Go, Girl, Go!

About the Book

“Go, Girl, Go” is the story of the physical, mental, and spiritual challenges Carol faced in her loneliness and anguish following the death of her husband. But we cannot remain in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. This is an inspirational writing and a practical book of how to cope and handle the realities of daily living during the depths of grief when neither the body nor the mind are functioning normally. Carol’s inconsolable sorrow was born out of a loving marriage of faithfulness, forgiveness, joys and struggles.

It is our desire that this book will provide help for others who are not sure “which way to turn” following the loss of their loved one: From the “how to” of finances to the various avenues of the healing process through which one becomes whole again.

This small book is a delightfully hopeful and helpful writing from one woman’s heart to the hearts of so many others who have to learn to function in the world alone.

Carol writes in the early months of grieving, I would sit down in a chair and stare into the nothingness that had enveloped my life. Who knows how many wasted minutes I sat, lonely and afraid, staring into the emptiness of the space that had been our home. The Holy Spirit began to speak gently to my heart and brought to my mind verses from the Bible that I had hid in my heart. The Bible instructs us to hide the Word in your heart. I might still be sitting and staring into nothingness were it not for the admonition of the Lord: ”What are you doing here, Elijah? GET UP AND GO, and STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD.”

About the Author

Her senior year in college in 1947, Carol married Hal, her high school sweetheart, graduating from Ohio State University in 1948 with a BSc. in Elementary and Secondary Education.

Through their United Methodist Church in Archbold, Ohio and during the family’s summer ministries to the migrant families working in the fields of Northwest Ohio, Carol realized the need to learn Spanish in order to become a more effective witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

At age 41 with five children in their teens and with the encouragement of her husband, Carol began her studies in Spanish at The Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. While teaching Spanish in the Archbold Area Schools, Carol earned a Master’s Degree in the History and Literature of Spain from Bowling Green State University. After receiving her MA Carol taught at the Defiance College where her journey of disciplined study first began. During this time, she led groups from her Spanish classes on tours of Spain and Mexico. The Hackett family also hosted exchange students from Colombia and Mexico

Upon Hal’s retirement, the two traveled extensively, and especially enjoyed their winter seasons together in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where they skied with their children and grandchildren, participated in the activities of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Holy Name Catholic Church, and enjoyed Steamboat’s cultural activities. These happy times came to a halt one snowy January day when Hal was unable to get air into his lungs in the high altitude of the Rocky Mountains. They returned home to Archbold, Ohio . After many trips to the Cleveland Clinic, Hal’s death nine months following diagnosis was due to Myelo Fibrosis and Acute Leukemia, for which no cure has been found. Carol is finding purpose and focus sharing with others the abundant life that Jesus Christ offers to all humanity.