It's normal that Dominic is less and less a part of his friends lives over time. But it still hurts...

Oh how I love you! Your brother’s untimely departure has opened my heart in a whole new way to the glory that is your presence.

So much of this battle has been fought in my mind. Really, even more than my heart. What I dwell on makes a difference.

I don't have to meet a timetable or get anyone's approval. It's my journey and baby steps count!

Parents look forward to marking milestones in their child's life. They never plan to have to mark the milestone of their death.

Since Dominic ran ahead to Heaven, I find I need even more alone time than before. But I take care that solitude doesn’t become isolation.

Marriage is hard work under the best of circumstances. Child loss makes it harder. But there are ways to create space and to extend grace.

In the aftermath of child loss, healthy boundaries are no longer optional, they are necessary for survival.  

Child loss is often sibling loss. In addition to their own heartache, bereaved parents carry the heartache of their surviving children.

I am learning to take anxious thoughts captive, learning to make them live in only a corner of my mind instead of taking it over completely.

Do I have any control over whether or not this burden gets lighter?

Shame tells us we are unworthy of love and belonging and that is simply a lie.

I and several other seasoned bereaved parents will share a bit about how to navigate this difficult time of year.

I’m learning to let go of offense. Not only because it is too heavy to carry in addition to my grief, but because the Lord commanded it.

When taking care of others means NOT taking care of myself, then in the end, I’m of no use to anyone

Child loss is hard. Child loss is not "curable" or "solvable" and it's not helpful to pretend it is.

Every time I fall and get back up I prove to my heart it's possible.

Grief means there is already a low-level hum of background stress every. single. day.

If you can’t do it all, do something. And celebrate.

Child loss is lonely. But you don’t have to be alone. An isolated heart is especially vulnerable to discouragement and despair.