Finish Well

10/05/2026

We did it!

After months of training for the Grand Canyon, we found ourselves standing at the valley floor in Yosemite National Park, at the bottom of Half Dome and quickly realized we were in for something a bit more demanding.

We trained for an average 11% incline for Rim to Rim. Half Dome was nearly identical in elevation gain, but averaged roughly 12%, with substantial stretches significantly steeper…including the brutal first 2.6 miles at a 14.5% average grade.

And they were READY.

They pushed through the steep, relentless sections. The miles. The elevation. The mental battle. The moments when their legs were tired and the trail just kept going.

But honestly, my favorite part had nothing to do with the numbers.

It was watching this team encourage and motivate each other, come up with the most fun nicknames, celebrate every victory, wipe away the tears, raise their hiking poles to create a victory tunnel, and refuse to let anyone walk alone.

That’s what this was really about.

Seven people. One mountain. A whole lot of grit, laughter, encouragement and friendship.

I am SO proud of every single one of you. What an incredible thing we just did together. ❤️

And somehow, after all those miles and all that elevation I think we’re already wondering what’s next.

10/01/2026

The mountains are calling. And I’m incredibly grateful for the people who help me answer.

We were not designed to do life alone.

I’m in Yosemite National Park with an incredible team preparing to hike the iconic Half Dome tomorrow morning — nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain — for Finish Well Foundation and the mission that is at the heart of everything we do: no widow should walk alone.

And while I’m here, other people are filling the gaps.

My mom and twin brother are taking my youngest to his high school’s Evening of Excellence, celebrating his academic achievements even though I’m the worst mom on the planet for making him go!

My sister and her husband will be at Parents Weekend at Notre Dame with my oldest, because his dad is gone and his mom is leading an important trek...and they (along with mom, and my brother/SIL) love my kids as their own!

My kids are thriving when life circumstances have every reason to keep them down in the dirt.

And that is exactly why I am so incredibly grateful.

Not because life has been easy. It hasn’t.

But because God has placed good people in my life who step in when I can’t be everywhere. People who love my boys. People who show up. People who fill the gaps.

We were never meant to do this life alone. And I am incredibly blessed that I don’t have to.

09/30/2026

The team is ready for Half Dome! ❤️

If you’d like to support our hike and the widows we serve through Finish Well, I’d be so grateful.

Donate at my personal fundraising page and help us reach our goal:
www.finishwell.today/tara

No widow should walk alone.

This October, a small team of hikers will take on one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in the country: Half Dome Summit in Yosemite National Park. But this isn’t just about the miles we’ll cover. It’s about the lives we’re walking for.

09/30/2026

Five months ago, our Finish Well team began training for something pretty big: hiking Rim-to-Rim across the Grand Canyon.

Several weeks ago, the canyon flooded, trails closed, and our plans changed.

So we pivoted.

THIS FRIDAY, the team will take on 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸.

And they are ready!

They have trained for five months. They have put in the miles, climbed the stairs, carried the weight, and pushed themselves physically and mentally to prepare for this hike.

And every one of them has also been fundraising to support Finish Well!

So now I’m making my own BIG push.

As we head into the final quarter of 2026, 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 $𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿. This money directly supports the work we do with widows—helping them move out of isolation and into connection, providing practical support when life feels overwhelming, and reminding them that the death of their spouse is not the end of their story.

As you begin thinking about your year-end giving, would you consider making a donation in support of our Yosemite hike, and in support of the widows we serve?

I would be incredibly grateful for your support of this team and the work we are doing through Finish Well.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝟱𝟬𝟭(𝗰)(𝟯) 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅-𝗱𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻—𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.

I’ll put my personal fundraising page below.

Thank you for believing in Finish Well, believing in the women we serve, and cheering this team on!

Friday, we hike. And we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.

No widow should walk alone.

* Photo does not include all members of our team

www.finishwell.today/tara

08/11/2026

Finish Well Foundation is excited to announce a special two-hour workshop presented by Brooke’s Place and made possible through the generosity of Katz, Sapper & Miller!

This workshop is designed for widows in every season of life and is beneficial whether your family’s loss is recent or many years ago.

𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲?
This event is for you!

𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻?
This event is for you!

You’ll learn practical tools, age-appropriate strategies, and meaningful ways to support grieving children while also caring for your own grieving heart. This workshop will provide valuable insight into how children grieve and what they need from the adults who love them.

As widows, we become the primary leaders of our families. We want to help you feel equipped to lead your family through grief with confidence and intention, while remembering that your grief matters, too.

RSVP on our website: https://www.finishwell.today/event-details/parenting-through-grief

Brooke's Place

07/13/2026

Join us for our next Finish Well Widows Walk + Coffee on Saturday, July 18th. We’ll walk on the Monon at Midtown in Carmel and get coffee after at Java House.

Saturday, July 18th
9:00 AM - 11:00PM
Java House Midtown
145 W Elm St, Ste 100, Carmel IN 46032

9:00 AM - 3 Mile Walk on the Monon

We will meet outside the Midtown location of Java House before heading out for the walk. All fitness levels welcome.

10:00 AM - Coffee at Java House

After the walk, we will gather for coffee and conversation.

Come for both activities or just one, your choice!

Whether you’ve been to many Finish Well gatherings or this would be your first, please know that you are so welcome.

If you know a widow, invite her along too!

Register at the link in bio

07/07/2026

We are overwhelmed by your generosity!

To every person who gave in honor of Jeff’s birthday...thank you.

We don’t take your trust lightly. We promise to steward every dollar with wisdom, integrity, and purpose…investing it directly into the lives of widows who need community, hope, and people to walk beside them.

Because of you, more women will find a place where they are seen, supported, and reminded they don’t have to carry this journey alone.

We can’t wait to share the stories of how your generosity changes lives in the months ahead.

Thank you for honoring Jeff’s legacy by helping others live well, suffer well, and finish well. ❤️

07/03/2026

Jeff’s story didn’t end when his life on earth did. His legacy continues every time someone chooses to carry another person’s burden.

As we enter the final two days of Jeff’s birthday campaign, we’re just over $2,500 away from our goal.

In honor of Jeff’s birthday (or in honor of a widow in your life) would you consider making a gift today? Every donation, large or small, helps another family know they don’t have to walk through grief alone.

Thank you for helping others live well, suffer well, and finish well.

Together we can ensure that no widow walks alone

❤️ Donate: www.finishwell.today/jeff (link in bio)

06/30/2026

Most of us will never be called to something extraordinary in this life, but rather to live faithfully in our circumstances.

It’s a question I often ask myself: Was I faithful today with what I’ve been given?

Jeff modeled this so well. He found true joy in life. He loved people well, showed up consistently, and made those around him feel seen and valued.

That’s exactly the heart behind Finish Well Foundation.

While we can’t change the loss a widow has experienced, we can make sure she doesn’t have to walk through it alone. We can remind her that this is not the end of her story and equip her to thrive again. Every retreat, gathering, workshop, conversation, and act of care is a reminder that someone sees her, someone remembers her, and someone is willing to walk beside her and her family.

One of the greatest ways to honor Jeff...or a widow in your own life...is to help us extend that same hope to another widow.

As we continue counting down to his birthday on July 4, thank you for remembering Jeff and for helping ensure that no widow walks alone!

❤️ Donate: www.finishwell.today/jeff (link in bio)

06/29/2026

One of the things I admired most about Jeff was his willingness to be honest.

This video is a powerful reminder that we weren’t meant to carry life’s hardest seasons alone.

That’s why Finish Well exists.

As we continue our $7,426 for 7/4/26 campaign leading up to what would have been Jeff’s 48th birthday, we’re inviting you to help us continue the legacy he left behind by caring for widows walking through the unimaginable.

We’re 33% of the way to our goal with 6 days remaining, and every gift helps ensure that no widow has to walk alone.

❤️ Donate today: www.finishwell.today/jeff (link in bio)

Because no widow should walk alone.