Thirteen days changed our family's history. That's how long we had from the day Annie went into the ER on August 11 until she passed away on August 24, 2023. She was 29. The cancer that took her was one none of us knew was there. I sat down with Greg Buffkin to talk...
Sunflower Cottage About a month after Annie passed, our neighbors let us know they were going to sell their home. We were not in a position to even think about buying a house. But this one shares two sides of our backyard. So we said yes, without really knowing what...
The Last First Day I won’t forget that September morning in 2021. A text came in from my youngest son. I opened it to see him standing in front of his college apartment, holding a sign: Last First Day of School. My last child.His last first day. And there it was—that...
A Conversation on The Overshare with Rachael Elmore Sometimes God brings people back across our path in the most unexpected ways. A while back, Rachael Elmore joined me as a guest on my podcast, and I remember thinking how refreshing it was to have such an honest...
Milestones and holidays are always especially hard for those who have lost a loved one—especially a child. But if I’m honest, the hardest milestone for me to cross was the first New Year. This reflection was sparked by a recent conversation with a newly bereaved...
Many people misunderstand “the first year” after loss—thinking it’s simply about surviving the firsts without someone we love. It’s easy to believe that once we face the first birthday, the first Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or holiday, it will somehow get easier. As...
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