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...
Sometimes the deepest lessons about being HELD don’t come from a sermon — they come while sitting across from someone brave enough to begin again. For the past four and a half months, I’ve been volunteering one to two days a week with Project Free 2 Fly* — a program...
The new year has a way of making people assume things. Fresh start.Clean slate.Better days ahead. But when a new year begins after loss—or after your body, energy, or sense of safety has changed—it doesn’t feel like a beginning at all. It feels more like being asked...
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...
Join me on this 5-Day journey. Grief can feel so isolating, and my prayer is that what you find here reminds you that you are not alone. When you sign up, for the next 5 days, you’ll receive Comfort in the Silence — short reflections with Scripture, encouragement, and simple prompts to help you pause, remember, and rest. Take them at your own pace. Some days you may linger, and that’s perfectly okay. You'll also be subscribed to my email newsletter where I share encouragement and stories from this side of grief.
