Pulling together these writings has been a desire of mine for almost 10 years now. Over the years of Crystal’s battle with cancer, she shared that journey with us in a wonderfully transparent, honest and vulnerable way. She led us as she wrestled with physical and emotional struggles, yet always with a firm foundation of faith and hope.

This project was initially from a desire to share with our three children. They were younger in these years. They walked with us through it all but were not necessarily reading the entries that Crystal was reflecting on and sharing with others. I hope they will enjoy reading what she wrote and ‘hearing’ the journey through their mom’s own voice.

I am thankful we can make her journal now available to you as well. I think you will be blessed as you read it. The challenge of faith in the face of struggles is a difficulty any one of us might be facing. Crystal didn’t try to hide or deny those tough times; rather, she faced them all with the confidence that she was held in her Father’s hands.