Instagram This week, Helen Strickland is celebrating her wedding anniversary with one special angel in mind.
Less than a year ago, her husband, country singer Craig Strickland, was found dead after his boat capsized in a lake during a hunting trip in Oklahoma. He was just 29 years old.
While his untimely passing took a toll on all who knew and loved Craig, his wife turned to religion to give her strength during these trying months, particularly Tuesday on what would have marked two years of marriage.
"Dear Heavenly Father, continue to let your Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the water, wherever You would call me...and take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior," she began in a lengthy message penned on Instagram along with a montage of their wedding photos set to music. "Happy Anniversary Craig Michael. I will miss you every step of the way in this life...but I am thankful that I can always look back on the precious memory of our marriage with love in my heart."
"I can be thankful because you are with our Father...meaning I can find peace knowing that since we are both His, you both are mine. #loveyoualways 11.29.14"
In the year since his death, she has not lost sight of her late husband, often sharing tributes to him on social media and keeping him in mind when she purchased her first house. "Craig would have loved this house and it's view!" she gushed on Instagram.
When the day marking his 30th birthday arrived, she stayed positive. "A year ago we were playing golf in Branson and celebrating his last year of his 20's," she recalled on Instagram.
"I'm so thankful I made that a big birthday and spoiled him a ton. I'll miss doing that for you every year Craig Michael. But I know you have a new birthday in heaven, and it will be far better than anything I could have imagined for you! I love you so much."