What Influences Grief

  • How the Way Someone Dies Affects Grief: Sudden Death

    When death comes without warning, grief often feels disorienting and overwhelming. Sudden loss affects not only the heart, but the mind, body, and even faith. This post explores why grief after sudden death feels so intense—and what may help.

  • Grief Roundabouts

    Trapped in the Grief Roundabout: Finding a Way Out

    Grief rumination can feel like being trapped in a roundabout—circling painful memories, regrets, and “what ifs.” Learn what grief roundabouts are, common triggers that keep us stuck in grief, and practical ways to step out of the loop and begin moving toward healing.

  • How Do I Survive My Grief? Don’t Get Stuck!

    Feeling Stuck in Grief? Five Signs and How to Move Forward

    Grief can leave you feeling stuck—circling in despair, denial, or distraction. In this post, I share the “Five D’s” of being stuck in grief and practical steps to move forward. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting your loved one; it means honoring their memory by learning how to live again, one small step at a time.

  • Pregnancy After Loss: The Tension Between Fear and Hope

    Pregnancy after loss is different. It’s filled with anxiety, trauma triggers, and a cautious kind of hope. In this post, I share my own story—losing my first son and navigating a subsequent pregnancy—and offer insights, support, and tools to help others on a similar path.

  • Is A Grief Group Right For Me Right Now?

    Wondering if you’re ready to join a grief support group? Explore six key questions that reveal whether this step could help you right now—or later on your journey.

  • August’s Ache: Celebrating Life In The Midst Of Loss

    August holds both celebration and ache for my family—birthdays, anniversaries, and the reminder of who is missing. Faith assures me Bryan is alive with Christ, yet sorrow remains. In this tender space where joy and grief meet, God’s presence brings hope.

  • Why Hope is So Hard

    Learning to Hope Again When Grief Reopens Old Wounds

    This summer, I’ve been working through a Bible study with a friend: Hope For The Hurting Heart, by Linda Dillow. It’s a gentle, faith-based companion for those walking through grief. With honesty shaped by deep loss, Dillow offers more than advice—she offers presence. Her “Heart Skills” are not spiritual checklists. They’re anchors for when sorrow threatens to pull you under. We haven’t made it far in the book yet, but one chapter—on Hope—stopped me in my tracks. Honestly, it would’ve been worth the entire book just for that one lesson. Because if I’m being honest… The search for hope may be my greatest struggle in life. Especially during times of grief.…