Bereavement, Death of a Child, Open to Hope, Your Grief

The Keeper of the Room 

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

The door is easy to miss—  a dim recess,  knotted and coarse.    He kept the room for a long time—  some places are made of wood and plaster— this one is made of whatever people bring inside.    People pass it every day  already elsewhere.    If you ask, he gives you the key.  Not ceremoniously—  just a small warmth  from others who came before.    The lock turns easily  as though expecting them,  and the two friends enter.    To the first,  the room offers nothing—  white walls,  corners meet in muted shadows,  light without direction.    She […]

Bereavement, Death of a Child, Open to Hope, Self Care, Your Grief

The Threshold of Truth

Friday, July 10, 2026

When you meet someone new, it’s the heat that won’t break, the dry cleaner down the street that’s too expensive,  how you take your coffee.    We sat over dinner.  He sent the dish back—  too spicy, he said,  as if it were the dish  that missed the mark.    They brought something softer. He thanked them,  moved on.    So did I.    The questions came  in their usual spacing—  easy enough  to keep things level.    He asks it  and reaches for his glass  before I answer.    How many children?    I feel the ice in my […]

Bereavement, Open to Hope, Self Care, Special Topics, Your Grief

Post-Traumatic Growth: How Grief Can Transform You

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Post-traumatic growth is the scientifically documented experience of being changed for the better — not in spite of grief, but because of it. Here’s what post-traumatic growth actually means, the 5 areas it appears in, and how bereaved people slowly grow around their loss.

Bereavement, Death of a Child, Open to Hope, Self Care, Your Grief

A CROWD IS THE  WRONG PLACE FOR A WHISPER

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

A crowd is the wrong place for a whisper.  Sound there is measured in weight,  not meaning.    A whisper asks something else.  For proximity.  For stillness.  For the small kindness  of someone leaning in,  of meeting a mild breeze.    It does not compete.  It waits.  It listens  for the quiet of a wave  braking at ocean’s edge.    In a crowd,  it is mistaken for absence.    But in the dark,  when one person turns  and another is already listening,  it becomes a bridge—  not loud enough to impress,  only strong enough to cross.   POEM GUIDE AND […]

Open to Hope

Considering New Relationships After a Loss

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Our culture presents romantic love in the light of a “one and only.” The person you marry is usually considered the “one true love.” For some people, such a singular concept may be true. However, for people who lose a spouse much too soon, this romanticized idea of love may not be helpful. Widows and widowers may struggle with nagging feelings of disloyalty to their partner when they reach the point of wanting to meet new people or look for a new mate. Feelings of guilt when engaging with a new person can hinder our ability to create another loving […]

Open to Hope

The Poem Was The Meaning

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

After my son died, I did not lose the ability to speak. I could answer questions, describe what had happened, and walk someone through the sequence of events in a way that sounded complete. I could even say it plainly: I got a call from a stranger, three thousand miles away, telling me my son was dead. I sat in my office chair, frozen. That is not something I’ll forget. On the surface, nothing was wrong with my language. Words still worked for logistics—phone calls, explanations, the details people needed. I could confirm, clarify, repeat. But when it came to […]

Death of a Child, Death of a Spouse, Military

Who Is Your Hero?  How Has Your Hero Influenced Your Life?

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

“ I believe that our heroes in life change over time based on our values and maturity. We don’t cling to those who impressed us with their status. Instead, we align our vision with those who are authentic, reliable, and role models. However,  there may also be the unlikely, unclaimed hero who changes our life and  lives in our heart forever.” (Nan Zastrow)  A  year ago, in a support group meeting,  I shared the story of how the ®Wings organization began…in Memory after the death of our son, Chad. After the group, a man who was present came forward and […]

Death of a Child, Death of a Parent

Missing Mom On Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 10, 2026

I’ll be honest…I’ve been struggling what to say and write today. It’s because today is a day of celebration for so many, yet for so many others, this day comes packed with a punch to the gut and heart. Mother’s Day is about Sunday brunch, flowers, cards and family gatherings. It’s a day that’s filled with the celebration of life, love, happiness, gratitude, hugs and joy. But for some of you…it’s just another day living with a broken heart. There are so many different reasons (way too many for me to list in this blog) why this one day of […]

Death of a Child

Between What Was and What Is

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

It has been over a decade now since losing Andrea, and grief has reshaped my world. My memories of her are as vivid as ever. I remember her as a child, with her locks of curly, golden hair and captivating blue eyes. The continuous compliments were awe-inspiring wherever we went. The way the sunlight caught her curls and the childhood laughter melted my heart as she played. I remember the pride I felt that followed me through the years, as I witnessed her milestones, accomplishments, and the way she nurtured her little boy. Those moments shaped my days, and I […]

Bereavement, Open to Hope, Your Grief

Some Souls Weren’t Meant To Stay Long 

Friday, April 10, 2026

I’ve come to believe that some souls simply aren’t meant to stay here long. And I don’t say that lightly. It’s not something I understand in any earthly way, because truthfully, I don’t. There’s no logic that can explain why someone we love so deeply could be here one day and gone the next. If there’s a reason, I wish I knew it. But I don’t. What I do believe is that we’re each sent here to touch certain lives. To love certain people. To leave imprints that carry on long after we’re gone. Maybe our time, no matter how […]