mark Gross remembers thinking when he was greeted with scents of cinnamon and vanilla each time he walked into his parents’ warehouse after school.

Tony and Susan Gross purchased the candle company A Cheerful Giver in 2008, located in the rural town of Elmer, New Jersey.

Taking its name from the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 9:7 — “God loves a cheerful giver” — Mark knew all too well that the company was more than a name to his family.

They always sought out ways to impact their community through their business.

A family business built on giving back

When his parents first bought the business, they decided to partner with the nonprofit Career Opportunity Development Inc. (CODI) to hire people with special needs to wick candles at a nearby CODI facility.

With hand-poured candles made in more than 100 fragrances, their role is key to the quality of the product.

For more than 20 years, Mark witnessed his parents’ mission to give opportunities to adults of all abilities. Even as a youngster, seeing the pride on everyone’s faces shaped how Mark sees work, purpose and people. He officially came to work at A Cheerful Giver after he graduated from college a few years ago.

But on a cold, windy night in early January 2025, a fire broke out in the manufacturing plant, burning it to the ground. Business halted, but the hardest part was not just losing the building.

“What are we going to do?” Mark asked his parents, realizing how devastating it would be for their long-term employees and the 200 CODI special-needs wickers who would be out of work.

A Cheerful Giver sells candles in more than 7,000 retail locations across the U.S. and in 14 countries around the globe and employs 200 CODI special-needs wickers
Mark Gross

The workers who taught Mark what matters most

Mark helped Tony and Susan call their suppliers, secure a temporary location and reopen in just 27 days.

Today, A Cheerful Giver sells candles in more than 7,000 retail locations across the U.S. and in 14 countries around the globe.

“The transformation of our special-needs team is part of what gets me every time,” 27-year-old Mark said. “When I visit the facility, they light up, showing me their work. Many of them tell their families about ‘their candles’ when they see them on store shelves. While many men my age are chasing titles and numbers, what I’ve learned is that life is a gift. The adults who wick our candles taught me that. They show up with more joy than anyone I know, and they remind me what actually matters: to be a cheerful giver no matter what.”

Michigan Salon Offers Free Pampering to 8,000+ Cancer Patients

mdillard — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 18:00:33 +0000

Pam Westers turned a salon into a meaningful mission that has provided pampering to more than 8,000 women. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

When Pam Westers took over Profile, the Comstock Park, Michigan, salon where she had worked for 35 years, the salon coordinator approached Pam with an idea.

“I heard about a salon in New York that helps women in cancer treatment feel beautiful,” she explained, and wondered, “Could we do something like that here?”

Pam loved the idea, but she didn’t know if she had the finances to pull it off. Until one day, a salon regular came in and handed Pam a check for $10,000 from her mother’s estate.

“She loved your idea and wanted you to have this,” the woman told Pam.

Inspired, Pam decided to move forward with the plan.

“Beautiful You by Profile,” read the brochures Pam created and set out in local oncology centers, inviting women in treatment to come in for hair styling, manicures and pedicures — all free of charge.

Beautiful You by Profile offers wigs and hairstyling to women going through cancer treatments
Pam Westers

Between the pamphlets and word of mouth, hundreds of women were soon making appointments. The salon staff joined Pam when she closed the shop the second Monday of every month for Beautiful You sessions, and cosmetologists from other local salons began volunteering.

Pam immediately noticed the women would leave their sessions more lighthearted.

Kathryn Youngquist was beginning radiation treatments for breast cancer when she and her husband, Mark, spotted a Beautiful You pamphlet in the doctor’s waiting room. At first, she was reluctant, but one day, Mark said gently, “Maybe we should stop in to look around.”

The instant Kathryn stepped through the door, she felt at home.

“My hair’s gotten so thin, it makes me feel self-conscious,” Kathryn told Pam.

Pam combed and clipped, and with her decades of styling expertise, she shaped a shorter hairstyle that made Kathryn beam with joy.

Kathryn returned every month for a full year of pampering. She beat her cancer, but she wasn’t ready to leave Beautiful You. Instead, she became a volunteer greeter.

Women can also receive special pampering to feel more like themselves again
Pam Westers

Over the past dozen years, Beautiful You by Profile has brightened the lives of more than 8,000 women from as far as 50 miles away. Pam has also established seven branch Beautiful You by Profile salons inside medical centers where women can go for hair and spa treatments before and after chemo or radiation.

“If you feel better about yourself, you’re going to feel stronger in treatment,” Pam says. “We’re so very grateful for the chance to bring joy to these women.”

Pennsylvania Couple Starts Loving Daniel After Infant Loss

mdillard — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 23:00:09 +0000

After losing their newborn son, a Pennsylvania couple transformed heartbreak into hope, creating a nonprofit that helps mourning families spend extra time with babies they never expected to lose. Here, they share their story with Woman’s World.

“Finally!” Nicole Dice squealed when the pregnancy test came out positive. She and her husband, Bill, had been trying for three years.

But about five months in, an ultrasound showed something that shattered their world. The little one in Nicole’s belly had an often fatal form of dwarfism called thanatophoric dysplasia. The doctors expected that the baby wouldn’t live.

The Uniontown, Pennsylvania, couple cried the whole way home from the doctor’s office. As people of faith, they placed the life of their baby, whom they named Daniel, in God’s hands.

Please, God. We need a miracle for our sweet baby, the couple prayed.

For the duration of the pregnancy, the family prayed for Daniel and talked and sang to him in the womb.

Daniel, who had an enlarged forehead from fluid in his brain, survived to be born, but he only lived for 89 minutes — all of which he spent in his grieving parents’ arms. Then something miraculous happened: Daniel’s body was somehow preserved for three and a half days after death without cooling, allowing his parents to stay in a hospital room with their baby, which gave family and friends a chance to love on him and say their goodbyes. Usually, babies who are stillborn or die soon after birth are quickly taken from their parents.

Knowing that miracles like this are rare, Bill and Nicole looked at each other and said, “How can we help other parents get this precious quality time?”

Daniel lived for only 89 minutes, but his legacy will go on
Nicole Dice

How Cuddle Cots help grieving parents

Right after Daniel passed, Nicole began researching products and services that could help parents in the same situation.

She learned about Cuddle Cots, which are cooling pads that allow parents to spend extra time with their babies who have passed. The price of a Cuddle Cot starts around $3,000, but Nicole knew that they could be a godsend to grief-stricken parents. She did fundraising to purchase a Cuddle Cot for Uniontown Hospital, where Daniel was born, and planned just to gift it to that hospital.

But not long after, they received a generous donation that inspired them to continue expanding the project. In 2016, they made their project an official nonprofit called Loving Daniel.

Turning grief into hope

More than a decade has passed since Daniel was born in November 2015, and the Dices went on to have two healthy children, Manny, 9, and Anna Rose, a toddler.

Since then, Loving Daniel has donated 13 devices to 12 different hospitals in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Loving Daniel maintains the equipment and donates replacement parts to the hospitals when needed. The Dices personally reach out to parents who have lost babies so that they know they are not alone.

Each Cuddle Cot has a special plaque to give hope to other parents
Nicole Dice

Karen Lessman, the labor and delivery nurse who was there for Daniel’s birth, says that unforgettable day changed her life.

“I’d never seen anything like it before, and I’ve never seen anything like it since,” Karen says.

As for Nicole, she knows every moment parents have with their baby is precious.

“I feel that God gave us that time with Daniel so that we would know the value of it and give it to others,” Nicole says. “We try to turn our grief into something good.”

Sandra Lee Honors 9-Year-Old Pig Showwoman Who Became Wisconsin State Fair CEO: ‘I Have the Best Job’

mdillard — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:30 +0000

After growing up showing pigs at the Waukesha County Fair and dreaming of being crowned the “Fairest of the Fair,” Shari Black turned her childhood passion into a prolific career — eventually becoming CEO of the Wisconsin State Fair Park and introducing a new generation to family fair joy. Here, she shares her story for Woman’s World’s “Fair’est of Them All” special series with celebrity chef Sandra Lee.

One day, I want to be just like them, Shari Black remembers thinking as she watched the “Fairest of the Fair” ambassadors hand out the blue ribbons at the Waukesha County Fair when she was 9 years old.

Growing up in southeastern Wisconsin, Shari’s family had deep roots in the fair community. Her paternal grandmother started the first 4-H Club in New Berlin and her father participated in the Waukesha County Fair before passing the tradition on to Shari.

For Shari, the fair wasn’t just a summer event — it was where she grew up.

Shari’s first time showing dairy at the fair in 1987 at 9 years old
Shari Black

Each year, she spent countless hours caring for livestock, preparing projects and connecting with fellow exhibitors. Raising pigs taught her lessons that would shape her future in how to run a business. The fair also introduced her to friends from across the state, many of whom remain close to this day.

Then, in 1997, one of Shari’s biggest dreams came true: She was crowned Fairest of the Fair at 19.

Having always admired the young women who served in the role before her, Shari embraced the opportunity to represent the fair she loved. The experience strengthened her public-speaking skills and deepened her passion for agriculture and community. The following year, she was named first runner-up and Miss Congeniality at the statewide Fairest of the Fairs competition.

Without realizing it, Shari was already preparing for a wonderful future she could never have imagined.

Shari (middle) at the 1997 Waukesha Fairest of the Fair
Shari Black

A fair-sized opportunity

Shari Black

At just 23 years old, Shari was offered the position of Executive Director of the Waukesha County Fair.

Many people her age were still figuring out their career paths, but Shari already knew where she belonged.

For the next 15 years, she helped lead the fair that had shaped her life and the role allowed her to balance two of her greatest priorities: family and fair.

Shari became a mother of three and was able to bring her children to work with her during the fair season and work from home during much of the off-season. Before long, a whole new generation of the family was creating fair memories of their own.

One of Shari’s greatest joys was watching her children continue the tradition of showing pigs and participating in livestock auctions. Seeing them succeed in the show ring and enter projects in cultural arts became some of her favorite fair memories.

Now, it warms Shari’s heart to watch her kids show pigs
Shari Black

Carrying the tradition forward

In 2016, a position opened up at the Wisconsin State Fair Park as Director of Event Services, overseeing programs for both the State Fair and year-round events. Although bittersweet, Shari decided to leave the Waukesha County Fair and take the position.

Three years later, she was promoted to Chief Programs Officer, expanding her leadership responsibilities to include agriculture, entertainment, competitive exhibits and vendor programming.

Then, in 2021, she was named Interim CEO and Executive Director of Wisconsin State Fair Park before earning the official title in March 2022.

Today, more than a million guests attend the Wisconsin State Fair to celebrate the state’s rich agricultural heritage while creating lasting memories.

This year marks the fair’s 175th anniversary, running August 6 – August 16. The theme, “Showing Off Wisconsin,” honors the state’s proud heritage and traditions that have connected fairgoers for generations.

Among those traditions is the Wisconsin State Fair’s most famous treat — the Original Cream Puff. First introduced more than a century ago, the dessert will celebrate its 102nd year in 2026 with more than 350,000 cream puffs enjoyed during each fair.

Creating treasured memories

For Shari, the fair’s greatest success isn’t measured by attendance numbers or even by the beloved annual traditions.

It’s measured by the memories each family creates together.

She takes pride in creating opportunities for exhibitors to excel while ensuring fairgoers have a safe place to gather.

Looking back, Shari is grateful for the lessons, friendships and opportunities that began with a young girl showing pigs at her county fair.

Today, Shari remains the first CEO in modern history to have been an exhibitor at the Wisconsin State Fair and now she’s guiding the fair into its next chapter. She’s committed to preserving the traditions that shaped her life. “I have the best job in the world,” Shari says. “Every year, we hope to create a fair experience where people can come and make memories that will last a lifetime.” After all, for Shari, the fair has always been more than a place to visit. It’s home.

Sandra Lee honors Wisconsin State Fair traditions

“The Wisconsin State Fair brings people together through food and tradition. From sharing a famous Cream Puff to meeting the makers who are the heart of this great state, every moment celebrates the very best of America. I’m looking forward to returning and being part of their remarkable 175th anniversary celebration.”

Sandra Lee

Keep an eye out for our “Fair’est of Them All” series! In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Sandra Lee—chef, creator of Semi-Homemade Cooking and host of Blue Ribbon Bakeoff—is hitting the road with Woman’s World for a special cross-country journey honoring the remarkable women who bring America’s beloved state and county fairs to life. From longtime family traditions to unforgettable fairground innovations, these inspiring stories celebrate the heart, resilience and community spirit woven into fairs across the country. Catch the series in issues on sale July 17, August 4 and August 28, with stories appearing online the following week.

How Dementia Therapy Dolls Help Memory Care Residents

mdillard — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 18:00:21 +0000

The lifelike dolls Chris Stewart spotted on Facebook reminded him of his Grandma Alice, and he soon found a way to use them to help others! Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

Chris Stewart was scrolling Facebook Marketplace one evening when he came across an unusual listing: three lifelike baby dolls for $200 each.

The dolls were a warm reminder. “Grandma Alice,” he gave a wistful smile.

Chris grew up with a single mom who worked as a flight attendant. When she traveled for work, his Grandma Alice always took care of him. Chris was a teen when his grandmother came to live with him, his mom and new stepdad. But not long after, Grandma Alice misplaced things and began asking the same questions over and over.

“Your grandmother is suffering from dementia,” his mom explained. “Try to stay patient with her.”

Chris’ mom eventually had to make the heartbreaking decision to move her into a memory care center, and Chris grew up, moved away and began a career in radio and real estate in Boise, Idaho. He flew home often to visit, but Alice’s condition deteriorated.

“She doesn’t recognize anyone,” his mom explained. “She’s scared, and it makes her frustrated and angry.”

When Chris and his mom went to visit, they brought a baby doll to comfort Grandma Alice.

“Her name’s Susie,” Chris said, handing her the doll. For a second, the entire world seemed to stand still. Alice’s eyes cleared, and a wide smile tugged at her lips. “Chris!” she exclaimed. “It’s wonderful to see you!”

So when Chris spotted the dolls on Facebook that evening, he bought them all. He posted his grandma’s story and offered, “If any memory care facility could use one of these dolls, let me know.”

Responses were immediate, and within days, all three dolls had new homes. When staff members at Boise facilities began telling Chris about the positive transformations they were witnessing, he decided to do more.

Chris launched a fundraiser on TheGoodNetworkOrg.org and mentioned it to a local TV anchor friend. “If I can raise $3,000, I can put a doll in every local facility,” he said. He ended up raising over $10,000!

Now, each of the 10 residents at The Pointe at Meridian memory care facility has a doll. “They help keep our residents calm and alert,” says Director Karen Zanelli.

According to Chris, the dolls fill a void that dementia creates. “The dolls give them purpose and something to love.”

And with every story he hears, Chris thinks of Grandma Alice and how one doll brought her back to him for a few moments.

Couple Shares Secrets to a Lasting Marriage After 33 Years

mdillard — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 01:30:23 +0000

When Shyrone and Rebecca Richardson married after knowing each other for just three weeks, they were only 19 and 20 years old and had no idea what was ahead for them. Military life, financial struggles, infidelity and even two seasons when divorce seemed inevitable tested their relationship in ways many marriages never survive.

Yet more than 33 years later, the founders and pastors of Truth Church have not only built a thriving marriage but have spent more than two decades helping other couples do the same.

Looking back, Rebecca says she’s still amazed by the tenacity that the duo had to always push through and want to remain married. And despite everything they endured, Shyrone says, “I’m surprised at what we survived, because sometimes when you’re in the midst of the battle, you don’t realize how big the battle really is.” Today, though, they say the struggle was worth it. “Our love has been tested and tried,” Shyrone says. “We can say that it’s richer.”

In their new book, Winning Together: 8 Keys to Building a Thriving Marriage, they pull back the curtain on the hard-earned lessons that helped transform their own struggling relationship into a marriage that has stood the test of time.

Here, the couple shares with Woman’s World what they’ve learned through their most difficult moments and how they’ve come out on the other side with a marriage stronger than ever.

The secret to lasting love? It’s not what you think

The Richardsons say one of the biggest misconceptions about marriage is that lasting love simply happens. Instead, Rebecca says, “We have now grown to understand what love is. That it is a choice and a decision that you make daily. I choose to love my husband. I choose to want to be the best wife.”

Those daily choices include checking in with one another, especially without distractions. “Make sure you check in with no devices on,” Shyrone says. “Practice turning everything off to check in.” He also believes couples should regularly remind each other they’re on the same team.

“This person I’m going through life with, she’s not my enemy. She’s on my team,” he says. “Regardless of what’s going on, I love you.”

Rebecca adds that even a simple conversation can make a difference. “Something that my husband strives to do daily is just to take a moment and just say, ‘Hey, how you doing today? How was your day? What’s going on with you?'” she says. “It’s like check-ins with one another.”

But even with those daily habits in place, the Richardsons faced their darkest moment — one that would either end their marriage or transform it.

The moment everything changed

Although their faith transformed their relationship early on, the couple admits they nearly divorced again years later. Rebecca had packed her bags and was preparing to leave when Shyrone says he experienced a life-changing moment. “I felt God speak to my heart and tell me, if she leaves, that is not my will,” he recalls.

Instead of trying to persuade his wife that things would improve, he focused on the promise he’d made before God. “I’d rather be with you miserable in God’s will than to be happy outside of God’s will,” he told her. That decision reshaped how they viewed marriage.

“My promise wasn’t based on her, it was based on God,” Shyrone explains. “Even if she’s having a bad day, she still deserves a good husband.” He says putting God first has carried them through seasons when they didn’t necessarily feel in love. “Even when we’re not liking each other, we treat each other with love because we love Him so much.”

Shyrone and Rebecca have been married for 33 years
Shyrone and Rebecca Richardson

Why the best marriages still have conflict

The Richardsons are the first to admit they didn’t always handle disagreements well. “We didn’t fight fair at first,” Rebecca says. “It was to win. It was to draw blood.”

Over time, however, they realized the goal wasn’t winning an argument but strengthening their relationship. “Winning is no more about me winning by getting my point across,” Shyrone says. “Winning is: ‘Did we resolve the issue in a way that we both feel like we’ve been heard?'”

Rebecca says that shift started with truly listening. “I’m not listening so that I can jump in and throw out my next jab. I’m listening to understand and process,” she explains. The couple also learned the importance of sincere apologies.

As Shyrone puts it, “A stray bullet hurts just as much as one that was intended for you.” Rather than immediately defending yourself, he says, “Let’s deal with the bleeding first, and then we’ll deal with the intent.”

Their message of hope for every couple

Through Winning Together: 8 Keys to Building a Thriving Marriage, the Richardsons hope readers will discover that even the most broken relationships can be restored with intentional effort and faith.

“Our faith has taught us it is a daily walk, and it’s walking by faith and not by sight,” Rebecca says. “Sometimes you just don’t see how things are going to turn around, get better, or work out. But we walk by faith. We walk to do His will to please the Lord, and as we do that, He guides us and He gives us knowledge and wisdom.” Their story is proof that a marriage doesn’t have to begin perfectly — or avoid hardship — to become the biggest blessing of your life.

Meet the Inspiring Retirees Building Homes for Families in Need

mdillard — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 21:30:25 +0000

Some seniors spend retirement traveling, enjoying family or developing new hobbies. But members of the Wednesday Crew in St. Charles, Missouri, choose to spend their golden years in service, building homes and making family dreams come true. Here, they share their story with Woman’s World.

Every weekend in St. Charles, Missouri, the pounding of hammers and screech of power saws fill the air as volunteers gather to build homes for their low-income neighbors with the local Habitat for Humanity. Some of the volunteers come every other weekend or once a month. But there’s one group that the Habitat Construction Manager Tony Bradbury counts on every week.

The Wednesday volunteers show up week after week without fail
River City Habitat for Humanity

Retire for a cause

They call themselves the Wednesday Crew, and they all share one thing in common: Every one of them could be enjoying a quiet, relaxing retirement. Instead, these willing souls show up Wednesday after Wednesday, ready to work and get the job done.

Gene Speckhals, 87, has been showing up since 1998, when the local Rotary Club founded Habitat St. Charles. The retired Boeing tool-and-die maker is now a senior member of the Wednesday Crew. He’s had a hand in every house they’ve built, and he doesn’t plan to stop. Every Wednesday, he’s there hauling lumber, setting roof trusses and positioning ceiling wallboard.

His passion for the Wednesday projects is infectious and inspires others, like Bob Ryan, 69, who says working on Habitat homes has opened up a whole new world for him.

“I’ve always done furniture and cabinetmaking in my basement workshop, but now I get to learn carpentry, and there’s a world of difference,” he observes. His heart is full each week when Wednesday rolls around.

Bob’s favorite carpentry skill is framing a new house.

“It’s very meditative. It gives me a chance to think, and I get to see the results of my work almost immediately,” the former UPS driver explains. “I love the camaraderie,” he says, adding with a laugh, “It also gets me out of the house, and my wife really likes that.”

The same goes for Rick Fowler, who was the owner of a local lawn service when he first volunteered with Habitat St. Charles.

“I was asked if my crew would lay sod on a new build,” he recalls. “It was on a Wednesday, and the guys looked like they were having a lot of fun together,” Rick told Tony that if he ever retired, he’d be back to join up, and a few years later, he kept his promise.

Their hard work pays off seeing the joy they help bring when the home is complete
River City Habitat for Humanity

A Wednesday mission

Habitat often uses professional trade workers for specialized work, and it gets help from recipients, too. Habitat applicants must invest 350 hours of “sweat equity” in their reduced-price, zero-interest mortgage homes. Many of the recipients work at the group’s ReStore thrift shop, which helps fund the homes. Others, like a local barber with six children, work shoulder to shoulder with the volunteers building their future home.

For the Wednesday Crew, nothing compares to attending a home dedication and seeing the joy of a family’s dream of homeownership come true.

“There are too many people who simply can’t afford homes these days,” Bob says. “Seeing a family get their keys and step inside is what it’s all about.”

When the final home in the current project is complete, Gene will have built his 100th home. At a recent fundraiser, he was presented with a silver hammer award to honor his contributions.

“Building houses keeps me fit,” he says. “So long as there’s work, I’ll be there.”

Rick nods in agreement. “Service over self — that’s what it’s all about.”