In this episode I have the joy of hearing from Lauren Hendricks, a precious mama who shares her motherhood journey with me and her experience with two first trimester losses. Lauren shares what she wished others understood about a first trimester loss and we both get really honest about the most challenging aspect of this journey, the envy, jealousy and anger that can often follow loss; especially when it involves others getting pregnant and having babies. We talk honestly about what that looked like in each of our lives and if that is something that feels hard for you right now, I think this ..read more

In this episode I have the honor of interviewing Natalie DiCicco about her motherhood and grief journey. She shares about her experience with a first trimester loss, a baby she named Ezekiel, as well as a second trimester loss, her daughter Naomi Hope. During our time together Natalie shares honestly and candidly about her experience navigating grief – what surprised her and what practical advice she would give to a newly grieving mom. We also talk about pregnancy after loss, what that was like for her, the challenges she faced and how she navigated those challenges – and again she shares very ..read more

In this episode Meg Walker, The Morning’s Content Editor and Community Manager, and myself are answering a handful of your questions about  pregnancy after baby loss. Questions like: When is the right time to try to conceive again? How do I practically get through a pregnancy after loss How do I honor and remember the baby I lost? Will I love my new baby as much as I long for my baby in heaven? I feel guilty for having another child. We’re discussing all of those and more in this honest conversation.  Over the next few weeks we will continue this conversation about what it looks li ..read more

A very, very helpful and hopeful resource for navigating life after loss is a book called, What Grieving People Wish You Knew (about what really helps and what really hurts) by Nancy Guthrie. Over the last month we have been reading this book together in The Morning Book Club and while the book is written with those who love a grieving person as the intended audience – this book is incredibly helpful for someone grieving as well. So, whether you are a grieving mom or you love a grieving mom, this episode is for you. I’ll be sharing my favorite takeaways from the first four chapters in the book ..read more

In today’s episode I am sharing with you what I have learned about managing grief in a healthy way – the importance of finding healthy ways to cope, finding expressions of grief that are helpful to you, why taking good care of yourself is helpful in this process and simple ways to mother your baby. I share a new-to-me simple strategy for managing intense grief waves as well as my favorite coping method, why its helpful and tips for putting it into practice.  We put together a free worksheet for you that will be really helpful at putting into practice some of the things I’m sharing with yo ..read more

In this episode I am sharing with you what I want every grieving mom to know about grief after the loss of a baby. If we were sitting down for coffee and I could share with you what I have learned in the nearly 15 years since losing my infant son about grief and navigating this journey of life after loss, these are the things I would tell you. I pray they offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone. THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO JACOB WALKER.  Today’s podcast is in honor of Meg Walker, and her son Jacob, on his birthday.  Meg, your son has changed all of our lives. T ..read more

Today’s episode is all about the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. I’m sharing with you 3 things to know as you enter a New Year and a few practical tips for each.  The New Year can catch a grieving mom by surprise in it’s heaviness and I hope these thoughts I’m going to share with you bring you hope and give a few practical tips for navigating the days ahead. For an extra bit of encouragement go back and listen to Episode #143 for hope and encouragement about beginning a New Year from our Morning Team members – I promise it will bring you hope and remind you that you are not ..read more

From Every Moment Holy, Volume II  "Lead me, O Lord, through this layered confusion  of celebration and lament, of things present, and things past. Let me make of this day a new thing. Though holidays might be hard days, O God,  by the movement of your mercies  may they also become holy days,  teaching me again and again to entrust to you my many griefs, as often as these unavoidable days uncover and reveal them."   "Now lead me, carry me, and walk beside me through this day, O Christ, shepherd of all my sorrows. In unexpected places, let me find joy. Amen."   ..read more

Welcome to part 4 of our 4 part Holiday series – a discussion about finding hope when the holidays hurt. Kristin Hernandez, author of the Advent Journal, Hope When the Holidays Hurt, is joining me for this series.  In the first part of this episode Kristin talks about God’s love for you and knowing that grasping that love can feel very, very difficult for a grieving mom Kristin shares what helped her to see that God had not forgotten her and how He did love her even amidst devastating loss and deep grief. In the second part of this episode Kristin gives her best advice for navigating Chri ..read more

Welcome to part 3 of our 4 part Holiday series – a discussion about finding hope when the holidays hurt and our first ever virtual book club. Kristin Hernandez, author of Hope When the Holidays Hurt, is joining me for this series and our book club discussions. Whether you are following along in the Advent Journal or not, I wanted to remind you that the hope shared in this series and episode is valuable and helpful either way.  In this episode Kristin talks about the shepherds that were given the good news of this baby being born, they were the ones that God chose to tell first and yet the ..read more