… and instantly moved across the country. I got letters telling me that I wrote their story. I started traveling, coming alongside other spouses, and dove into deep work with those who’d been through much more than me. I learned a lot. The more I learned, the more I passed on my knowledge to other families, and the more I caught vision for what I wanted to do.

But by December of 2016, I was exhausted, professionally and personally. I was tempted to quit, feeling like I couldn’t do this anymore. But with my family spurring me on, a sweet little book my daughter gave me, and divine intervention, something changed. A new vision began to emerge.

I wasn’t done! Not even close…but I couldn’t do this by myself anymore.

Four women joined me to create a nonprofit organization called How2LoveYourCop on St. Patrick’s Day in 2017. It took us more than a year to get everything together. We had our first fundraiser on November 9, 2018, the day after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California. The next day, we were tasked to put together a “store” for the 145 law enforcement families who lost their homes in the fire. We joined together with many individuals and organizations to create a Christmas event that showered these families with gifts, fun, and encouragement. The next year we put on our first Home Watch Spouse Conference and Wounded Officer Marriage Retreat.

Every year since, we’ve grown in our resources, programs, and events as we’ve responded to the needs of the collective law enforcement family community. During 2020, we went online to offer education and support. We recruited liaisons in different states to be our representatives and give us a deeper understanding of the needs in different areas. We also trained our first peers, both officers and spouses to help with the growing number of folks coming to us for help.

Then, in 2018, my husband and I were stunned to hear of a CHP friend who took his life on duty. We walked alongside his family in that loss and continue to this day. About a year after Sean died, his wife Sam told me that “if I’d known then what I know now, perhaps he’d still be alive.” This was the root of why How 2 Love Our Cops was created—and it strengthened my resolve and reignited my passion for all that we do for these families.

Today, we have a team of 23 gifted volunteers and one part time employee who do the work of building resilient blue families across the country. Every quarter we do work directly in about half of the states of the union. This past year we reached over 57,000 folks via social media alone.

As we continue to learn, grow steadily, and create new resources, we will work to bring the very best of the best to our amazing law enforcement families.