A Safe Haven for the Women Behind the Wait
“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Welcome to Our Community
COURAGE AND STRENGTH serves as both a gratitude prayer and a battle cry for the warriors on this difficult journey — a call to ignite your inner power and succeed in spite of severe emotional pain and fear.
Welcome to a safe space created specifically for the mothers, wives, girlfriends, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and dear friends who stand steadfast while supporting someone they love through incarceration.
You are not invisible. We see you.
We stand by your side in the heat of the battle to bring your loved ones home.
We never stop fighting for our clients.
How can we not see you, and feel your quiet suffering and your brave spirit rising up to meet the challenges you are facing daily?
This journey is one that few understand. Unless they’ve walked it themselves, they don’t know the silent strength it requires, the emotional toll it takes, and the resilience it builds.
Courage and Strength for the road ahead is what this difficult journey demands.
Founded by Carolyn Oliver
Founded by criminal defense attorney Carolyn Oliver, this blog was born from witnessing countless women navigate the complex emotional terrain of loving someone behind bars.
We believe that by sharing stories, strategies, experiences, personal growth, and support, we create a foundation of strength upon which we all can stand.
Why We’re Here
At the Oliver Law Firm, we understand that true advocacy extends far beyond the courtroom. While we fight passionately for justice with unmatched legal expertise, we recognize that the criminal justice system affects entire families — not just the accused.
COURAGE AND STRENGTH exists to:
-
Connect women who understand this unique journey
-
Validate the complex emotions that others might dismiss
-
Provide practical strategies for navigating prison visits, managing households alone, and maintaining relationships
-
Empower you to discover strength you never knew you possessed
-
Transform individual struggle into collective wisdom
Share Your Story
Every woman supporting an incarcerated loved one has wisdom that another woman needs to hear.
Your journey — with all its tears, triumphs, setbacks, and small victories — contains lessons that could be someone else’s lifeline.
How you navigate this journey and manage your new life will lift others.
We invite you to share:
-
How you manage visiting days
-
Strategies for explaining incarceration to children
-
Ways you found to care for yourself during this time
-
Unexpected moments of grace you’ve experienced
-
Practical tips for maintaining connection despite distance
-
How to handle holidays, birthdays, and special occasions
-
Financial management techniques while supporting someone inside
-
How you’re learning to take care of yourself
-
How you find the strength to keep going
Your vulnerability becomes your contribution; your struggle becomes your gift.
By sharing your experience here, you transform the narrative from one of isolation to one of community and collective uplifting strength.
Submit your story and experiences through our contact form.
Write about you, and what you feel, not him — because this is to empower you.
Positively reinforce and lift each other.
All submissions are reviewed before posting, and you can choose a fun made-up name to remain anonymous.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Dedication
COURAGE AND STRENGTH is dedicated to Lucy, Ramona, and M, and all the beautiful loving women I’ve grown close to over the years while representing their beloved husbands, sons, and dear friends.
Thank you for trusting me. I’m so grateful for the powerful spiritual connections, and loving genuine friendships, and support and strength we built together, on this journey to bring your loved ones home.
I see your shining BRAVE HEARTS, and I keep you in my Gratitude Prayers for COURAGE and STRENGTH on the road ahead!
