I Miss Him Every Day

Missing Him Every Day

People often ask what I miss most about my husband, Maurice.

My response is usually something like, “I could talk about him for days and still not begin to scratch the surface of what I miss about him.”

The truth is, I miss everything about him.

He had the most infectious smile. When he smiled at me, I couldn’t help but smile back, even when I was upset with him.

I miss talking with him first thing in the morning and sharing our last conversation before falling asleep each night. I miss cooking for him, caring for him, and simply doing life together. I miss resting my head on his chest at the end of a long day. I miss his smile, his thoughtful words, and the respectful way he treated everyone he met.

I miss him coming home to me. I miss watching him walk through the door and seeing his face light up when he saw me.

I miss our goodbye kisses in the morning and our hello kisses when he arrived home from work.

I miss being wrapped in his strong, loving arms.

I miss seeing his smile as he offered me the last bite of his favorite meal.

Every time he did that, I would say, “No, you eat it. I made it especially for you.”

And every time he would reply, “Because I love you so much, I want you to have the last bite of something I enjoyed so much.”

When you’ve shared a life with someone who loves deeply, their absence is felt in both the extraordinary moments and the ordinary ones.

Yet even in grief, God has been faithful.

There was a time when I never thought I would be able to say those words again. But God…

God is faithful, even when our faith feels broken.

Healing Through Storytelling

In July 2025, I boarded a flight from the United States to the United Kingdom to say goodbye to my sister, who was gravely ill.

During that flight, I wept not only over the impending loss of my sister, but also for my sweet niece, who was facing the loss of her beautiful mother.

As I sat there processing those thoughts, another realization hit me. Since Maurice’s passing, two beautiful little girls had been born into our family. The thought broke my heart.

The poor man sitting across the aisle from me probably didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, the seat between us was empty, sparing him from the full force of my tears.

As I cried, I began thinking about those little girls and how I could help them know the great man they would proudly call Papa.

I cried even more knowing there would never be photographs of them together. They would never see his playful side or experience the joy he found in spending time with his grandchildren.

They would never witness his love of adventure. They would never know firsthand that he was an exceptionally intelligent man with an extensive vocabulary, yet one of the most humble people I have ever known.

Somewhere in the middle of all those tears, I believe the Lord planted an idea in my heart: write children’s books about Maurice’s life, love, and faith.

A few days after my sister passed away, I sat on her bed in her bedroom and began to write. I am convinced this was exactly what the Lord wanted me to do because the stories Maurice had shared with me throughout our years together came flooding back with remarkable clarity.

Writing these books has become an important part of my healing journey.

What began as a way to preserve Maurice’s memory for my precious grandchildren became something far more meaningful. I have been incredibly blessed to know him so well that I have written twenty-eight books inspired by the true events, experiences, values, and lessons that shaped his life.

As I write, each page feels like a walk through cherished memories.

The series consists of four volumes containing seven books each, with every volume representing a major phase of his life. Each story allows me to revisit moments we shared and conversations we treasured.

Every book reminds me that love leaves a legacy.

Rather than focusing solely on my loss, these stories have helped me celebrate the life Maurice lived, the faith that guided him, and the incredible gift God gave me when He brought him into my life.

In many ways, writing these books feels like reliving parts of our journey together.

For that, I am deeply grateful.

What I Hope My Grandchildren Will Learn

More than anything, I want my grandchildren to understand who their grandfather truly was.

I want them to know that he was a man of faith.

A man of courage.

A man of principle.

A man who honored his commitments and lived according to his convictions.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Jesus’ tribute to John the Baptist in Matthew 11:7-11. After John’s disciples departed, Jesus spoke to the crowd about him. He began by asking, “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?” Then He went on to declare that among those born of women, there had not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist.

The answer to Jesus’ question was clearly no. John was not a reed shaken by the wind. He was a man of deep conviction who was not easily swayed by the opinions of others. He spoke boldly, even to those in positions of great power, and remained faithful to God’s truth regardless of the cost.

In many ways, Maurice lived by that same principle. One of his guiding beliefs could be summed up by the old maxim, “Stand for the right, though the heavens fall.” He believed that doing what was right mattered far more than doing what was easy, popular, or convenient.

What an incredible testimony.

Can you imagine Jesus saying something like that about you?

Speaking for myself, my answer would be, “Not a chance.”

But when I think of Maurice, I cannot help but believe that his life reflected the same unwavering faithfulness, humility, and devotion to God that Jesus praised in John.

That is why I wrote these children’s books.

I want my grandchildren to understand that their grandfather’s greatest passion was not his career, his accomplishments, or even the things he enjoyed in life. His greatest passion was faithfully serving Jesus Christ.

And I can say with complete confidence that his love for me was second only to his love for his Savior.

I want them to learn that true strength comes from character, not position or title.

I want them to learn that faithfulness matters.

I want them to understand that respect was one of his core values and that he treated others with dignity because he believed they deserved it.

I want them to remember the Valentine family creed: “If you’re going to do a job, you might as well do it right.”

I want them to learn that a life lived for Jesus leaves an impact long after we are gone.

I want them to understand that giving your all in service to the Lord is a life worth living.

Most of all, I hope that through these stories they will come to know not only their Papa’s heart, but also the heart of the God he loved so dearly.