Child Loss / Grief / Grief Support / Post-Traumatic Growth / Widowhood

Dear Younger Me: Grief Isn’t What You Think

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13 Things I Would Tell Younger Me About Grief, If I Could 1. There is no such thing as “grieving well.” The right way to grieve is whatever way leads […]

Grief Support

Fatherless Day: When Father’s Day Hurts

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Glass half full or glass half empty—in the end, it doesn’t matter. You drink it up, because that’s all there is. Sweetness and bitterness in the same cup. Gratitude and […]

Grief Support

Putting On Your Mask: Self Care in Grief

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“Secure your own mask first.” You’re enjoying a nice, smooth ride when, suddenly, you are jolted awake by violent shaking and terrified cries. (Whether the screams are yours or someone […]

Grief / Grief Support / Solo Parenting / Widowhood

Sunrise, Sunset: Time Marches On

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She walked herself down the aisle. Alone. Nobody held it together, except her. Bittersweet tears mixed with drops of rain as I watched our beautiful warrior princess boldly step into […]

Grief Support

When the Silence is Deafening: The Grief of Silent Saturday

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Sometimes, silence screams. She harangues us with intrusive thoughts: You’re alone. You’ll always be alone. Nobody sees you. Nobody understands. Nobody cares. And for a valley-walker, the relentless shriek can […]

Grief Support

Last Words

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My husband’s last words to me were, “Not goodbye.” We were on a very brief video call with him before he was put on a ventilator. We hadn’t seen him […]

Grief Support

Feeling Cheated by Death: Wedding Anniversary Thoughts

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Sunday is my wedding anniversary. We should be celebrating 29 years as Mr. and Mrs. Smith. We were supposed to grow old together. We were just getting started. Soon, my […]

devotional / Easter / faith / Grief / Grief Support / Holidays / Resurrection

Palm Sunday and My Fickle Heart

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Today, my daughter and I got to celebrate Palm Sunday with a beautiful congregation in Costa Rica. It was almost transcendent to stand in that space, worshiping one Savior in […]

Grief Support

When Grief is Loud

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When you’re faced with an unwanted new life—devastated by loss—and you become overwhelmed by sorrow, Seek the face of the Savior. He knows the agony of separation and the anguish […]

Child Loss / Grief / Grief Support / Widowhood

The Valley Between Gardens

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Grief and joy, coexisting. So much pain and loss; so much for which to be thankful. Living in that juxtaposition is just part of life between the gardens, isn’t it? […]

Devotional / faith / Grief / Grief Support / Post-Traumatic Growth / Surrender / Widowhood

Drop Your Nets and Follow Me

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Change is hard—especially when it’s not my idea. Especially when it leads to the unknown. Especially when it means letting go. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” With […]