How misfortune led to a blessing

These days, it’s easy to feel like the world is unraveling—our trust in others can feel a little prickly, and keeping to ourselves may feel safer. But during times like these, we must believe goodness is still out there. The simple act of reaching out—whether to ask for help or to offer it—can lead to something unexpectedly wonderful.

That’s how things change, not through grand gestures, but through everyday moments of kindness and connection. When we choose to engage rather than withdraw, we create the kind of community that reminds us we’re not alone.

Kris Ann Valdez learned this firsthand when she and her husband found themselves staring at a sinkhole in their backyard. That daunting project led them to ask for help from a neighbor they barely knew. Read how one small request set off a chain of events that changed all their lives for the better. What started as a favor turned into something much bigger—a friendship that became family.