Over the years we have created several episodes for navigating the holidays after loss and in this episode I’m sharing with you 5 of our favorites – I know it can be challenging to sift through hundreds of episodes so we did the hard work for you and pulled a few favorites to get you started. TOP 10 HOLIDAY EPISODES Episode 56 Navigating the Holidays after Loss with Lindsey Dennis Episode 58 Navigating the Holidays after Loss with Mary Catelynn Stamm Episode 101 Navigating the Holidays after Loss with Meg Walker and Mary Margaret Powitz Episode 138 - 5 tips for Navigating the Holidays Episode 139 Practical Advice from 6 Grieving Moms About Navigating the Holidays Episode 140 What to Know About Christmas Traditions as a Grieving Mom and 5 Christmas Tradition Ideas Episode 184 - What We Wish You Knew About Grief & The Holidays Episode 210 - How to Navigate the Holidays, a Q&A episode where I answer your questions. Episode 211 - 5 Things to Know About What It’s Like to Be a Grieving Mom During the Holidays and how you can help Episode 189 - 3 Things to Know About the New Year   WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCE LIBRARY: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Christmas Devotional & Study Guide Bundle  (click here) Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Christmas Card Guide Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I’m sharing with you 5 simple ways to love a grieving mom through the holidays – 5 things to know about what it’s like to be a grieving mom during the holidays and how you can meet her in those things, showing up for her in very simple ways this holiday season. This episode is about simple acts of understanding, giving space, and simply showing up in the tender, challenging spaces of grief for the ones you love.   I pray the words I share with you today offer you the encouragement you may have needed to reach out and show up for a grieving mom this season. I pray these words remind you that you don’t have to show up perfectly for it to matter so much.     > If you love a grieving mom, download the How to Love a Grieving Mom free guide: themorning.com/friendsandfamily > Gift Guide for Grieving Moms: www.themorning.com/giftguide WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCE LIBRARY: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Christmas Devotional & Study Guide Bundle  (click here) Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Christmas Card Guide Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I’m answering your questions about navigating the holiday season while grieving the loss of a baby.  I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope in this season. I pray these words remind you that you are not alone.   WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCE LIBRARY: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Christmas Devotional & Study Guide Bundle  (click here) Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Christmas Card Guide Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced infant loss to know about grief and life after loss. For those who are listening who love a grieving mom and might not be as familiar we wanted to take a second and define infant loss – infant loss includes those whose babies within the first year of life. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone.  In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief 10 Ways to Honor and Celebrate Your Baby 1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a note to your baby/babies telling them your favorite memory you have about them that makes you smile. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of those sweet memories when you most need them.  Resources in this episode: Planning a Funeral or Memorial Service Memory Making & Photo Checklist Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep La Leche League Article  Cabo Cream Pink Stork No Flow Tea Birthdays, Anniversaries, Due Dates & Other Significant Milestones PINK STORK Holistic health support they offer women, especially grieving mothers > Here RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here. FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY: Join Here. THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, pretty pictures from the early christmas decorators, gift guides for every gift giving situation and person, the text messages exchanging plans, recipes, and details for the holiday family gatherings this year, and invitations to all the holiday parties – no matter how hard you may be trying to hide from it, you have likely already been inundated by this fast approaching season. Where everyone seems about to burst with excitement and joy. Everyone except you. Grief has felt so lonely and in this moment it feels even more so. As if you are the only one who would rather skip the next two months and all it’s festivities altogether.   The holidays season, Thanksgiving into Christmas and New Years can be excruciating for families walking through grief after the loss of a baby. The season can feel impossible, overwhelming, scary or simply something to be avoided.  I wanted to share a few quick resources with you to help you prepare for this season so you can move forward with hope.  Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle: www.themorning.com/holidays Holiday Support Group for Grieving Moms: the-morning.myflodesk.com/holiday-support-group LISTEN: Episode 56, Episode 57, Episode 58, Episode 101, Episode 138 and Episode 183 CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FOR A GRIEVING MOTHER: www.themorning.com/blog/5-christmas traditions-for-a-grieving-mother DIY ORNAMENTS TO HONOR YOUR BABY: www.themorning.com/blog/diy-christmas-ornaments CHRISTMAS CARD GUIDE: www.themorning.com/blog/christmas-card-guide

In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who is carrying her baby after receiving a life-limiting diagnosis to know about the pregnancy, grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today about grief and life after receiving a difficult and devastating diagnosis – offers you hope. I pray these words remind you that you are not alone.   For those listening whose baby has been born and has already died and you are looking for help navigating grief, we have previous episodes that will be helpful for you, as well. For those enduring a 2nd trimester loss, listen to Episode 205, for those whose babies were born still in the 3rd trimester or at full term, listen to Episode 206, and for those whose babies were born prematurely or lived less than 28 days, listen to Episode 207. For those whose babies lived up to 1 year old, listen to Episode 209. In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief Ways to Make Memories & Celebrate Your Baby  1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a list of things that are true about your baby and how much they mean to you, even in spite of their diagnosis. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of the things that are true about your baby when you most need the reminding.  Resources in this episode: Doula: stillbirthday.com/find-doula/ Perinatal Hospice & Palliative Care: www.perinatalhospice.org Birth Plan: carryingtoterm.org/your-birth-plan/ Hospital Bag Checklist Memory Making & Photo Checklist Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep La Leche League Article  Cabo Cream Pink Stork No Flow Tea PINK STORK Holistic health support they offer women, especially grieving mothers > Here RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a Neonatal or Preterm Loss to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone.  In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief 10 Ways to Honor and Celebrate Your Baby 1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a note to your baby/babies telling them your favorite memory you have about your pregnancy and/or baby that makes you smile. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of those sweet memories when you most need them.  Resources in this episode: Hospital Bag Checklist Memory Making & Photo Checklist Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep La Leche League Article  Cabo Cream Pink Stork No Flow Tea Birthdays, Anniversaries, Due Dates & Other Significant Milestones PINK STORK Holistic health support they offer women, especially grieving mothers > Here RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a 3rd trimester loss to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone.   In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief 10 Ways to Honor and Celebrate Your Baby 1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a note to your baby/babies telling them your favorite memory you have about your pregnancy and/or baby that makes you smile. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of those sweet memories when you most need them.  Resources in this episode: Hospital Bag Checklist Memory Making & Photo Checklist Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep La Leche League Article  Cabo Cream Pink Stork No Flow Tea Birthdays, Anniversaries, Due Dates & Other Significant Milestones PINK STORK Holistic health support they offer women, especially grieving mothers > Here   RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. Read More Quick LinksGet Embed PlayerShare on SocialDownload Audio File Author : N/A Episode Type : Full Episode : N/A Rating : Clean File Info : audio/mpeg | mp3 | 74MB Downloads for This Episode IAB  Jul 23, 2023 - Oct 23, 2023 Daily IAB Unique Daily Downloads466                 Downloads: [bold][/] Last processed 10/23/23 11:47am View Stats Destinations   Destination Status Release Expiration Android App Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER iPhone/iPad App Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Libsyn Classic Feed Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Microsoft Windows App Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Network App Listing Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Podcast Page Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Simple Download Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Spotify Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Web Player Released Oct 16, 2023 10:24am NEVER Previous of1 Next     6     Episode Description In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a 2nd trimester loss (late miscarriage or stillbirth) to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone.   In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief 10 Ways to Honor and Celebrate Your Baby 1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a note to your baby/babies telling them your favorite memory you have about your pregnancy and/or baby that makes you smile. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of those sweet memories when you most need them.  PINK STORK Holistic health support they offer women, especially grieving mothers > Here   RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen into today’s special episode where I share: a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things: To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected.  To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast is going to be incredibly helpful at understanding her better.    IF YOU ARE A GRIEVING MOM For an abundance of resources about navigating life after the loss of a baby head to www.themorning.com/resourcebundle IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a 2nd trimester loss (late miscarriage or stillbirth) to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone.   In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief 10 Ways to Honor and Celebrate Your Baby 1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a note to your baby/babies telling them your favorite memory you have about your pregnancy and/or baby that makes you smile. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of those sweet memories when you most need them.  PINK STORK Holistic health support they offer women, especially grieving mothers > Here   RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen into today’s special episode about: why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable  -- or all of the above. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and over the course of the month you will hear 3 short mini bonus episodes. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast is going to be incredibly helpful at understanding her better.    IF YOU ARE A GRIEVING MOM For an abundance of resources about navigating life after the loss of a baby head to www.themorning.com/resourcebundle IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

In this episode I’m sharing with you what I want every grieving mom who has experienced a 1st trimester miscarriage or pregnancy loss to know about grief and life after loss. I pray the words I share with you today offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone.   In this episode: Letter from a grieving mom to a grieving mom Words of hope and understanding from women have experienced a similar loss Answers to Questions you may be wondering about your loss and life now 5 Things to Know about Grief 10 Ways to Honor and Celebrate Your Baby 1 thing you can do today to find hope: Journal Prompt: Write a note to your baby/babies telling them your favorite memory you have about your pregnancy and/or baby that makes you smile. Prayer Prompt: Ask God to remind you of those sweet memories when you most need them.      RESOURCES FOR YOU FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONALA free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen into today’s special episode about: why raising awareness about pregnancy and infant loss is valuable and important, why it matters. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and over the next few weeks you will hear 3 short mini bonus episodes in honor of this special month. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast is going to be incredibly helpful.    IF YOU ARE A GRIEVING MOM For an abundance of resources about navigating life after the loss of a baby head to www.themorning.com/resourcebundle IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.    

Season 07 is here! To kick off this season I will be sharing answers to your questions in the annual Q&A episode. These episodes give space for you to get to know me, your host, just a little better as I share bits of my story, my grief journey and just every day life with you.  In this episode I’m answering these questions: What is your favorite kind of coffee? What did your faith look like amidst grief? How does life go on? How do you juggle daily life and grief?  How do you move forward in having more children after loss?  How do you help people understand that you are a different person now?  How do you handle being around triggers that you don't expect?  What was the most helpful in the first year of loss? How do you prepare yourself for milestones and important dates?  Is it okay to still cry? What are your hopes and prayers for The Morning and the women in this community this year? No matter what brought you here today, I pray this episode is a reminder to you today that you are seen and loved and not alone. SHOW NOTES (For all resources mentioned in the episode)www.themorning.com/blog/episode203 SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR US TO ANSWER ON THE PODCASTwww.themorning.com/question -- FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS If you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

As we head into summer I wanted to share with you 5 simple activities you could do this summer to honor your baby and bring you joy. SHOW NOTES for Printable Summer Joy Bucket List, Journal Prompts, & More   As we end this season of the podcast, I wanted to remind you of all the ways that you can find us and continue to find helpful and hopeful support as you navigate loss and grief.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   THE MORNING LIBRARY Dive deeper into specific topics on grief and life after loss through our grief workshops. Learn more.    THE MORNING SHOP For tangible tools to help navigate grief and to honor your baby and motherhood. Shop Here.   START HERE > Episode 200: 20 Episodes to bring you joy, hope & help.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTS If you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom in the Waiting: Between Diagnosis and Birth by Sharon Szymula. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-in-the-waiting-between-diagnosis-and-birth   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Wondering Where to Find Hope by Amber Weems. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-wondering-where-to-find-hope   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Missing Her Baby Today by Megan Gaudette. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-missing-her-baby-today FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose Miscarriage Still Matters by Shareya Holm. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-miscarriage-still-matters FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom, 6 Months After Her Baby Died by Crystal Midlik. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-6-months-after-her-baby-died FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Mom Still Grieving Her Baby’s Diagnosis by Shanae Thompson. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-mom-still-grieving-her-babys-diagnosis For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom when Her Friends’ Arms Are Now Full by Nicole Bertsch I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-when-her-friends-arms-are-now-full For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Years After Her Baby Died by Marisa Baese. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-years-after-her-baby-died For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.  THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF GREYSON & NATHAN BAGLEY. Greyson and Nathan Bagley. Greyson was born on October 4, 2012, and Nathan was born on March 6, 2014. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, Greyson and Nathan! We are eagerly waiting with Greyson and Nathan's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Greyson and Nathan with you. FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Leaving the Hospital with Empty Arms by Nuriman Faris. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-leaving-the-hospital-with-empty-arms For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom When Everyone Else Has Moved On by Courtney Welch. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-when-everyone-else-has-moved-on For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose Baby Died Today by Stephanie Bertran Williams. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-baby-died-today For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.    THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF JAMES EUBANKS. James was born on June 7, 2022. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, James! We are eagerly waiting with Jame’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember James with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read Letter to the Grieving Mom Who Just Received the Diagnosis by Melody Joseph. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-who-just-received-the-diagnosis For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.    THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARLEY STYNE. Marley was born on February 2, 2022  A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, Marley! We are eagerly waiting with Marley’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I read Letter to the Grieving Mom Who is Having a Miscarriage by Dottie Soderstrom. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-who-is-having-a-miscarriage For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.    THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF AUGUST HILBERT. August was born on August 10, 2021  A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, August! We are eagerly waiting with August’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember August with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.  

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose House is Quiet & Empty by Avery Swaringen. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom. Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-house-is-quiet-empty For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.    THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF ELEANOR BLACK. Eleanor was born on July 30, 2020. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church. We love you, Eleanor! We are eagerly waiting with Eleanor’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Eleanor with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

A special episode in honor of your motherhood. This entire month we are giving space for your unique story of motherhood, providing a little extra support and hope as you head into Mother’s Day – a day that can be full of many complex emotions, often very painful. But more important than our resources and articles on the blog and special episodes here on the podcast, mostly, I want you to know, we want you to know that Your motherhood is motherhood, too. Even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s, or like how you wish yours was. Even in the journey you’re facing, this day is for you, too. In this special episode I am kicking off this month with a poem written by Meg Walker called This is Motherhood, Too. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.  For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday. 

As we approach Mother’s Day, maybe you are wondering will anyone recognize my motherhood? Will anyone remember? Will anyone see me as a mother?  Today I am talking about what it looks like to prepare for Mother’s Day as a bereaved mother. I am sharing my best advice about how to tangibly prepare for this day, and the days leading up to it, as well as simple ideas for how you, as a bereaved mother, can celebrate your motherhood this Mother’s Day. For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.  YOU ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL EVENT FOR BEREAVED MOTHERS | May 7 at 8p est. Click here for the details to Register JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode159   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing Danielle Anderson – a birth & bereavement doula, speaker, teacher, a wellness coach and a mom who has experienced tragic loss. For the last 10 years, Danielle has been on a journey of healing and restoration, and has learned the importance of whole health - spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical – and during our time together she shares incredible insight and wisdom about all that she has learned. Insight that is going to offer you hope, help and freedom in your grief journey.   Danielle shares her motherhood journey with me and what surprised her about grief and the most challenging aspect of her grief journey and how she navigated that challenge. We talk about finding healing and what it means to be present with our emotions, how to have mental boundaries and take control over the narrative we are telling ourself about our loss; we talk about the importance of sleep and what to do if sleep feels impossible right now.   I appreciate this conversation so much and truly wish I had had these wise words when walking through the fresh days of grief – Danielle offers so much freedom in what it looks like to be a mother grieving the loss of a child. I am sure that this episode is going to bless you.   JOIN US FOR A LIVE EVENT | MAY 7 AT 8P EST. Danielle will be joining us again for a special live event in honor of Bereaved Mother’s Day on Sunday May 7 at 8p est. and we would love for you to join us. Danielle will be leading this special event as we honor your motherhood journey with rest, hope and healing – she will teach us about how grief and trauma impact you holistically and ways to practically find healing and hope even amidst your grief. There will be time to practice what she is teaching so you can implement these healing methods in your own life and we will end the event with a live Q&A so you can ask Danielle your questions about grief and finding healing. This is an incredible opportunity and I would love to see you there. For all the details and to register head to themorning.com/takecare     THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF HADLEY JACKSON.   Hadley was born on February 23, 2017 and passed away on November 3, 2017 A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church:  “We love you, Hadley! We are eagerly waiting with Hadley’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family” A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode.  We remember Hadley with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode201

Join me in listening to Mary Margaret Powitz as she reads a letter she wrote to you as we anticipate Mother's Day. In this bonus episode Mary says these words:  “your motherhood, no matter how it looks, is worth celebrating... However long you had with your child, they still lived, and you still loved them, and you are still a mother. Whether anyone else claims it to be true. And that means, Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about what others do or don’t do, but about how you choose to celebrate your own story and value as a mom.”  We created a Mothers Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for you filled with helpful resources that will give you a practical, simple and tangible way to prepare your heart for a day that may feel very difficult to navigate. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/mothersday. Mother’s Day is Coming, written and read by Mary Margaret Powitz.  Mother's Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for a Bereaved Mother www.themorning.com/mothersday Join us for a Special Event  on Bereaved Mother's Day | May 7 at 8p est  Click here to Register

200 EPISODES. What a special and incredible milestone and I’m so grateful you are here to celebrate that milestone with me. Whether this is your first time listening or you have listened to all 200+ episodes – I am so grateful you are here. Grateful that you have invited me into this journey. Honored to walk alongside you as you find joy in your mourning.  The Joyful Mourning Podcast exists to remind you that you are not alone in your grief through stories of women just like you navigating life after loss and to provide resources that will offer support as you navigate life after loss and this new normal as you move towards healing. Like I said, I am so grateful to be on this journey with you – providing the support and wisdom and encouragement that I know, as a fellow grieving mother, will bring you hope, even on the darkest days. That’s why I’m here and that’s what this show is all about – finding hope and joy even in the mourning and reminding you that you matter. Your baby matters. Your story matters. And you are seen. And loved. And not alone. This special milestone episode is your Joyful Mourning Starter Kit – 20 episodes that will immediately help you find joy, hope and practical help when navigating grief and life after loss. Our best and most helpful episodes because I know it can be hard and overwhelming to know where to start when there are 200 episodes. Consider this your index of most valuable episodes – giving insight, wisdom, and hope for some of the most challenging aspects of life after the loss of a baby. While I truly believe that all of our episodes are incredibly meaningful and valuable, I have chosen 20 episodes to highlight with you here that will address those big challenges and help you get started here with us. And even if you have been listening for a while I think many of these episodes are worth revisiting or saving for the future to pass along to another grieving friend who may be facing that specific challenge.     For a quick access to the Starter Kit, where all the episodes will be listed and linked, head to themorning.com/200   Celebrate 200 episodes and enjoy 20% off our new classic tee collection. Shop Here > www.themorning.com/shop?category=Apparel Use coupon code: 200   THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF CALVIN JAX COTTER.  Tripper was born on born on June 19, 2021. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church:  “We love you, Calvin! We are eagerly waiting with Calvin’s family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family” A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode.  We remember Calvin Jax Cotter with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode198

Listen in to hear an honest and very practical, tangibly helpful conversation about navigating many different aspects of a life-limiting diagnosis and life after loss with KC Tregoning. During our time together KC shares about her son Alan and what it was like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis for him – how she navigated the medical system, what she learned about how to best naviagate a very rare diagnosis, questions to ask your team and even how she kept all the information from the plethora of appointments organized in a way that made it all just a little easier. We talk about finding purpose after experiencing loss and what it looked like for her to build community. KC shares what her faith looked like in this season and many of the ways God showed up to remind her of His great love for her even amidst the unthinkable. Lastly, we spend some time talking about how to love a grieving mom and dad.   I am so grateful for KC’s wisdom and very practical advice throughout our time together – I am sure that no matter your story, this episode is going to bless you.     THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF TRIPPER CHARLES.  Tripper was born on March 17, 2018. A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church: “We love you, Tripper! We are eagerly waiting with Tripper's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family” A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode.  We remember Tripper Charles with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode198

Listen in to hear an honest conversation about infertility, loss, and lament from MaryEsther Caldwell. During our time together MaryEsther shares honestly about what it was like to navigate infertility, and then to experience a miraculous pregnancy only to unexpectedly lose her daughter Magnolia Jubilee at 22 weeks. We talk about the challenges of grief and what surprised her and what she wished others understood about infertility and loss and the grief of both. About this she says: “I am just aware on a really deep level that I may never be pregnant again. I have to really deal with the question of, is God good if I never have any more children? If I never get to raise and mother a child here, is God still good? And I think the harder question for me actually is, will my life still be meaningful? Will I still have any joy in my life if this doesn't happen?” Then we spend some time talking about what it means to lament, what is lament, what she means by ‘grief visibility’ in the church and how we can do better serving those who are grieving within the space of corporate worship.  Lastly, we talk about friendships after loss and what it looked like for her to navigate friendship and wisdom she has for those who are newly grieving navigating that aspect of life after loss. About this she says: “friendship has always been really important to me. I think through this, especially in the beginning and even a little now, it's been really hard for me to go from being the person who was always there for other people, to a person who desperately needed to rely on others.”  Resources for Lament MaryEsther had a few really helpful resource recommendations for us on this topic of lament in our grief and we have included links to all those in the show notes -- find those here: Show Notes     THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF ELIANA GRACE.  This episode is sponsored in honor of Eliana Grace. A message from Eliana’s mom: “Eliana, you are so loved. We miss you dearly and will always remember you. Love, Mom, Dad, Everly and Lou.” A special thank you to Kelsey Rebedew and Eliana's family for sponsoring this episode.  We remember Eliana with you.   If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.    FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode198

"When God doesn't give a miracle..." Monica Harris joins me for this episode to share her motherhood journey and her experience receiving a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance as well as the news that she and her husband were carriers for a genetic condition that could result in a similar diagnosis in future children. At the time of our recording Monica was 37 weeks pregnant with a daughter who was also given a difficult diagnosis – prayerfully not a diagnosis that would limit life but difficult and complex nonetheless. Knowing this makes my time with Monica and her words that much more powerful – when she talks about what it looked like to pray for a miracle and for God to not give that miracle– about this she says: “He's good God, but He's not always going to say yes.” and we talked about her pregnancy right now, she said this: “I like to be in control, but this time I have no control. Just praying and believing that God will take us through whatever comes.”  We spend some time talking about: what it was like to receive that life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance how to navigate when the plan you have for your family doesn’t turn out the way you had ever imagined navigating a pregnancy after loss navigating the medical aspect to a life-limiting diagnosis and high risk pregnancy after loss friendships after loss what she wishes others knew about grief and how to help a mom who is grieving.  This is a beautifully tender and honest interview with a mom who is still in a season of waiting, of anticipating, of navigating the unknown but her faith will encourage you – I know it encouraged me. FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope FREE RESOURCES FOR PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS: Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it’s a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF  MALACHI GRECO.  This episode is sponsored in honor of Malachi Greco.  A message from ​​Adriana Gruntz: “God used and continues to use Malachi to break our hearts to show us His tender mercies. God is using Malachi to teach me and the whole family how to intensionally be there for each other and for the people around us. Malachi is our eternal gift and though the pain will never leave, God will teach us a new kind of Joy. Malachi we will forever carry you in our minds and hearts. We love you so much. I also wanted to hug, through this message, my sister Paoli and her wonderful husband Todd. We love you so much!” A special thank you to Adriana for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Malachi and we remember him with you. We remember Malachi with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode197

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 part of the conversation will encourage you.  Lauren also shares what she learned about navigating the medical aspect of loss after experiencing consecutive losses, and about the importance of having a medical provider you can trust. About this she says: “I just wish other women knew that it's okay to find a doctor that's good for you. The one who takes care of you and your unborn child is no small thing.” We also spend sometime talking about what it was like for her to try to conceive again after two losses and what her 3rd pregnancy was like. Throughout our time together Lauren weaves her experience with faith into the conversation and about this she says this: “I just couldn't grasp what the Lord was doing.” This conversation is tender and honest and I am sure that Lauren’s wisdom and encouragement will bring you hope today.   HELPFUL PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS / GROWING YOUR FAMILY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES: Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it’s a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal   THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF  PHOEBE JOY LU.  This episode is sponsored in honor of  Phoebe Joy Lu.  A message from ​​Amber Lu, Phoebe’s mom: “Honoring our sweet heart warrior Phoebe Joy Lu.  A radiant, joyful, and brave girl.  We love and miss you as we honor your first anniversary home in heaven.  Love, Mom and Dad” A special thank you to Amber Lu and family for sponsoring this episode. We remember Phoebe with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode196

In this episode Mary Holloman joins me to talk about her motherhood and grief journey. She shares about her experience with consecutive first trimester losses, what surprised her about grief and the very practical ways she navigated the grief of that season. Then we spend time talking about pregnancy after loss where we discuss questions like:  Making the decision to try to grow your family after experiencing multiple losses, the most challenging aspect of her pregnancy after loss and what it looked like to navigate those challenges.   Throughout our time together Mary gives wisdom, encouragement and practical help for navigating the anxiety and fear and the angst that comes from the constant ‘what-ifs’ that so many of us experience after loss and in a pregnancy after loss. Mary wrote a children’s book all about this that is such a wonderful picture of what this looks like in our life. Her book is The Anxious Lily and she shares about this helpful resource as well.  If you are feeling anxious, if you are navigating a pregnancy after loss, if you have questions about faith, if you have wondered if your 1st trimester loss counts – this episode is for you.  HELPFUL PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS / GROWING YOUR FAMILY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES: Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it’s a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal HELPFUL RESOURCE FOR ANXIETY & GRIEF: Download the Simple Coping Strategies Workbook - themorning.com/copingtools THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF CECILIA LARZABAL.  This episode is sponsored in memory of Vada June Driggers.  A special thank you to Sarah Damoff for sponsoring this episode. We remember Cecilia with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode195

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 honestly about the difficulties of that season and what practically helped. We finish up with a few thoughts about her faith journey and what it was like for her to navigate, as she said, ‘her grief insecurity in faith circles’ – if you have had a hard time navigating the faith community since your loss, this part of the conversation will be especially helpful. This entire conversation is tender and honest and I am sure will encourage you no matter where you are in your journey.  HELPFUL PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS / GROWING YOUR FAMILY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES: Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it’s a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO VADA JUNE DRIGGERS.  This episode is sponsored in memory of Vada June Driggers.  “Sending love to Heather, Jeff and Macklyn as they celebrate and grieve Vada June on what would be her first birthday! Vada June Driggers on what would be her first birthday! We are praying for you and remembering with you. Love, your Brave Learner family” A special thank you to Holli and the Brave Learner family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Vada June and we remember her with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode194

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 like to grow your family after loss. We will have resources for those trying to conceive again, thinking about trying to conceive again, pregnant after loss and also for those who have either by choice or factors beyond their control made the decision to not pursue growing their family in this season. As we kick off this series I would love to share with you 3 very helpful resources: Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it’s a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO CAROLINE CRAWFORD COURVILLE.  “This episode is dedicated to Caroline Crawford Courville in honor of her first birthday in heaven. Caroline, you are so missed but the short time you were with us was such a gift and our hearts are filled with gratitude over the impact you have had in our lives. We are more compassionate, more patient, and filled with a greater understanding of God’s love for us. Thank you for reminding us daily to keep our eyes fixed upon heaven. We look forward to the day we will be together again. With love, Mom, Dad, and your big brothers!” A special thank you to the Courville family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Caroline and we remember her with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode193

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 and answering the Book Club discussion questions – I would love to hear your thoughts as well so make sure to head here to share your thoughts about the book.  Book Club Discussion: Let's Discuss! THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO TRU TUMBLESON.  A special thank you to the the Tumbleson family for sponsoring this episode.  We celebrate Tru and we remember him with you. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  HELPFUL RESOURCES:  The Joyful Mourning Community (Join us here.) Resource Bundle (Check it out here.) 10 Ways to Love a Grieving Friend | Friend & Family Guide (Check it out here.) Care Cards for the Grieving Mom (Check those out here.) Let's Discuss: Book Club Discussion JOIN THE BOOK CLUBThe Morning Book Club is here to provide a little extra support and thoughtful conversation about grief and life after loss. We’re here for the books that will offer insight on navigating grief, life after loss and finding hope. We will do so in a super simple way — because as fellow grieving moms, we know how hard it can be to read more than a few words at a time. To learn more about the Book Club, to see our latest book club pick and join the conversation > themorning.com/bookclub   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode192

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 you in this episode. If the waves of grief feel overwhelming right now – this free worksheet is going to be a practical tool that will help. Download that worksheet at themorning.com/copingtools I pray they offer you hope. I pray they remind you that you are not alone. THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO FREDDIE SUTTON.  A special thank you to the Sarah Sutton and family for sponsoring this episode.  We celebrate Freddie and we remember him with you today and always. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  HELPFUL RESOURCES:  Resource Bundle (Check it out here.) The Morning Library (Check it out here.) The Joyful Mourning Community (Join us here.) Healthline: Amygdala Hijack 10 Things to Know About Grief, No 190 FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN THE BOOK CLUB The Morning Book Club is here to provide a little extra support and thoughtful conversation about grief and life after loss. We’re here for the books that will offer insight on navigating grief, life after loss and finding hope. We will do so in a super simple way — because as fellow grieving moms, we know how hard it can be to read more than a few words at a time. To learn more about the Book Club, to see our latest book club pick and join the conversation > themorning.com/bookclub   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode191

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. Thank you for the work you do and the care you give to this community of grieving women. We are better because of you and because of your son.  We celebrate Jacob and we remember him with you today and always. If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.  HELPFUL RESOURCES:  Book Club (Check it out here.) The Morning Library (Check it out here.) The Joyful Mourning Community (Join us here.) Learn more about the Host: Ashlee Proffitt (No. 01, No. 90, No. 124, No. 170) 5 Things to Know About Grief, No 100 FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN THE BOOK CLUB The Morning Book Club is here to provide a little extra support and thoughtful conversation about grief and life after loss. We’re here for the books that will offer insight on navigating grief, life after loss and finding hope. We will do so in a super simple way — because as fellow grieving moms, we know how hard it can be to read more than a few words at a time. To learn more about the Book Club, to see our latest book club pick and join the conversation > themorning.com/bookclub   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode190

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 alone.  FREE NEW YEAR WORKBOOK: www.themorning.com/newyear FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode189

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."   FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

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 Christmas morning and moving into a New Year. The wisdom Kristin shares is practically helpful – giving you freedom to grieve this holiday season, freedom to be sad, to say no, to make space to rest. About the New Year she said this: This was the hardest holiday for me the first year. It caught me by surprise. Everybody is celebrating that we're leaving the year and they're looking forward to the next year. And  I felt so sad that everyone is moving forward and moving forward with excitement and I didn’t want to move forward. And moving forward scared me. Listen in to hear the hope and wisdom that Kristin shares about both Christmas morning and the New Year but mostly I hope you hear us both say, you are not alone friend. If the next week or so are especially difficult for you, remember, it’s ok to be sad, it’s ok to not feel merry or excited for a new year… you aren’t alone in that and also it won’t always feel this way.  Throughout this series and season of Advent, Kristin and I will be discussing an entry from that week of journal entries here on the podcast as well as our free online community. If you haven’t already joined us in our free community, this is a great time to do so. Don’t navigate the holidays alone, come join us and find women who understand, women who get it and can offer a listening ear, understanding and wisdom. Our free online community is not on social media so as to provide a truly safe place for grieving moms. To join us click here. We will be sharing insights from our daily readings from the journal as well as honest thoughts and conversation about navigating the holidays as a grieving mom. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode188

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 they were considered lowly, outcasts and most likely felt unseen by those around them and by God. We talk about how knowing that God told them first and entrusted them with this announcement, gives us as grieving moms hope this holiday season.  We finish up our time together with Kristin sharing about the most meaningful way she felt loved at Christmas. If you love a grieving mom, make sure to listen in as we share what that practically looked like for both of us. If you are a grieving mom, consider sharing this episode with a friend or family member as it will help them to understand what you are walking through this season, what it feels like and how they can tangibly help. Throughout this series and season of Advent, Kristin and I will be discussing an entry from that week of journal entries here on the podcast as well as our free online community. If you haven’t already joined us in our free community, this is a great time to do so. Don’t navigate the holidays alone, come join us and find women who understand, women who get it and can offer a listening ear, understanding and wisdom. Our free online community is not on social media so as to provide a truly safe place for grieving moms. To join us click here. We will be sharing insights from our daily readings from the journal as well as honest thoughts and conversation about navigating the holidays as a grieving mom. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode187

Welcome to Part 2 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 (you can order here) or not, I wanted to remind you that the hope shared in this series is valuable and helpful either way.  As a reminder, it is never too late to start the Advent Journal and follow along in that way – the truths and promises shared there are applicable all year long. You can start now! You can purchase the Advent Journal here. I am really loving working through this content with our community and the conversations we have been having have been so beautiful. Again, if you want to order the journal to follow along, it’s not too late (you can order here).  In this episode we are talking about how God values our babies, even those who never lived outside the womb. We also talk about the nearness of God and how that brings us hope but can also be hard to hear when our hearts are broken and death has entered in. So we spend some time discussing what to do with that wrestling and what that has looked like in our own life. We finish up our time together with Kristin and I sharing about our favorite ways to honor our babies at christmas. Kristin also shares some really helpful advice about this idea of honoring our baby that will  be incredibly helpful to you, especially if the idea of doing anything this year feels too weighty and overwhelming.  Throughout this series and season of Advent, Kristin and I will be discussing an entry from that week of journal entries here on the podcast as well as our free online community. If you haven’t already joined us in our free community, this is a great time to do so. Don’t navigate the holidays alone, come join us and find women who understand, women who get it and can offer a listening ear, understanding and wisdom. Our free online community is not on social media so as to provide a truly safe place for grieving moms. To join us click here. We will be sharing insights from our daily readings from the journal as well as honest thoughts and conversation about navigating the holidays as a grieving mom. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode186

Welcome to 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 ordered the Advent Journal (you can order here) and started this morning or you just ordered and it hasn’t arrived yet or you don’t plan to order one – I wanted to remind you that you are still more than welcome to follow along with us here on the podcast. The episodes will still be applicable and beneficial.  In Part 1 Kristin shares why she wrote this journal, her hope for you as you follow along with us here and in your daily life at home this month. Kristin also explains what Advent is and why we celebrate it and of course, she shares hope for this first week of Advent. If you are following along in the book (the Advent Journal) we will be taking a deeper look at Days 5 & 6.) Kristin shares thoughts about the promises of the coming of Jesus in the Old Testament and what that means for us today, as women who are grieving and looking for hope.  And we finish up our time together with Kristin sharing her tangible, very practical advice for a grieving mom who is navigating the holiday season by answering the question: “what do I wish I had known that first Christmas.” Her answer is so incredibly helpful and applicable to all grieving mothers, no matter if this is your first christmas without your child or your 14th like me.  Throughout this series and season of Advent, Kristin and I will be discussing an entry from that week of journal entries here on the podcast as well as our free online community. If you haven’t already joined us in our free community, this is a great time to do so. Don’t navigate the holidays alone, come join us and find women who understand, women who get it and can offer a listening ear, understanding and wisdom. Our free online community is not on social media so as to provide a truly safe place for grieving moms. To join us click here. We will be sharing insights from our daily readings from the journal as well as honest thoughts and conversation about navigating the holidays as a grieving mom. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Keepsake DIY Ornaments (click here) Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode185

To my grieving friends on this Thanksgiving Day.  I wish I could pull up a chair beside you and sit with you in person. To give you a look of understanding when someone you love says a hurtful thing or squeeze your hand under the table to remind you that you aren’t alone. Or cover for you when you need to hide away for a bit. To tangibly remind you that you're not alone. Even if I can’t be there with you in person, I want you to know that you are loved today and not alone. I thought you might need to hear from someone who understands first hand how hard today really is, so I wrote you a short letter and wanted to read it to you. today is hard. And that’s ok.  I know how seemingly impossible it feels to be thankful and how the idea of celebrating feels like a contradiction and how maybe the only emotion you are experiencing is rage.  And I know how all of that makes you feel guilty and full of shame. This is me, a mama who has been there, telling you it is hard. Holidays are hard. And feeling grateful when your heart is broken and your arms are empty -- when a life is missing -- is really, really hard. WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.    FREE NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

A very helpful and hopeful resource for navigating life after loss is a book called, When Your Family’s Lost a Loved One by David & Nancy Guthrie. In today’s episode I am going to share with you my favorite takeaways, practical and helpful wisdom, from the chapter in this book about how to navigate the holidays. Along the way we are going to hear from women in our own community sharing their favorite ways to honor their babies during the holidays as well as what they wish others understood about what it means to be a grieving mom during the holidays. This episode will offer freedom and hope and practical help as you enter the holiday season.  Thank you to the guest contributors for this episode: Bethann Secrest Kirsty Mes Elizabeth Snyder Nicole Bertsch Melody Joseph Jen Abrams  WE LOVE LAURELBOX: GIFTS FOR GRIEVING HEARTS This episode is sponsored by Laurelbox. We love Laurelbox for the beautiful and tangible ways they help us as grieving moms to honor and celebrate our babies this holiday season. Laurelbox has the most beautiful personalized candles and ornaments– the perfect addition to your holiday season. It’s simple while being intentional, thoughtful and as I said, beautiful. Check out our favorites by heading to themorning.com/laurelbox.  FREE NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Our Christmas Gift Guides for Grieving Moms Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode184

Listen into a special episode where you will hear from 7 different women answering the same question, what wisdom, encouragement, hope or advice would you give to a grieving mom as she navigates the holiday season. The clips shared here are all from previous episodes but their words still ring true and resonate deeply today. I’ve linked the full episodes for each of these interviews below in the order that you will hear them in this episode. So, if you want more from each of these past guests just click on those links to listen into the full episode on navigating the holidays .  Ashlee Karasch: Episode No. 57 Lindsey Dennis: Episode No. 56 Lauren Woo: Episode No. 59 Mary Stamm: Episode No. 58 Sterling Myers: Episode No. 18 Meg Walker: Episode No. 101 Mary Margaret Powitz: Episode No. 101   FREE NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAY RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/holidays Download the Free Navigating the Holidays Workbook & Resource Bundle  Join us for a Christmas Devotional Book Club for December (Get the devotional here.) Get your Christmas Apparel (Back in the shop!) > www.themorning.com/holidays FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode183

Listen in as I chat with Megan O'Neill, a mama to a baby in heaven. Megan experienced a 2nd trimester loss and shares with me the story of her baby and her journey of grief, life after loss and what it has looked like for her to find healing. Megan shares honestly about the unique challenge she experienced being an unmarried christian woman at the time of her pregnancy, how difficult that was to navigate, the shame and the guilt and how that was made even more difficult when she lost her baby at 14 weeks. She shares what she has learned from that experience, how she navigated those challenges and what wisdom and encouragement she would give to an unmarried single grieving mother who might be listening today. If that is you, I hope you know, like all of our grieving mothers, you are loved, friend and you are not alone.    Throughout our conversation Megan shares candidly about what it has looked like for her to mother her baby while her arms are empty. No matter your story, these words from Megan will encourage you, she said this:   I learned that it's most important for me to honor, love, and to celebrate my baby for myself. So, I find every opportunity to honor and love him on special days and milestones, anniversaries and holidays, and on those special days not expecting other people to do it for me. I learned that I have the choice to make it special and even if it's just in the confines of my own little space, I know that it's special."   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 182 What's something about your pregnancy or your baby, a memory that makes you smile or that feels extra special to you? Something that brings you joy in the mourning? What do you wish others understood about a 2nd trimester loss? What has been the most challenging aspect of your motherhood journey and navigating life after loss? What has been helpful to you as you navigated those challenges? What do wish christian women understood about what it was like to be pregnant as a unmarried christian woman and then to experience loss? What unique challenges did you face navigating grief simply because you were an unmarried christian woman? What wisdom would you give to someone who loves a single or unmarried mom who has experienced baby loss? What has healing looked like for you? What are practical ways you mother Baby Sea in heaven? What aspects of your new self and life after loss feels especially hard to embrace?  What is one way you have grown or are growing in this season? FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode182

This week on the podcast I am interviewing Emily Stinemetz and Tate Drew – sisters who have both experienced baby loss. Emily experienced a first trimester loss followed by a season of unexplained infertility and Tate experienced a third trimester loss at 34 weeks. This conversation is really beautiful and tender as you hear their obvious love, empathy and compassion for one another even as their losses were very different and their motherhood journeys very different. They share openly about how they grieved differently and what it was like to walk with one another through their different seasons of grief and what it was like to be pregnant at the same time, for one to experience loss and then to navigate loving a sister and a baby niece while grieving. About this and navigating their relationship amidst different seasons of each of them grieving while one may be rejoicing, one sister said this: “We can carry this joy and sorrow together, and we're going to do that as a family. So that's what we did.”  Both women share what they wish others understood about their specific type of loss and give helpful and hopeful wisdom to any woman who is grieving, no matter what type of loss she may have experienced. We talk about comparison in our grief and in our stories. We talk about how to find healing and ways to love a grieving a mom. No matter your story or what brought you here, this conversation is honest and helpful and hopeful – it will encourage you to do the grief work that leads to healing and will remind you that your loss mattered.  QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 181 What do you wish others knew about unexplained infertility after your pregnancy loss and this aspect of your motherhood journey?   What do you wish others knew and understood about stillbirth? What it was like to walk through the loss of your daughter and then welcome your niece just four weeks later? What wisdom would you have for a grieving mother who has a close family member or friend with a baby close in age to the baby they lost? How has your relationship changed over the past few years since experiencing loss together? Was comparison ever something either of you struggled with in your grief journey? Either with your story of loss or how you grieve or even in what growing your family has looked like after your loss? In what ways did you grieve differently? In what ways did you grieve the same? What advice you would give for how to best support a grieving mom? How did each of you feel best loved and cared for? FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.     FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode181   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am interviewing Nikesha Dillon. A mama to 3 precious sons in heaven. Listen in as she shares her story of motherhood – her sons Liam & Legend, identical twins who passed from twin-to-twin transfusion at 20 weeks’ gestation, and Louie, born at 24wks and 5 days as a result of cervical incompetence. Louie lived, fought and brought so much joy and laughter for 13 days in the NICU before passing from complications associated with prematurity.  Nickesha shares with us what it means to be a mother with empty arms, how she celebrates, honors and remembers her sons, the challenges she faced in her journey and how she navigated those challenges. She shares how she found healing and how she educated herself and advocated for herself and her future children regarding her cervical incompetence – if you are navigating any kind of medical concern in your journey, her wisdom on this is really helpful. Nickesha also shares what it has been like to lovingly help others understand that she IS a mother. No matter what your story of loss is – Nickesha’s story, and the hope and joy she brings in this episode, is sure to bring your joy and hope to you today.      QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 180 What has been the most challenging aspect of this journey? What has been helpful to you as you navigated those challenges?  What has healing looked like for you in this season? What practical steps did you take to cope and pursue healing after your losses?  What about physical healing – after losing Louie, you began looking into Cervical Incompetence a little more indepth, what has that looked like for you? What advice would you give to a woman in a similar situation? What are practical ways you mother your sons in heaven? What does motherhood practically look like for you now? What has it looked like to remember and honor Liam, Legend & Louie’s life?  How do you answer the question: How many children do you have? Or Do you have any children? You told me it was important to you to help others understand what loss motherhood means – tell me more about that.  What do you wish others knew and understood about loss, grief and finding healing? If you could give someone who loves a grieving mom, one piece of advice – what would it be?     FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAYS (BIRTHDAYS, DUE DATES, ANNIVERSARIES & MORE) “We honor their memories. We celebrate the milestones.” -Nickesha If you have ever wondered:  How  to make it through those big, sweet, and hard days What you can do to make those days special If anyone else feels the way you do How to find tangible ways to mother your baby in your heaven Where the beautiful keepsakes are for you and your baby, because your motherhood doesn’t fit the “typical” narrative Then you’re going to love our brand new Birthday Journal, Special Days Journal and Milestones Workshop! Click here to get a peek at our new journals – created specifically for birthdays, due dates, anniversaries when you have a baby in heaven. The Milestones Workshop – honest, encouraging, and practical content for you as you face birthdays, due dates, anniversaries of death, diagnosis days, or any milestone that is meaningful to you in an easy to digest audio recording. Check out both of those brand new resources to help your special days feel a little less heavy: themorning.com/specialdays.   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

You’re listening to a special bonus episode, an excerpt from our newly released Navigating Milestones Grief Workshop. Listen in to hear a few quick thoughts about one of the reasons that navigating milestones are so challenging and difficult – because we don’t know what to do and how to do it – specifically i’m talking about how to navigate those bittersweet days like birthdays, due dates, anniversaries, a diagnosis day or any day that is significant to you in your motherhood journey. If you have ever wondered:  How to make it through those big, sweet, and hard days What you can do to make those days special If anyone else feels the way you do How to find tangible ways to mother your baby that aren’t cheesy Then you’re going to love this excerpt as well as the full Navigating Milestones Grief Workshop our brand new Birthday Journal, Special Days Journal and Milestones Workshop – honest, encouraging, and practical content to equip you to face any milestone that is meaningful to you.  To hear more helpful and practical wisdom as you anticipate your own milestones and how to make a plan for those milestones, grab the full workshop: www.themorning.com/milestones-workshop 

This week on the podcast I am interviewing Tori Underwood. A mama to a precious daughter in heaven. Listen in as she shares her story of losing her daughter at 30 weeks with no real answers as to why – I know many of you will be able to relate to her story of being an invisible mother.    We discuss what it was like for Tori to pursue answers and solutions from her medical team to hopefully prevent a similar loss in the future, specifically as it related to her having a uterine septum. Tori shares with me the challenges she faced in taking care of herself after her daughter died, feeling like her body had failed her and made even the simplest things like eating feel impossible. She shares how she navigated that challenge and gives practical advice for anyone who may be facing a similar challenge.    We talk about how she has found healing, the role that therapy and specifically emdr therapy has had in that healing process and why it was important to her to finish her daughter’s nursery even though she would never use it. Tori shares with me what it looks like to mother her daughter in heaven, the practical, simple and beautiful ways she honors and remembers her today.    No matter what your story of loss is – Tori’s story, how she has found healing and the wisdom she has gained in this season will remind you that you are not alone.     QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO. 179 What surprised you most about loss and the grief journey?  What has been the most challenging aspect of this journey? What has been helpful to you as you navigated those challenges?  What has healing looked like for you in this season? You said to me: “I felt like I was drowning and like I should start only preparing for bad things to happen to me.” What would you say to another mom who is feeling similarly? What are practical ways you mother your daughter in heaven? How do you answer the question: How many children do you have? Or Do you have any children? What do you wish others knew and understood about loss, grief and finding healing?     FREE GIFT | THE BIRTHDAY PROJECT Every October in honor of my son’s birthday and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month I gift grieving moms with a tangible reminder that they are loved, their baby(s) are loved and that they not forgotten. To learn more about this special project and to send yourself or someone you love an AadenSage Birthday Project Art Print just for the cost of shipping, head to themorning.com/birthdayproject Check out our meaningful and beautiful collection of art prints by heading to themorning.com/shop.   FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community   FREE LIVE EVENT | OCTOBER 16 AT 8PM EST.Join us for a free live event: a Night of Remembrance. A night to honor your baby(s). You can find the details and registration information for this event at themorning.com/remembrancenight.   FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

Listen into the third and final bonus episode in our Conversations with a Grieving Mom series. If you have been tuning in this week to the first two bonus episodes you know that October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and this week I have shared 3 short mini bonus episodes to help us kick off this month.    These short episodes highlight specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. Over on the blog we have been and will continue doing the same, with a series called “What I wish You Knew” featuring responses from real women who have experienced different types of loss. If you are a grieving mom, both of these resources are meant to remind you that you that you are not alone. And if you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast as well as the blog series is going to be incredibly helpful at giving you a greater understanding about how to love your grieving friend.    In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things, 1) to help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. And 2) to help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate. Again, if you are a grieving mom I hope this reminds you that you aren’t alone. And if you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.    FREE GIFT | THE BIRTHDAY PROJECTEvery October in honor of my son’s birthday and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month I gift grieving moms with a tangible reminder that they are loved, their baby(s) are loved and that they not forgotten. To learn more about this special project and to send yourself or someone you love an AadenSage Birthday Project Art Print just for the cost of shipping, head to themorning.com/birthdayproject RESOURCES FOR PREGNANCY & INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH,how we are raising awareness and honoring your baby(s) head to www.themorning.com/awarenesss   JOIN US FOR A FREE LIVE EVENTLast thing, if you are a grieving mom I want to invite you to join us for a free live event – a Night of Remembrance – a night to honor your baby(s). You can find the details and registration information for this event at themorning.com/remembrancenight.   IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

Listen into the second bonus episode in our Conversations with a Grieving Mom series. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and this week you will hear 3 short mini bonus episodes to help us kick off this month. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. Over on the blog we will be doing the same, with a series called “What I Wish You Knew” featuring responses from real women who have experienced different types of loss. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast as well as the blog series is going to be incredibly helpful.  In this second episode of the series I am talking about why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable -- or all of the above. If you are a grieving mom I hope this gives you permission to grieve in any way that is helpful to you, and to honor and celebrate your baby in any way you choose. If you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.    For an abundance of resources about Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, how we are raising awareness and honoring your baby(s) head to www.themorning.com/awarenesss that’s themorning.com/awareness.    JOIN US FOR A FREE LIVE EVENTLast thing, if you are a grieving mom I want to invite you to join us for a free live event – a Night of Remembrance – a night to honor your baby(s). You can find the details and registration information for this event at themorning.com/remembrancenight.   IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

 Listen into the first bonus episode in a series I have titled Conversations with a Grieving Mom. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss awareness month and this week you will hear 3 short mini bonus episodes to help us kick off this month. In these short episodes I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in order to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. Over on the blog we will be doing the same, with a series called “What I Wish You Knew” featuring responses from real women who have experienced different types of loss. If you love a grieving mom this bonus series on the podcast as well as the blog series is going to be incredibly helpful.    For an abundance of resources about Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, how we are raising awareness and honoring your baby(s) head to www.themorning.com/awarenesss that’s themorning.com/awareness.    JOIN US FOR A FREE LIVE EVENT Last thing, if you are a grieving mom I want to invite you to join us for a free live event – a Night of Remembrance – a night to honor your baby(s). You can find the details and registration information for this event at themorning.com/remembrancenight.   IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOM And if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend, head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   Ok, let’s listen into today’s special episode about: why raising awareness about pregnancy and infant loss is valuable and important, why it matters.

This week on the podcast Jennifer Tyler joins me to answer your questions about God and faith specifically after experiencing loss and amidst grief. Jennifer is a Bible teacher and founder of SoulCircles Ministries and is passionate about helping women learn how to study the Bible, as she says “not just for information but for transformation.”  I am so grateful for the wisdom and insight Jennifer offers us in this interview – as someone who has studied the Bible in an in depth way but also as a mother who has experienced loss. We begin our time with Jennifer sharing her motherhood journey with us – a journey that began before she was a Christian, as a 17 year old with an unexpected pregnancy that ended in an abortion. She speaks honestly about this part of her story, sharing how she felt then and also how God has met her in this part of her story. Years later, Jennifer would marry and begin trying to grow her family, she shares of her early pregnancy loss and a loss after walking through ivf. Jennifer is sharing from a place of being an invisible mother, with no living children yet – a place that can be difficult to see how God is good and is working good. Exactly one of the reasons I thought Jennifer could speak honestly about this topic of God and faith after loss and amidst grief. One question that I ask Jennifer that feels especially helpful and a question that maybe you have asked: Is my loss a result of something I have done wrong? Did I lose my baby because God is punishing me for some former sin? Something in my past? Jennifer’s answer to this is both helpful and hopeful. I loved this interview and am so grateful for Jennifer’s wisdom and story, her honesty and hope – make sure to listen all the way to the end when she says: “God can handle our questions. He knows what you're experiencing. He knows that you're wrestling and He can handle that. So I would encourage you to pour it out all on the table to Him.” I pray this conversation blesses you today.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 178 What would you say to the woman asking: “Is God powerful enough to heal my baby? Did He just choose not to?” Why does suffering exist? What is God’s role in our suffering? Did He plan it or allow it? What does that mean for me and my baby(s) Why does God allow us to suffer & not protect us? What does it mean when people say, “God will use you or this for His glory”? How could the loss of a child be used for His glory?  How can I trust God now and what does that look like practically? How would you answer the woman asking: "What did I do wrong? Is my suffering a result of something I have done wrong? Did I lose my baby because God is punishing me for some former sin?" What does it look like to experience joy while still grieving and lamenting? What does joy mean? What does lament even mean What spiritual resources would you recommend for a grieving mom?      FREE DEVOTIONAL Written specifically for the grieving mom – it is so simple and will offer hope and comfort and truth. From one grieving mom to another, trust me when I say, this mini devotional is worth checking out – and it’s totally free so make sure to go download that here > www.themorning.com/faith   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode177   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast Stephanie Komashin joins me to answer your questions about God and faith, suffering and loss. As someone who has studied theology as a professional career and now teaches at the university level, I am so grateful for the wisdom and insight Stephanie offers us in this interview. We begin our time by Stephanie sharing her story of recurrent pregnancy and baby loss – she speaks to this topic of who is God to us in our suffering as someone who has and is living it. She is not just a theologian, she is also a mother who has experienced the loss of 9 babies to early miscarriage. Something I find so beautiful about Stephanie’s story is how she has intentionally and beautifully named each of those 9 babies and in our interview she shares their names and meanings – as women who have endured the loss of babies we loved and valued I know you will appreciate this tender act of mothering and honoring her babies in heaven.  After Stephanie shares her personal story of motherhood with us we move into questions that you have likely asked before, questions like: why does suffering exist and what is God’s role in it? What does death exist? What does it mean when people say God will use this for His glory?  Stephanie dives deep into those questions and my hope for you in listening to this interview is not that you will necessarily agree with everything Stephanie shares or even just take her word for it, no my hope for you in this is that you feel the freedom to search out the answers to your biggest questions about God and faith, to search the Scriptures, to research, to ask for wisdom about is true – to really examine the truths you may have always held. Stephanie points out that there are so many different denominations and different doctrines and different ways of interpreting the Biblical text, it’s ok if you don’t agree with everything shared here in this interview or in other interviews on this podcast, it’s ok if you have still have questions after this interview is over – I want to challenge you with what Stephanie shares at the very end of this episode, to look for answers to your questions, to search the scriptures and to research and she said this: “Don't just think, man, this worldview I had is shattered. It's broken now. God couldn't be good. Or I don't know if He's good. I'm not sure how He can be good. So I'm just going to have to reject this. That's not true. It's hard. It might take a while. You might not get all the answers right away. But God is ready to be there with you and help you find resources that you need.” There is so much helpful content in this episode and in case you want to skip to a specific question that feels especially important to you we included minute timestamps for specific questions we discuss below. But no matter what question you tune into make sure to listen all the way to the end for Stephanie's favorite resources for learning more about what she’s talking about today and her final word of hope is absolutely so, so beautiful and if you are wrestling with your faith, feeling distant from God or confused by him or any of those other feelings that a lot of us experienced, disappointed, anger, doubt – you don’t want to miss what she shares at the very end. I know it will encourage you and bring you hope today.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 177 (with approximate timestamps) (35:00) Did you wrestle at all with your belief in God or your faith as a Christian amidst your journey of such tremendous loss and grief?  (40:00) Why does suffering exist? What is God’s role in our suffering? Did He plan it or allow it? What does that mean for me and my baby(s)? Why does God allow us to suffer & not protect us? (43:33) Why does death exist? (54) What does it mean when people say, “God will use you or this for His glory”? How could the loss of a child be used for His glory? Couldn’t there be another way? (56) What does the Bible say about heaven and what does that mean for us as grieving moms who long to see our babies again? (60) Favorite resources for learning more about what the Bible says about loss, grief and heaven. (1:06) Hope for a grieving mom navigating difficult faith questions?     FREE DEVOTIONAL Written specifically for the grieving mom – it is so simple and will offer hope and comfort and truth. From one grieving mom to another, trust me when I say, this mini devotional is worth checking out – and it’s totally free so make sure to go download that here > www.themorning.com/faith   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode177   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Mikayla Chapparro. Last week in Episode 175 Mikayla shared what it was like for her to lose her son Valor when he was 11 months old – she talked about her grief journey, the  destructive patterns she experienced and what it was like for her to replace those habits with healthier coping methods that led to true healing.  This week in Part 02 we are talking about her faith journey – as a new christian just exploring the faith when her son died she began to wrestle with God over what He had allowed in the death of her son. She talks honestly about what that looked like for her and what her faith looks like today nearly a year later. Whether you are clinging to God and He has never felt closer or you are running hard away from Him and anything that has to do with Him – this episode is for you.   I ask Mikayla questions like: what does it mean to trust God after you experience the loss of your son or how has doubt increased your faith or how do you best connect with and hear from God – all questions that I am sure you can relate to.  I know that Mikayla’s honesty and tenderness is going to be a tangible reminder that you are not alone in this – that someone else understands because they have been there too.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 176 What has your faith looked like since losing Valor?  You wrote: “Doubt is good. It leads us to wrestle with God, which over and over again he welcomes his children to do with him. Our doubt is what exercises our faith.” Tell me more about that.  How do you best hear from God? What would you say to a grieving mom who just can’t open the Bible right now – where would you recommend her starting. What has been helpful to you? Tell me about finding purpose after pain – you have experienced so much of it. How have you experienced God weaving unimaginable good from unspeakable tragedies? I loved your thoughts about Job. You wrote these beautiful, powerful words:  “If this HAS to be my life. If this HAS to be my story. Let not one tear fall from my face in vain.  You say you keep all my tears in a bottle. Use them. Water gardens in eternity. Weave this tear soaked thread in your great design. Let it MEAN SOMETHING. It will never be a fair trade to me, but if it has to be this way… Take Valor’s life, my life, roll it up like a ball of infinite matter and hurt it at strongholds and hearts and stone and darkness. Do what you do best - shatter it all like you shattered my life and let it hold eternal weight.  Though you slay me, I trust in you.” Tell me what ‘trusting in God’ looks like for you in this season – how do you trust a God who let your son die?     FREE DEVOTIONAL Written specifically for the grieving mom – it is so simple and will offer hope and comfort and truth. From one grieving mom to another, trust me when I say, this mini devotional is worth checking out – and it’s totally free so make sure to go download that here > www.themorning.com/faith   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode176   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Mikayla Chapparro. In this interview you are going to hear the most honest and tender conversation about what it was like to lose her son Valor when he was just shy of his first birthday and the grief journey she would then embark on. We talk about destructive patterns amidst grief and what it was like for her to replace those patterns with healthier coping methods that would lead to true healing. Listen in as she shares honestly about the challenges she faced in grief and the ways that she found healing.  Mikayla has a gift with words and beautifully articulates something that many of us, until lived it, would argue there could be no beauty here – and yet Mikayla talks about a God who weaves unimaginable beauty from unthinkable tragedy.  Next week in part 02 we spend our time talking about her faith journey – as a new christian just exploring the faith when her son died she began to wrestle with God over what He had allowed in the death of her son. She talks honestly about what that looked like for her and what her faith looks like today nearly a year later. Whether you are clinging to God and He has never felt closer or you are running hard away from Him and anything that has to do with Him – tune in for that episode, I know it will offer you hope and healing.   I am so grateful for Mikayla's honesty and tenderness, I know this episode and this interview is going to be a tangible reminder that you are not alone in this. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 175 What has surprised you about grief?  What has been the most challenging aspect of grief and how have you navigated those challenges? What has healing looked like for you? FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode175   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Bennion about her motherhood journey and specifically her daughter Ella. We talk about regret and guilt and what to do with those feelings after loss. Bonnie shares what has surprised her about her motherhood journey and the different losses she has experienced – what she has learned and the hope and wisdom she has experienced along the way.  Bonnie gives us an inside look at what it was like to navigate a medically complex fertility journey as well as pregnancy. What it looked like for her to advocate for herself and for her baby and the risks she took to save her daughter’s life.  And then we spend some time talking about how she parented her living daughter Lucy throughout that medically complex pregnancy and then after losing Ella. She shares how she talked to her daughter about what happened to Ella, the challenges she faced in parenting her, how she navigated and still navigates those challenges and how she helps Lucy grieve and cope today. We finish up our time by talking about what it practically looks like to include Ella in the everyday life of their family.  This is beautiful, honest and tender – I know it will remind you that you are not alone in this. I know it will bring you hope today.    QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 174 You said you still wonder about the decision to leave the hospital – what would you say to another mom struggling with decisions she made?  What surprised you most about your motherhood journey and the loss and grief you have experienced? Tell me about what it was like to navigate the medical aspect of your journey with Ella? What have you learned about advocating for your child? What was it like to walk your living daughter, Lucy, through that season of hospital stays and doctor visits and uncertainty as you fought to save Ella?  After losing Ella, how did you talk to her about what had happened?   What other challenges did/do you face in parenting Lucy after you lost Ella? How did you navigate those challenges? How do you help Lucy grieve and cope today?  What does it look like for you to include Ella in the life of your family now? FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode174   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week I have the joy of spending time with Carolyn T. – a mama who has experienced the excruciating pain of losing a son at 35 weeks, followed by two more painful losses. Carolyn shares with me her grief journey and how with each loss her grief looked different – offering freedom to us as grieving mothers that our grief can look different from loss to loss or just day to day, but that doesn’t mean our love for our baby has changed or has decreased or we miss them less.  Carolyn shares with me her journey of grief and finding healing and what it looked like for her to practically be a mother when her arms were empty. And then she shares with me what it was like to parent her living son after having been an invisible mother for so long.  As she spoke of the grief she experienced after her living son was born she said this: “once Patrick was born and I experienced all of the daily tasks of being a mother, I realized, wow, this is all that I've lost. And all of that just slapped me in the face. Here's a reminder of what you lost.” If you can relate to those words, listen in because Carolyn shares how she navigated that season of new grief and found healing. I’m so grateful for this conversation and the hope and honesty Carolyn brings to the grieving mom. And all the practical ways she shares about how she practically mothers her babies in heaven.     QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE NO. 173 What surprised you most about loss and the grief journey?  What has been the most challenging aspect of this journey? What has been helpful to you as you navigated those challenges?  What has healing looked like for you? What practical steps did you take to cope and pursue healing after your losses?  What are practical ways you mother your baby(s) in heaven? What does motherhood practically look like for you now? What has it looked like to remember and honor your baby(s) in heaven? Or to include them in the life of your family now? Parenting after Loss: You wrote to me about the transition of parenting a living child after being an invisible parent, you said “I was overwhelmed with joy when Patrick was born. He is SUCH a gift and it felt like total bliss. There had been so much build up to his birth, wondering the whole time if he'd make it. But without realizing it, I have been intensely grieving Sebastian ever since the day Patrick was born.” Tell me more about that. What wisdom or advice would you give to a mom who has welcomed home a living child after being an invisible parent? How do you talk to Patrick about his brother and siblings in heaven? (I realize he’s only two, just curious what that looks like in your family?) How do you answer the question: How many children do you have? Or Do you have any children? What do you wish others knew and understood about loss, grief and finding healing? If you could give someone who loves a grieving mom, one piece of advice – what would it be?   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode173   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I have the joy of interviewing Essence Reid-Oxley about her motherhood journey. During our time together Essence shares with me about her son Micah and what it was like to learn that he had Sickle Cell Anemia and then was later given a life limiting diagnosis called "Fetal Akinesia”. We talk about what it was like to receive that diagnosis, what options she was given and what words of wisdom she would give to another mom who has been given a life limiting diagnosis for her baby. Essence shares how she created a birth plan and what her hopes were for when her son Micah was born. Then we spend time talking about what it was like to parent her living son throughout her pregnancy and then after losing Micah. We talk about the kinds of questions that a 2-3 year old asks when trying to process the loss of a baby and how those questions change as they grow older. We talk about what it was like for Essence to walk Tobias, her living son, through that season while her heart was also breaking. The books she read to him, the way she talked about what was happening and what had happened as well as the ways they include Micah in the life of their family now.  Essence experienced another devastating loss just earlier this year, not even a year after losing her son Micah and we spend some time talking about what that was like for her, how she is pursuing healing and what her relationship with God looked like amidst all the loss and grief. This conversation is honest and incredibly hopeful – I know it will bless you.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.172 What surprised you most about loss and the grief journey?  What would you say to a woman who has just received a life-limiting diagnosis? What do you wish someone would have said to you? Let’s talk about parenting amidst such devastating news. How old was your son Tobias at the time of the diagnosis given for Micah?  What was it like to walk him through that season while your heart was also breaking? How did you talk to him? How did you explain what was happening?   What other challenges did you face in parenting Tobias after you lost Micah? How did you navigate those challenges? How do you help Tobias grieve and cope?  Are there any resources that have been helpful to you in parenting after loss?  What has it looked like for you to include Micah in the life of your family now? You suffered another loss after losing your son Micah. What was it like to experience another loss? What has healing looked like for you? Spiritually, emotionally and mentally? What did/has your relationship with God look like in this season?  What has it practically looked like to maintain a healthy relationship with God in this season?   FREE GRIEF GUIDE Our best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode172   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week I am honored to be interviewing Kaitlyn and David Phipps about their parenthood journey. Listen in as they share with me about their experience of recurrent pregnancy loss – a journey that hasn’t ended with a “rainbow baby.” They are very much still in the thick of their story unfolding and I am so grateful for their willingness to share in the middle of the story. During our time together we talk about how they navigated marriage amidst several losses, what it looked like for Kaitlyn to support David and likewise how David supported Kaitlyn – and they both share invaluable wisdom for you our listener as you navigate marriage after the loss of a baby.  We also spend time talking about what it looked like for them to parent their living children in this season of loss and grief. How they talked to them about their loss, how they explained what was happening, the challenges they faced in parenting amidst grief and how they navigated those challenges.  We finish up our time together talking about how they made the decision to try to grow their family again and again in the face of recurrent loss.  If you are navigating life after loss with a spouse or partner, trying to navigate parenting living children after loss and thinking about or actively trying to conceive again or are pregnant again after loss I think this conversation will be really helpful to you.  GIFT FOR YOU To celebrate this new season we have a free gift for you! A brand new art print and Verse Card Set, absolutely free. Download here > www.themorning.com/season5 QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.170 What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss? How did you grieve differently and how have you navigated those differences? What are some practical things you did in your marriage to give space for each other to grieve? Kaitlyn - what would you tell other moms about how to care for your husband/partner in their grief? David - what would you tell other grieving dads about grief & how to navigate it? What would you tell them about grieving within a marriage and supporting their wife/partner in their grief? Parenting After Loss Tell me what it was like to parent your living children in your seasons of loss. How did you talk to them about what was happening?  What other challenges did/do you face in parenting after loss? How did you navigate those challenges? How do you help your children grieve and cope?  Are there any resources that have been helpful to you in parenting after loss?  Pregnancy After Loss What did it look like for you to make the decision to try to grow your family again? How did you support each other in that season? RESOURCES MENTIONED IN NO. 171 Ultimate Resource Bundle: Our best and most helpful resources all in one place. Download Here.   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode171   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Season 05 is here and I am so, so grateful to be back. In this special first episode of season 05 I am joined by my husband Aaron who is taking on the role as host. In this episode he is asking me all the questions and I am answering your questions! I share about what my grief looks like now nearly 14 years later and how it has changed over the years, I talk about what it has been like for me to reconnect with my son when time has made his life feel so far away. I answer a few questions about preparing to conceive again and pregnancy after loss and even my favorite books for grief and loss. And we finish our time together with a very simple, but profound prayer that I have for you in this new season.   No matter what brought you here today, I pray this episode and this inside peek into my story is a reminder to you today that you are seen and loved and not alone.   GIFT FOR YOU To celebrate this new season we have a free gift for you! A brand new art print and Verse Card Set, absolutely free. Download here > www.themorning.com/season5 QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.170 What your grief is like now, how has it changed over the years? Do you have any tips to help you reconnect with your baby you lost when you feel so distant? What’s the best way that you’ve found to tell new people about Aaden? Helpful tips to prepare for trying to conceive after loss.  Book recommendations for loss and grief? How to celebrate a new baby on the way while still grieving a child that died. For us and for my kids? What’s your favorite aspect of running The Morning What are your hopes and prayers for The Morning and the women in this community this year? RESOURCES MENTIONED IN NO. 170 Check out all of our PAL resources: themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss Episode 148 with Bereavement Doula Elizabeth King Episode 154 with Trauma Specialist Lindsay Blair  Episode 88 with licensed counselor, Libby Marler.  Books Suffering is Never For Nothing, Elisabeth Elliot Holding on to Hope, Nancy Guthrie Walking with God through Pain & Suffering, Tim Keller Tear Soup, Pat Schwiebert This too Shall Last, KJ Ramsey Buried Dreams, Lindsey Dennis Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, Mark Vroegop  Sunlight in December, Kristin Hernandez   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode170   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Adam & Amanda Wilcock about their parenting journey and specifically what it has been like for them to navigate marriage after losing their son Sam. Listen in to hear us talk about the challenges they faced within their marriage after losing Sam, how they navigated those challenges, how they grieved differently and navigated those differences in order to stay connected. Amanda shares some thoughts on why connection is really important, not only to her husband, but to God and community. Adam shares some specific difficulties he faced in being a grieving dad and wisdom and encouragement he would give to a grieving dad listening, as well as ways to support a grieving dad. Amanda also gives wisdom about what it looks like to support a grieving spouse or partner and I thought her advice was super, super insightful. Adam and Amanda also share very candidly and honestly abou their faith journey after losing their son and what it looked like to question God’s goodness and character and how to love a grieving mom who may be wrestling through her faith after loss. We finish up our time together talking about what it has looked like to find purpose in their pain and loss – and I love how Amanda ends our time together by saying “even in the hardest, rawest, most painful moments, I would not give up being his mom.” This conversation will remind you that you are not alone while also giving you hope that one day it won’t feel this heavy or this dark – there is joy to be had and a stronger marriage at the end of tragedy is possible.     THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO LILAH VIOLET WASIELEWSKI BY HER PARENTS & FAMILY.  We have chosen to dedicate this episode in memory of our beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter and niece Lilah Violet for her second Heavenly Birthday. The Morning has been the single most supportive resource for our family in the loss of our daughter. I hope this resource will be available for many years to come to help support other families who find themselves walking this path. Lilah, we are forever loving and forever missing you sweet girl. We're wishing you the Happiest of Heavenly Birthdays sweet girl. Lilah Violet Wasielewski, stillborn at 29 weeks, June 19, 2020. A special thank you to the Waielewski family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Lilah and we remember her with you.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.169 What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss and what advice would you give a grieving couple about how to navigate those challenges? How did you grieve differently and how have you navigated those differences? You mentioned to me that connection is essential to surviving loss and healing, connecting with God, with your spouse, with your support system – tell me more about that.  Adam, what common lies do you think men believe about grieving a baby? What would you say to them? How can a spouse or friend/family help combat those lies? Amanda, what would you tell other moms about how to care for your husband/partner in their grief? Adam, what would you tell other grieving dads about grief & how to navigate it? What would you tell them about grieving within a marriage and supporting their wife/partner in their grief? What did your faith journey look like in this season? You mentioned to me that you had to re-figure out what a good and loving God meant – tell me more about that. How do you honor Sam today? What does it look like to parent together a child in heaven? How have you found purpose in your suffering? What would you say to a mom who is having a difficult time finding purpose in this season? FREE RESOURCE  For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode169   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Emily Stangl about her experience navigating marriage after losing her daughter Tilly.  We talk about the challenges she and her husband faced and how they worked through, and are working, through those challenges. Emily shares the ways she grieves differently than her husband and what that practically looks like in their marriage as well as the role that self care played in their healing individually and also as a couple. Emily shares with me all the beautiful ways that she and her husband grieve together and individually, but not only that, she also shares with me how they parent Tilly, their first and only child, now that she is in heaven. Emily gives such practical and intentional and beautiful ways of doing this and I am sure that it will give you freedom in finding ways to mother and parent your baby in heaven too. We also talk about what it looks like to support a grieving dad, especially when he’s different from you and what it looks like to compromise for the sake of grieving together.  It’s a really beautiful conversation that will give you hope in this journey – that there can be joy even here in a marriage that has walked through and experienced the unimaginable. I’m so grateful for Emily and her wisdom and her story and I am sure it is going to bless you.     THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO ERIKA RUSSEL To Erika: Adalynn Paige Neil was loved fiercely for the three days she lived. She is not forgotten. We wish you peace and love and are thinking of you, Caleb, and Adalynn on her birthday. A special thank you to the donor who sponsored this episode – thank you for loving a grieving mom and remembering such an important day. Erika, we honor you and we celebrate and remember Adalynn with you.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.168 What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss and what advice would you give a grieving couple about how to navigate those challenges? How did you grieve differently and how have you navigated those differences?  You mentioned that one aspect of your grief journey as it related to your mental and emotional health, was discovering that self care looked different for each of you. Tell me what that looked like and why it has been important at navigating grief and the marriage relationship after loss. What advice/wisdom would you give to a grieving couple about this?  What does it look like to parent Tilly now? How do you parent with your husband and what does that look like individually? You mentioned that this can be an opportunity to strengthen your relationship – tell me more about that.  What would you tell friends & family about what it looks like to support a grieving couple (dads often get missed or overlooked)? FREE RESOURCE  For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode168   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Becky Banik about her experience navigating marriage and parenting after the tragic loss of her son Joey. Becky shares candidly and honestly about the difficulties and challenges her marriage faced as well as what has helped in the year since they lost their son.    We talk about the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss and the advice she would give you about how to navigate those challenges. We talk about the importance of acknowledging and recognizing that people change after loss and grief and so its important to get to know each other again, and what that practically looked like for Becky and her husband. Becky shares how she grieved differently than her husband and the ways they navigated those differences, how the 5 love languages played a vital role in learning to understand each other and meet each other's needs and really hear other. We also talk about the very important role that counseling played in saving their marriage. And if you love a grieving couple, sprinkled throughout this entire conversation are very, very helpful, practical ways to support a grieving couple.     And I love that Becky ends our conversation with this encouragement “it’s worth the fight.” Such hopeful wisdom from someone who has been there and is still fighting for it even today.    This conversation will remind you that you are not alone in the difficulty of grieving with your spouse or partner while also giving you incredibly practical and helpful wisdom and tools about how to grieve and grow together  – I am sure it is going to bless you.   THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO LEVI MICHAEL GONZALEZ Today’s podcast is sponsored by the Gonzalez family in memory of their son Levi Michael Gonzalez.  Our dearest Levi, June 23rd will be five years. Five years since we held you in our arms but couldn’t bring you home. Five years since you made us parents. You beautiful boy. You have changed our lives. Even though you’re not with us physically, spiritually you’ll be with us forever. You have changed so many lives with just your story. Even though you couldn’t be with us, we’re so glad you’re with Jesus. Forever we will love you always. A special thank you to the Gonzalez family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Levi and we remember him with you.   QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.167 What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss? What advice would you give a grieving couple about how to navigate those challenges? In what ways did you and your husband change after you lost Joey? You talked to me about how important it is to realize people are different after grief and that relearning who someone is/what the relationship looks like is hard work but essential. What did that look like in your relationship? What mistakes did you make and what advice would you give other couples?  How did you grieve differently and how have you navigated those differences? What are some practical things you did in your marriage to give space for each other to grieve? Tell me how counseling transformed your marriage? What would you tell friends & family about what it looks like to support a grieving couple (dads often get missed or overlooked)? You had living children when your son Joey died, tell me what you have learned about parenting after loss? What wisdom would you give another grieving mom with living children? You wrote this to me: “kids are resilient and it can be easy to overlook what grief looks like.” – What advice would you give about how to not overlook your living children’s  grief? FREE RESOURCE  For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode167   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am honored to be talking with Candy McVicar, author, speaker, and devoted advocate for families who are grieving a baby or child. After experiencing the stillbirth of her daughter Grace, she founded and became Executive Director of Missing GRACE Foundation, whose mission is to provide support, resources, and education for families and professional care providers when there is loss of a baby, infertility, or adoption challenges.    Candy is joining us today to share her motherhood journey with us and also to talk about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby. Candy is the author of the book: Holding on to Love After You've Lost a Baby: The 5 Love Languages® for Grieving Parents and during our time together she explains what the 5 love languages are and how knowing them and implementing that knowledge into your marriage after loss can help you grieve with your spouse or partner, find healing and be stronger as a unit.    Candy not only shares her personal experience of navigating marriage after the loss of her baby, experience that will remind you that you are not alone in the difficulty of grieving with your spouse or partner but she also shares incredibly practical and helpful wisdom about how to  grieve and grow together  – I am sure it is going to bless you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS How did you/do you grieve differently than your husband and how have you navigated those differences? What was different about grieving together after you lost your daughter Grace & after you lost Promise? What was similar? How did you learn to grieve together as a married couple? What practical tips do you have for couples as they grieve together? You mentioned that “Learning the love languages and how to apply them has been foundational for the health of my marriage. I've been married for twenty-two years to Stephen, and though we've gone through some of the most painful experiences, we are so close and I'm incredibly grateful to do life side by side with my beloved." - Can you tell us what the love languages are in case anyone is unfamiliar with them and how understanding them has impacted your marriage? You wrote a book called: “Holding on to Love After You've Lost a Baby: The 5 Love Languages® for Grieving Parents.” Will you share a little more about using the five love languages through grief? You also write about the importance of understanding your spouse’s unique grieving needs and what it looks like to support him/her – what wisdom would you give to another grieving mom about what it looks like practically to best support her spouse? What is one final word of encouragement you would give to a couple navigating grief and life after loss? FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode166   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am interviewing dear friends of mine, Joseph & Corrie Lovette. You will recognize Corrie as one of our guests from the This is Motherhood, Too series and I am so excited to have her back on the podcast and this time to be joined by her husband Joseph. 4 years ago, after having been married for almost 10 years, they experienced the loss of a baby. And today they are joining us to talk about experience navigating loss and grief as a married couple and even more specifically what it looks like to support a grieving dad. We talk about the challenges they faced, how they navigated those challenges, lies that Joseph believed and practical ways they gave space for each other to grieve. Their answers are honest and relatable – and maybe my favorite part is that Joseph says, it’s ok to grieve men, it’s ok to cry and have emotions and it’s ok to grieve a baby you never met – I know this interview is going to bless you and remind you that you are not alone in this while simultaneously giving you specific ways to support the grieving dad in your life.    QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship after loss? How did you grieve differently and how have you navigated those differences? What advice would you give a grieving couple about how to navigate those challenges? In your experience, what are some ways a husband might experience grief a little differently than his wife? What common lies do you think men believe about grieving a baby? What would you say to them? How can a spouse or friend/family help combat those lies? What are some practical things you did in your marriage to give space for each other to grieve? Corrie, what would you tell other moms about how to care for your husband/partner in their grief? Joseph, what would you tell other grieving dads about grief & how to navigate it? What would you tell them about grieving within a marriage and supporting their wife/partner in their grief? What would you tell friends & family about what it looks like to support a grieving dad?   FREE RESOURCE BUNDLE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS For more resources about navigating marriage after the loss of a baby, check out our complete Resource Bundle. You can access that bundle instantly and all the marriage related resources including quick links to our favorite episodes about marriage and a date night idea list for when dating your spouse feels really hard. To get instant access to that bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle   JOIN OUR FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode165   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 4 of a 4 part series called: This is Motherhood, too where I am joined by Kristin Hernandez, Aimee Jones, Micayla Lyons and Corrie Lovette. This has been a special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss and all of my guests have experienced different types of loss, some as recent as 4 months ago and for some it's been years. My hope is that no matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, this honest, hopeful conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.     In this episode we are talking specifically to those who love a grieving mom, to the friends and family walking alongside someone grieving and I am asking my guests 3 questions:  What do you wish your friends and family knew or understood about how you feel about motherhood after loss?  What is one way you would feel cared for by your friends or family after your loss? What encouragement do you have for other moms in the thick of motherhood and grief? I am certain that no matter your story, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone and there is hope to be had. FREE WORKBOOK We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider how your motherhood journey has been shaped by loss. No matter where you are in your grief journey I think doing this will help you to find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood. MEET OUR GUESTSwww.themorning.com/motherhood Kristin Hernandez Aimee Jones Micayla Lyons Corrie Lovette JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode164   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 3 of a 4 part series called: This is Motherhood, too where I am joined by Kristin Hernandez, Aimee Jones, Micayla Lyons and Corrie Lovette. This is a special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss and all of my guests have experienced different types of loss, some as recent as 4 months ago and for some it's been years. My hope is that no matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, this honest, hopeful conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.     If this is your first time listening, make sure to listen in to Part 1 and Part 2 of this special series so you can get to know our guests and their stories. In this episode, we are jumping right into the conversation and I am asking my guests 3 questions:  How has your loss shaped your motherhood? What challenges do you find in being a mom? What are some joys you experience in motherhood? I am certain that no matter your story, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone and there is hope to be had. We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider how your motherhood journey has been shaped by loss. No matter where you are in your grief journey I think doing this will help you to find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood. MEET OUR GUESTSwww.themorning.com/motherhood Kristin Hernandez Aimee Jones Micayla Lyons Corrie Lovette JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode163   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week I am joined by Kristin Hernandez, Aimee Jones, Mikayla Lyons and Corrie Lovette for Part 2 of our 4 part series called: This is Motherhood, Too. A special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Listen into our 2nd annual round table conversation with 4 women, each having experienced different types of loss as they share honestly about their journey of loss, grief and finding hope.  My hope is that no matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, this conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.   Last week in Part 1 of this conversation we discussed two questions: What does motherhood mean to you What has surprised you about this journey? In this episode, we are jumping right into the conversation and we are discussing: How has grief has impacted your everyday life? What does your grief look like today and how has it changed? What has your journey of motherhood taught your about yourself and what it has taught you about God? I am certain that no matter your story, it will remind you that you are not alone and there is hope to be had. We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider how your motherhood journey has been shaped by loss. No matter where you are in your grief journey I think doing this will help you to find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood. MEET OUR GUESTSwww.themorning.com/motherhood Kristin Hernandez Aimee Jones Micayla Lyons Corrie Lovette IF YOU LOVED THIS CONVERSATION, YOU WILL LOVE THE MORNING MEMBERSHIP! Learn more: www.themorning.com/membership JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode162   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

A Special Bonus Episode. Listen to Hailey Maddox read her letter To the Mom Waiting to Meet Her Baby with a Life Limiting Diagnosis We pray these words would bring you hope and remind you that you are loved and not alone.   To read Hailey's letter: www.themorning.com/blog/to-the-mom-waiting-to-meet-her-baby-with-a-life-limiting-diagnosis For more resources to provide hope and support, especially during Mother’s Day, head to themorning.com/mothersday  Join Our Free Community: www.themorning.com/community

This week we start a special 4 part series called: This is Motherhood, Too. A special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Listen in to our 2nd annual round table conversation with 4 women, each having experienced different types of loss as they share honestly about their journey of loss, grief and finding hope.  My hope is that no matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, this conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.     In Part 1 of this conversation I ask my guests three questions: What does motherhood mean to you? What has surprised you about this journey? What would you say to a grieving mother this Mother’s Day. Their answers to those questions are incredibly insightful and hope-filled and honest. I am so grateful for each of these women and can’t wait for you to get to know them over the next 4 weeks -- I know you are going to love them too.    We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider how your motherhood journey has been shaped by loss. No matter where you are in your grief journey I think doing this will help you to find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood. MEET OUR GUESTSwww.themorning.com/motherhood Kristin Hernandez Aimee Jones Micayla Lyons Corrie Lovette For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.  JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode161   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

A Special Bonus Episode. Listen to Meg Walker read her letter To the Mom Grieving a Miscarriage. Each day this week we will feature a special bonus episode. We pray these words would bring you hope and remind you that you are loved and not alone.   To read Meg's letter: www.themorning.com/blog/to-the-mom-grieving-a-miscarriage For more resources to provide hope and support, especially during Mother’s Day, head to themorning.com/mothersday  Join Our Free Community: www.themorning.com/community

A Special Bonus Episode. Listen to Morgan Golding read her letter To the Mom Grieving a Stillborn Baby. Each day this week we will feature a special bonus episode. We pray these words would bring you hope and remind you that you are loved and not alone.   To read Morgan's letter: www.themorning.com/blog/to-the-mom-grieving-a-stillborn-baby-1 For more resources to provide hope and support, especially during Mother’s Day, head to themorning.com/mothersday  Join Our Free Community: www.themorning.com/community

A Special Bonus Episode. Listen to Alexandria Muller read her letter To the Brokenhearted Mom Grieving an Infant Loss. Each day this week we will feature a special bonus episode. We pray these words would bring you hope and remind you that you are loved and not alone.   To read Alexandria's letter: themorning.com/blog/to-the-brokenhearted-mom-grieving-an-infant-loss For more resources to provide hope and support, especially during Mother’s Day, head to themorning.com/mothersday  Join Our Free Community: www.themorning.com/community

Listen into this very, very special episode, made up of 11 different women with different stories of loss, all sharing a message of hope for you as we prepare our hearts for Mother’s Day. Their words of encouragement and honesty are sure to remind you that you are not alone as they are words that come from a place of true knowing and understanding.    I am incredibly thankful to the women who so beautifully and courageously shared their stories and words of hope on this episode. Thank you to Amanda Gilmore, Amber Hanson, Halie Clark, Kara Mullen, Kayla Wasielewski, Kristyn Szala, Mary Margaret Powitz, Meg Walker, Melody Joseph, Nicole Gardner, and Olivia Mueller. Thank you, thank you, thank you.  It was my joy to listen and be encouraged by you. For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.  Celebrating Motherhood  Join us for a FREE event. May 1 at 8p est.  A safe space to celebrate, to grieve, and to honor your motherhood. Click here to Register JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode160   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, a special Bonus Episode. Join me in listening to Meg Walker as she reads a letter she wrote entitled, 3 Truths When You Don’t Feel Like a Mom This Mother’s Day. In this bonus episode Meg says these words: “We can’t make promises on whether or not every person you’ve ever met will remember your child’s name or the special anniversaries that are etched into your memory - even your own spouse might forget from time to time. What we can promise is this: you will never forget your baby. But you aren’t the only one. On this Mother’s Day, take heart in that even if no one else remembers your baby, God remembers with you - and he sees you. He collects your tears in a bottle. And your baby is not forgotten.” She goes on to offer so much hope as she directly speaks to the woman who doesn’t feel like a mom this Mother’s Day. We pray this special bonus episode brings you hope as you are reminded that you are loved and not alone.    As a gift to you, we created a Mothers Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for you filled with helpful resources that will give you a practical, simple and tangible way to prepare your heart for a day that may feel very difficult to navigate. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/mothersday.   And now for our bonus episode, 3 Truths When You Don’t Feel Like a Mom This Mother’s Day, written and read by Meg Walker Mother's Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for a Bereaved Mother www.themorning.com/mothersday Celebrating Motherhood (a free event) Click here to Register

Listen in as I share my answers to your questions all about milestones. While I may not be an expert, I have experienced over a decade of milestones after the loss of my son and I’ve spent the last 5 years learning from other grieving moms about the unique ways they honor their babies – I’ve learned so much and I’m grateful to be able to share it with you today. The questions I’m answering were submitted from our Joyful Mourning Community Members or our friends over on instagram – we have some great questions and I’ll do my best to get through as many as possible. If you have a question about milestones or, advice that might benefit a grieving mom, come join our free online community where you can share those questions and encouragements with other moms – you can find all the details about how to join that free community at themorning.com/community.   Also we created a Milestones Workbook that you can download for free that will be practically helpful at navigating your milestones. The workbook includes a list of ideas for celebrating or honoring your baby, letter prompts for journaling on those special or difficult days, and so much more. And since we all have different days that feel special or important or difficult to navigate, this workbook can be used over and over again for any milestone that is important to you. To download that workbook, head to themorning.com/milestones. QUESTIONS IN NO. 158 What are some ways to honor or celebrate my baby’s birthday in Heaven? I don’t know how to celebrate without them. How do you acknowledge your baby on due dates, anniversary of their death, or other important days? I struggle with feeling nervous that people will think it’s “over the top” or “extra” – how do I get past that? Or am I being over the top if I want to celebrate my baby? Sometimes I feel the need to have everything perfectly planned out but nothing feels right or enough. Other times I don’t think I’ll have the energy but then I feel guilty that I’m not honoring my child. And then I want to forget it all together because of the pain. How do I find the right way to mark the day?      How do I find space to process the grief? How do I know which ones will hit harder as I anticipate certain dates? Some feel like no big deal, but I never know ahead of time. And some milestones feel really hard and I don’t have the emotional capacity to do anything. The build up to my baby’s birth and death anniversary feel harder sometimes than the actual day for some reason.  But how do I cope with all of the memories and trauma that come flooding back that are hard to deal with? My husband and I want to celebrate very differently. One of us wants to go all out and the other wants to do nothing to mark the date. What do I do about that? How do you know when to keep it small or when to invite others in? It feels like those days are not as important to our family & friends as they are to us. Will others be sensitive to the date? I feel like they’ve moved on. There are so many, especially little ones in the immediate aftermath of loss. The first grocery trip, church service, shower, cleaning the house, everything feels like a marker confirming loss, making it sink in again. I remember even when others don’t. I’m having a rough day and then I realize in the late afternoon that today is when a milestone would’ve happened with our baby.  How do I get through them? Do you keep doing it every year? How do we know what to keep doing or not? It’s hard to figure out what to do, especially years after loss. I still want to honor my little ones and I’m afraid that they’re going to be forgotten.   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode157   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Listen in as I talk with Meagan Gonzalez about her son Levi, who was born still at 27 weeks. Meagan shares with me about her journey navigating milestones after losing her son, the challenges that she experienced in facing days like his due date which also happens to be her birthday, how she practically spends the bigger milestone days like his birthday  and what it looks like in her life to honor him in the everyday.  This conversation is honest and hopeful and will remind you that honoring your baby’s life doesn’t have to be an elaborate event, it can be simple and private and still be wonderfully intentional and meaningful.  If you are looking for practical help navigating milestones, I have two things that will help:  The Joyful Mourning Community – come join our free online community and find hundreds of other women who understand this journey because they are on it too. And they have the best, most creative ideas for celebrating and for honoring their babies. Come join us and find a space where you can ask questions and get practical answers to your questions from women who know and understand. To join this free community head to themorning.com/community We created a Milestones Workbook that you can download for free. The workbook includes a list of ideas for celebrating or honoring your baby, letter prompts for journaling on those special or difficult days, and so much more. And since we all have different days that feel special or important or difficult to navigate, this workbook can be used over and over again for any milestone that is important to you. To download that workbook, head to themorning.com/milestones THIS EPISODE IS DEDICATED TO KOHEN ALLEN FRANTZ Today’s podcast is sponsored by the Frantz family in memory of their grandson Kohen Allen Frantz.  In loving memory of our Kohen Allen Frantz, Kohen was stillborn on April 6, 2021.  His life verse is 1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  We love you, Kohen. We look forward to the day we are reunited in heaven. Love, Poppa and Grammy A special thank you to the Frantz family for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Kohen and we remember him with you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.157 Tell me how you navigated Levi's due date, also your birthday? How do you treat that day now?  Would you share with us some of the ways that you honor Levi? To the mom that doesn’t know where to start in regards to celebrating and honoring her baby, what would you say to her?  What surprised you on this journey specifically in regards to navigating milestones and important days?  What has been the biggest challenge you faced in celebrating or honoring Levi or just navigating milestones in general?  What has it looked like for you to involve your living children in celebrating and honoring Levi? What advice would you give a grieving mom about what to expect in regards to due dates or birthdays or other important dates?  FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYYou are not alone. Find help and hope in navigating your new normal in our free online community. Come join us and meet hundreds of women who can provide the unique support that a grieving mom needs. I can't wait to see you there. www.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode157   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Today Chelsea Spoelker joins me to share the story of her daughter Stella and how this short, but incredibly powerful life changed hers forever. Stella was born with Trisomy 18, a life-limiting diagnosis and lived for 39 days. Chelsea shares with me how, through Stella’s life, she learned to celebrate each day like it was her last. She began that journey of celebrating and honoring her life while she was pregnant and each day, each milestone after she was born. Since Stella’s death Chelsea has learned what it looks like practically to parent and celebrate and honor a child that has died and today she is sharing all of that with you.  Navigating milestones, celebrating birthdays, knowing how to honor the anniversary of your baby’s death, or knowing how to honor your baby on holidays or even in the everyday  is incredibly challenging; those dates often feel impossible, but this conversation will help, reminding you that you aren’t alone in this and giving you practical ideas for what navigating milestones could look like.    While this conversation specifically centered navigating milestones and celebrating and honoring our babies, Chelsea also shared what it was like to make the decision to carry Stella to term when her medical team was advising to end the pregnancy, the very drastic steps she and her husband took to seek out medical care where they felt supported, how she and her husband navigate milestones differently and something that all loss moms can identify with – regret. Chelsea opens up about all of that and more.    And toward the end of the episode Chelsea gave a simple but powerful encouragement when she said: “figure out what works for you, what feels right for you and honor that, do that.” I loved the encouragement to do milestones in any way that feels right for you.    If you are looking for practical help navigating milestones, I have two things that will help:  The Joyful Mourning Community – come join our free online community and find hundreds of other women who understand this journey because they are on it too. And they have the best, most creative ideas for celebrating and for honoring their babies. I wish I would have had this community when I was celebrating my son’s first birthday or navigating the first anniversary of his death or simply on the days when I wanted to honor him and just didn’t know how or feel the freedom to do so. Come join us and find a space where you can ask questions and get practical answers to your questions from women who know and understand. To join this free community head to themorning.com/community We created a Milestones Workbook that you can download for free. The workbook includes a list of ideas for celebrating or honoring your baby, letter prompts for journaling on those special or difficult days, and so much more. And since we all have different days that feel special or important or difficult to navigate, this workbook can be used over and over again for any milestone that is important to you. To download that workbook, head to themorning.com/milestones   Lastly, this episode is dedicated to all of our trisomy babies and to the mamas that love them. In honor of Trisomy Awareness month we celebrate your babies, we remember them, we remember you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.156 To the mom that doesn’t know where to start in regards to celebrating and honoring her baby, what would you say to her?  What would you say to a mom who has ideas in mind about ways she would like to celebrate her baby but she is worried what others will think of her?  What would you say to the woman listening who does not want to celebrate these big milestones and anniversaries? What do you think is the biggest challenge a mom faces in celebrating or honoring her baby or just navigating important dates and milestones that may not be as obvious as a birthday or anniversary of their death? Would you share with us ideas for ways to honor and celebrate our babies on milestone dates and birthdays, due dates or anniversaries? What advice would you give to a mom with living children about how to involve them in honoring or celebrating their baby’s birthday? Do you and your husband want to celebrate these days the same? Differently? How do you work through that when you’re on different pages as parents? How do you care for yourself leading up to these dates or in these seasons? Are there any special rituals you do to celebrate in your own heart?  How do you know whether to include others or not in your important dates? FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYYou are not alone. Find help and hope in navigating your new normal in our free online community. Come join us and meet hundreds of women who can provide the unique support that a grieving mom needs. I can't wait to see you there. www.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode156   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This episode originally aired almost 2 years ago but it is such a fantastic resource that we wanted to put it in front of you again. If you have experienced the loss of a baby or know and love someone who has experienced the loss of a baby this episode is an absolute must-listen. Libby Marler is my guest in this interview; she is a trained counselor who specializes in women’s issues including maternal mental health, parenting, grief and loss, as well as anxiety issues. Libby became passionate about providing counseling and support for women after she navigated the death of her own daughter due to a life-limiting diagnosis.    In this episode Libby shares with us a general overview of what someone who has experienced the loss of a baby can expect in regards to grief. For many of us, the loss of our baby was the first time we have experienced a significant loss close to us, we are unfamiliar with the grieving process and we are trying to discern what’s normal, what isn’t, what is expected of us, when should we seek outside help – basically all the things and in this episode Libby breaks it all down for us. She shares invaluable expertise regarding baby loss and grief, including helpful steps to take to process through your grief in a way that is not burdensome or weighty but instead, very freeing.    If you have ever wondered if what you are feeling and thinking amidst grief is normal or if you have ever asked yourself ‘am I showing enough emotion? Am I showing too much emotion?’ or ‘shouldn’t I be farther along by now?” This episode is for you. Libby offers wisdom that I am sure will bring you hope in your grief today.   FREE GRIEF WORKBOOKWe created a helpful workbook called Understanding Grief to go along this episode that breaks down much of what is discussed in this episode. This guide includes:  an explanation of bereavement trauma aspects of trauma in regards to baby loss normal feelings of grief normal physical responses to grief ways to process your loss mourning tasks when to seek professional help journal prompts Download that free workbook: www.themorning.com/griefguide   FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYYou are not alone. Find help and hope in navigating your new normal in our free online community. Come join us and meet hundreds of women who can provide the unique support that a grieving mom needs. I can't wait to see you there. www.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode155   RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I have invited Lindsay Blair to join us again to talk with us specifically about trauma, ptsd, triggers and navigating this aspect of life after losing a baby. Lindsay is a certified as a Miscarriage and Bereavement Doula, Trauma Specialist, and Infertility Coach who joined us back in episode 151 to share her motherhood journey of recurrent pregnancy loss. In this episode she is answering questions like: What is trauma? What is PTSD? How common is it to experience PTSD after losing a baby? How do you manage triggers after experiencing loss? And what does it look like to continue to take steps forward into our “new normal” following the trauma of baby loss? We also talk significantly about how to support a grieving mom so if you love a woman who has experienced the loss of a baby, this episode is going to be very, very helpful.  I loved so much of what Lindsay had to share with us but especially when she said: It's never too early and it's never too late to seek help and to ask for support.  QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN EPISODE 154 What is trauma? What is PTSD?  How common is it to experience PTSD after losing a baby?  If a mom listening thinks she has symptoms of PTSD what can/should she do? How do you manage triggers after experiencing loss? *How do you even identify triggers? In what ways have your triggers changed or evolved over time? What does it look like to continue to take steps forward into our “new normal” following the trauma of baby loss? How can friends and family support a woman/family who has faced trauma?  What are some things that are helpful for friends and family to know about things that are “normal” reactions to trauma?   FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYYou are not alone. Find help and hope in navigating your new normal in our free online community. Come join us and meet hundreds of women who can provide the unique support that a grieving mom needs. I can't wait to see you there. www.themorning.com/community FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. Choose the Resource Bundle that is right for you, miscarriage, infant loss or life-limiting diagnosis to find resources that are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode154 RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Kelsey Luddemann and giving her space to share motherhood journey – a journey that has been filled with incredible loss and significant medical and health scares and yet even amidst the heartache and loss you hear Kelsey’s joy; even when there are pieces of her story that still fill unfinished without resolution or even a chance for a rainbow. Kelsey shares in a way that is honest and open, tender and empathetic -- in a way that I am sure will speak to you and encourage you. Kelsey shares her story of infertility, a cancer diagnosis and two ectopic pregnancies that resulted in the loss of both of her fallopian tubes, as well as her chance to naturally conceive. Kelsey also shares about her experience with embryo loss as well as a failed adoption – like I said, her motherhood journey has been filled with devastation and loss and yet this interview and her story is not without hope and I love Kelsey’s honest answer about what joy in the mourning has looked like for her.    Keep listening to hear how Kelsey navigated life after loss, things like returning to work, marriage, faith and wrestling and asking hard questions, how she handles pregnancy announcements, what it looked like for her to close the chapter on growing her family without a rainbow baby and so much more. The wisdom shared here is incredibly helpful at navigating the new normal for a grieving mom – I know that it will not only help you practically but also remind you that you aren’t alone in experiencing the challenges of embracing this new identity – you are not alone in this.    Kelsey also shares invaluable wisdom about how to love a mom who has experienced pregnancy loss and the unique challenges a woman faces who has experienced an ectopic pregnancy – if you love a grieving a mom make sure to listen to the wisdom Kelsey shares there.    FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYYou are not alone. Find help and hope in navigating your new normal in our free online community. Come join us and meet hundreds of women who can provide the unique support that a grieving mom needs. I can't wait to see you there. www.themorning.com/community FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. Choose the Resource Bundle that is right for you, miscarriage, infant loss or life-limiting diagnosis to find resources that are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode153 RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week I am talking with Kjerstin Davies about the unexpected loss of her son Charlie and what life after loss has looked like for her. We talk about:  finding answers and Kjerstin shares her surprising response to learning why her son died the guilt and shame that follow the loss of a child and what she did with those feelings the fear that follows a loss and how she practically dealt with the fear in the pregnancies and the parenting that followed losing her son therapy and what that has looked like for her, how it has changed over the course of her grief journey and ways that it has brought healing parenting her living son, how she talked to him about his brother dying, how she helped him grieve and what therapy for him looked like as well.  We also talk about the organization, Charlie’s Guys, that Kjerstin founded in honor of her son Charlie. Charlie’s Guys serves children 18 years and younger who have lost a sibling or loved one in any way. Their mission is to remind children who have lost a loved one that they are loved and not forgotten and provide them with support while they are on their grief journey. If you are a mama with living children this could be an excellent resource for you to help them in this season as they grieve the loss of their sibling – I’m so grateful for the work that Kjerstin is doing to help children in this way and I can’t wait for you to learn more about it as she shares why she started it, how it works, how you can take advantage of this opportunity or even get involved.  As we end our time together, Kjerstin shares how her grief has changed over the years since losing Charlie and her answer may surprise you. Listen all the way to the end to hear why she says time does not heal and what her therapist said that made her angry – I have a feeling that you will be able to relate.   FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode152 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I have the privilege of interviewing Lindsay Blair, mama of eleven- nine sweet babies in heaven and two living babies – twins who were born after 7 years of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. Lindsay is certified as a Miscarriage and Bereavement Doula, Trauma Specialist, and Infertility Coach – in this episode she shares her complex and difficult journey of motherhood, what her young marriage looked like in this season of trying to grow their family, what healing looked like for her and her husband and how in the world she navigated pregnancy after loss after loss. About pregnancy after loss Lindsay said this: “Hands down pregnancy after loss is one of the hardest things that, that I have gone through.” Lindsay also shares honestly about what it was like to experience recurring miscarriage, two ectopic pregnancies that also took her chance at naturally conceiving again as well as an embryo loss. I asked Lindsay how her grief was different for each of her losses and she said: “these are all very real losses, a very real babies that I had very real hopes and dreams and prayers for.”While this interview is honest it is surprisingly not without hope, meaning you would think that after experiencing so much loss you would hear bitterness over a journey that lasted for years and years but instead you hear Lindsay say: “we'll always grieve our babies that aren't with us. But when I think about them today, I'm not consumed with negative thoughts and this overwhelming, suffocating grief that is all consuming. Just this love and this joy that I will get to see them again one day. And just the gratitude that even though their lives were short, I'm so grateful. I wouldn't change a second about our story.” If you are experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, have experienced an ectopic pregnancy or infertility or are simply married and navigating life after loss, there is so much wisdom and hope shared in this episode, I promise you will not be disappointed. And no matter what your story of loss or where you are in your grief journey, this episode will remind you that you are not alone. If you love a mom who has experienced recurrent pregnancy loss or is currently pregnant after loss -- Lindsay has wisdom for you as well in this episode. FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES Free Pregnancy After Loss Community just for those complex pregnancy after loss conversations. We would love for you to join us and have a space that is private to receive support and care from other women who really understand the unique journey of pregnancy after loss. We have a free download, 40 Verses for 40 Weeks – a verse to meditate, think on and study for every week of your pregnancy. We know that pregnancy after loss is incredibly hard and we wanted to give you something tangible that would remind you of hope and peace in moments of fear. To access those free resources head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode151 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Jenni Hunt – a certified Birth and Bereavement Doula who spends much of her time supporting families facing miscarriage, stillbirth or an adverse prenatal diagnosis as a Birth and Bereavement Doula. Last week we heard Jenni’s story of motherhood, the losses that she has endured, what she has learned from her losses and how she has found healing. We ended our time last week with Jenni sharing with us what led her to become a bereavement doula – a beautiful and tender story that I guarantee will touch your heart. Today we will be talking specifically about her work as a birth and bereavement doula so if you have not listened to part 1 make sure to skip back and listen before diving into part 2.    This week in part 2 Jenni is answering all my questions about Bereavement Doulas – what is a bereavement doula, how can a mom prepare for birth when loss is involved, what are some ways she helps women practically approach their labor & delivery experiences when loss is involved? (Either for current or for a pregnancy after loss.)   We discuss common challenges that she sees, and how women can prepare for those challenges. We also discuss how women grieve and process differently – a very helpful conversation if you have ever wondered if you are grieving “the right way.”   And we end our time together with Jenni giving very helpful and hopeful advice about navigating your medical provider and what to do if you do not feel cared for by your medical team.   If you are currently pregnant and your baby has received a life-limiting diagnosis, this episode will be a very helpful tool in understanding how a bereavement doula might be able to help you throughout the remainder of your pregnancy, your labor and delivery, and especially your time with your precious baby.    If you are in a season of thinking about growing your family again, actively trying to conceive or are currently pregnant after loss this episode is going to be really helpful for you as well as you learn more about how a bereavement doula might serve you in this season. For more free and helpful resources about navigating pregnancy after loss, head to themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss.   And even if neither of those apply to you, this interview is incredibly helpful and again, so wonderfully tender. I am so grateful for Jenni – for her care and compassion towards grieving mothers.   FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle   PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode150 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Jenni Hunt. Jenni is a mom to 4 teenage boys whose motherhood journey is unique and complex  – like many of ours. While her family looks complete with 4 healthy beautiful boys, what you can’t see is the losses that she has endured. Today she will share with us her unique motherhood journey, how she endured a second trimester loss, experienced two adoption losses as well as recurring miscarriages. Jenni shares what healing has been like for her as well as what it has looked like for her to process her motherhood journey that ended with so many losses. We also discuss what it looked like for her to parent her living sons amidst such heartache and loss. We end our time today with Jenni sharing with us what led her to become a bereavement doula – a beautiful and tender story that I guarantee will touch your heart. I am so grateful for Jenni’s tenderness and empathy and profound wisdom she shares in this episode.  Next week in part 2 Jenni will share more about her work as a Bereavement Doula, what is a bereavement doula, helpful ways to prepare for birth if you are currently experiencing loss or for a pregnancy after loss, her thoughts about how to go about finding a medical provider that cares for you, and so much more. Make sure to tune in next week for part 2. But for today, get to know Jenni and her story – I promise it will bless you. FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES Free Pregnancy After Loss Community just for those complex pregnancy after loss conversations. We would love for you to join us and have a space that is private to receive support and care from other women who really understand the unique journey of pregnancy after loss. We have a free download, 40 Verses for 40 Weeks – a verse to meditate, think on and study for every week of your pregnancy. We know that pregnancy after loss is incredibly hard and we wanted to give you something tangible that would remind you of hope and peace in moments of fear. To access those free resources head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode149 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I have the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth King – a Certified Fertility Health Coach, Birth & Bereavement Doula, New Parent Educator and Certified Life Coach. Elizabeth is joining us this week to talk about trying to conceive after having experienced the loss of a baby, the challenges that exist when trying to conceive and how to overcome those challenges. We talk about making the decision to try to conceive again, what it looks like if you and your spouse or partner are not on the same page about growing your family, the steps she recommends a woman who has experienced loss to take before trying to conceive again and finally what encouragement and hope would she give to a woman who is in a season of waiting.    If you are in a season of considering growing your family again, actively trying to conceive or are currently pregnant after loss this episode is going to be really helpful for you.   PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES Free Pregnancy After Loss Community just for those complex pregnancy after loss conversations. We would love for you to join us and have a space that is private to receive support and care from other women who really understand the unique journey of pregnancy after loss. We have a free download, 40 Verses for 40 Weeks – a verse to meditate, think on and study for every week of your pregnancy. We know that pregnancy after loss is incredibly hard and we wanted to give you something tangible that would remind you of hope and peace in moments of fear. To access those free resources head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss     SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode148 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 2 of a 2 part interview with Megan Gamboa. Last week in Part 1, Megan shared the story of her son Levi and the life-limiting diagnosis of Trisomy 13 she received for him, what it looked like for her to make the decision to carry him to term and how she advocated for his life with her medical team. Megan shared her unique perspective about navigating the medical system after receiving a life-limiting diagnosis as well as very practical advice about how she did this. If you have not listened to Part 1 make sure to skip back and listen before diving into Part 2.  This week in Part 2 Megan is sharing about what her experience was like returning to work as a physical therapist working in the same hospital where her son both lived and died. Her wisdom and honesty about this is going to be so helpful for you as it holds applicable ideas to what it looks like to return to that which was the old normal – whether you are returning to a workplace or not. In this Part 2 we also discuss marriage, Megan’s faith journey and her mental and emotional health journey after loss. And one of my favorite questions that Megan answered was how her grief has changed over the last 3 years – I can’t wait for you to hear her answer and be encouraged about your own grief journey..  This episode is tender and honest and will remind you that no matter what your life after loss looks like, you are not alone.   FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode147 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Megan Gamboa. In this week’s episode Megan is sharing the story of her son Levi and the life-limiting diagnosis of trisomy 13 she received for him and what it looked like for her to make the decision to carry him to term and how she advocated for his life with her medical time. Megan is a physical therapist and during our time together she shares her unique experience of what it looks like to navigate the medical system after having received a life-limiting diagnosis. Megan shares very practical advice about how she did this that I am sure will encourage you and give you tangible steps to take that feel manageable and doable if this is your story. In this part 1 of Megan’s 2 part interview we also talk about her pregnancy after loss journey as well. If you are in that season I know that Megan’s story will remind you that you aren’t alone in how difficult pregnancy after loss is to navigate and I’m sure you will find a lot of hope in her honesty.    Next week in part 2 Megan will share about what returning to work looked like for her, the same hospital where her son both lived and died is also her workplace – and her wisdom and honesty about this is going to be so helpful for you. We will also discuss marriage, faith and mental/emotional health after loss. One of my favorite questions that Megan answered was how her grief has changed over the last 3 years – I can’t wait for you to hear that next week.    This episode is tender and honest but also tangibly and practical helpful. I hope it reminds you that it is ok and gives you the courage to advocate for yourself and for your baby and to make decisions that are best for you and your family and your baby. FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode146 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

This week on the podcast I am interviewing Brooke Seibal – a mom to 5 children, 4 here on earth, 1 in heaven. During our time together Brooke shares the story of her son Knox, a twin that she lost suddenly just shy of 6 weeks old. Brook also shares about the unique challenges of losing a twin, as well as her grief journey and what healing has looked like for her. We talk about parenting young children after loss and amidst grief and about her decision to have another baby just a few months after her son Knox had died. We talk about how she honors her son’s life in the day to day as well as the bigger milestone days like birthdays – what that practically looks like for her celebrating her son Jonathon while grieving his twin brother Knox. We talk about Brooke’s faith and what God has been teaching her over the last 2 years since experiencing such a tremendous loss. Brooke shares with honesty, hope and joy during our time together and she gives an abundance of practical advice that I am certain can be of help to you, no matter your story. I pray this episode and the wisdom and hope shared here encourages you today.   FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode145 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this week’s episode I have the honor of interviewing Michele Benyo. Michele is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®, an early childhood parent coach, and the founder of Good Grief Parenting. After her 6-year-old son died of cancer, her 3-year-old daughter said, “Mommy, half of me is gone.” This heartbreaking statement defined Michele’s life purpose. Her mission is twofold: to help parents through the unimaginable challenges of parenting while grieving the death of a child, and to help parents meet the unique needs of a child who has lost a sibling in the early childhood years. The desire of Michele’s heart is to see families live forward after loss toward a future bright with possibilities and even joy.   The immense practical wisdom Michele shares during our time together is invaluable and I just know you are going to love Michele.    FREE RESOURCE BUNDLEOver the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode144 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community RATE, REVIEW &  FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Today’s special episode is all about the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. And you are going to hear from all three members of The Morning team in this special episode, Meg Walker is going to share with you thoughts about last year, Mary Margaret Powitz is going to share with you 3 hopes for the new year and I am going to finish our time with 3 prayers I have for you as we end 2021 and enter 2022.  Before we jump into that I want you to hear me say: You made it through the holidays friends — I am so proud of you. I wish I could give you a hug and look you in the eyes and say “You did it. You made it through one of the toughest seasons a grieving mother has to walk through.”  I would love to encourage you to spend some time today or tomorrow, just a few minutes, reflecting on this past year, on this moment right now, and on the holiday season. We created a simple workbook for you with questions and prompts to help you reflect on the year as we move into a new year, head to themorning.com/newyear to download yours.  The purpose of writing out your thoughts is not to come up with perfect words but to get all that’s in your head out -- to remember things you don’t want to forget; to reflect, to pause, to ponder, and to process.  You have been through so much this year, it will be an incredibly helpful exercise to take a few minutes to sit in it, reflect on it, learn from it -- before diving into a new year. Download that free workbook at themorning.com/newyear and then head over to our free community to share with us what you discovered during your time of reflection.    New Year Reflection Workbook www.themorning.com/newyear Show Notes www.themorning.com/blog/episode143 Free Community www.themorning.com/community  

Bonus Episode from the Christmas Promises for the Grieving Heart Daily Devotional He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear At Christmas we celebrate Jesus' first coming as a baby, when He came to be our Rescuer and Redeemer, our Healer and our Comforter. But we also anticipate His second coming, when He will wipe away all the tears, all the sadness, all the pain, all the brokenness, and all the death.   HOLIDAY WORKBOOK & RESOURCE BUNDLE for the grieving mother www.themorning.com/holidays FREE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

Bonus Episode from the Christmas Promises for the Grieving Heart Daily Devotional The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 Our Healer, Our Comforter The baby we celebrate at Christmas, that baby in a manger, He is our good news, our hope. He is good news because He came to bring freedom, to set us free. Freedom from death and sin and all that is broken. Jesus came to bring life. And He came to bring healing and comfort.   HOLIDAY WORKBOOK & RESOURCE BUNDLE for the grieving mother www.themorning.com/holidays FREE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

This week on the podcast Kristyn Szala joins me back on the podcast to talk about Cuddle Cots – what they are, why a mom who has received a life-limiting diagnosis should know about these, how to learn more about them and how to get one for yourself or for someone you love. Kristyn shared her full story with us in Episode 134 but is joining us this week to talk specifically about Cuddle Cots and the role this resource played in her bereavement care. Kristyn says over and over during our time together what a blessing Cuddle Cots were to her after her son Asher was born still due to complications from a life-limiting diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Cuddle Cots gave her, and give moms like her, the gift of time. This amazing resource gives parents, as well as friends and family, the ability to spend time with their baby that they wouldn’t really be able to otherwise. Cuddle cots are not widely known about in the US but they are gaining traction as a very helpful resource in bereavement care for families who have experienced the loss of a baby and Kristyn shares all about that in this episode. If you have been given a life-limiting diagnosis or knows someone who has this episode is going to be very helpful. And if you are a grieving mom, looking for a way to bless other moms I would listen in – knowing about Cuddle Cots and helping to raise awareness about this unique and helpful resource might be the very thing someone you know and love will need in the future. Like I shared last week in Episode 141 with Gina Harris, CEO of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, as we near the end of the year, if you are looking for year end giving opportunities this would be a really, really great opportunity to give to in honor of your baby this Christmas. To find out more about how to connect with Kristyn and give a donation head to www.facebook.com/AshersHope. Or reach out to your local hospital and give a donation for them to begin raising the funds necessary to purchase their own Cuddle Cot!   FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE-LIMITING DIAGNOSIS & LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode142 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

This week I have the honor and privilege of interviewing Gina Harris, a mom who has experienced devastating loss with two sons diagnosed with life-limiting diagnosis as well as the immense pain of two subsequent miscarriages. Gina understands this journey well and is here today to share with us not only as a mother who has experienced the loss of a baby but also as the CEO of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is an organization that provides the gift of remembrance portraits to parents experiencing the death of a baby. Gina is passionate about the value of photographs for families like us and I was so grateful for this conversation. I especially loved when she said: “the photographs of our son David, are our most prized and cherished possession. They are everything to us still to this day. 14 years later… these photographs document the existence of our precious babies.”  I can’t wait for you to hear more about Gina’s story, the role that remembrance photography played in her story as well as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. Gina shares with us how we can help spread the news about the services they offer, both for moms and for medical professionals, and how you can get connected and learn more about their volunteer opportunities. As a side note they need more than just photographers as volunteers, so don’t dismiss those volunteer opportunities until you hear Gina share a little more about ways you can serve. Also, I wanted to mention that as we near the end of the year, if you are looking for year end giving opportunities this would be a really, really great organization to give towards and you could even do so in honor of your baby this Christmas. To find out more about how to give a donation head to nowilaymedowntosleep.org, that’s nowilaymedowntosleep.org.    HOLIDAY RESOURCESAlong with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle. This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season  -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays   FREE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode141  

Today we are talking about Christmas traditions for the grieving mom. I want to share a few things I’ve learned about traditions over the years, how they might be helpful to you, as well as a few traditions you may want to incorporate into your Christmas season and a few tips for navigating traditions in general.  HOLIDAY RESOURCESAlong with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle. This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season  -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays   FREE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode140

To my grieving friends on this Thanksgiving Day.  I wish I could pull up a chair beside you and sit with you in person. To give you a look of understanding when someone you love says a hurtful thing or squeeze your hand under the table to remind you that you aren’t alone. Or cover for you when you need to hide away for a bit. To tangibly remind you that you're not alone. Even if I can’t be there with you in person, I want you to know that you are loved today and not alone. I thought you might need to hear from someone who understands first hand how hard today really is, so I wrote you a short letter and wanted to read it to you. today is hard. And that’s ok.  I know how seemingly impossible it feels to be thankful and how the idea of celebrating feels like a contradiction and how maybe the only emotion you are experiencing is rage.  And I know how all of that makes you feel guilty and full of shame. This is me, a mama who has been there, telling you it is hard. Holidays are hard. And feeling grateful when your heart is broken and your arms are empty -- when a life is missing -- is really, really hard.   NAVIGATING THE HOLIDAYS AFTER BABY LOSS www.themorning.com/holidays2020

A very special episode as the holiday season is upon us. I asked a handful of previous guests on the episodes who have experienced different types of loss to share their best wisdom and advice for navigating the holidays. Listen into this very very special episode, made up of 6 women sharing incredible wisdom from their experience of walking through the holidays as grieving mothers.    If you are a grieving mom this episode will make you feel less alone this holiday season and equip you with tangible ways to face the holidays.  If you love a grieving mom this episode will help you love and understand her better this holiday season.    I am incredibly thankful to the women who so beautifully shared their wisdom on this episode, Kristin Hernandez, Aimee Jones, Mary Margaret Powitz, Kelly Griffin, Sarah Sandel and Carolyn Keller . Thank you, thank you thank you. It was my joy to listen and learn from you and it is my honor to walk alongside you in your grief.   HOLIDAY RESOURCES Along with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle. This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season  -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays Also, join us for a free live event: Hope for the Holidays, happening on November 21, where we will be sharing all of this wisdom about navigating the holidays live -- you can register for this live event in our free private community; if you aren’t a member of our community yet, now is a great time to join -- you can find more information about how to join over at www.themorning.com/community.

As we near Thanksgiving and move into the Christmas season I thought it would be helpful to share a few simple tips for navigating the holidays as a grieving mom. I know first hand the difficulty and sorrow and deep longing that accompanies a broken heart as it enters the holidays and I want to share a few things that may ease the pain of it all just a bit.  HOLIDAY RESOURCES Along with this podcast episode we have pulled together all of our best and most helpful resources for navigating the holidays, into our Holiday Workbook & Resource Bundle. This resource is going to include quick access to all of our holiday material, including links to our holiday interviews and posts like how to handle Christmas Cards as well as a workbook that gives you space to prepare your mind and heart for the holiday season  -- you can find that free download at www.themorning.com/holidays Also, join us for a free live event: Hope for the Holidays, happening on November 21, where we will be sharing all of this wisdom about navigating the holidays live -- you can register for this live event in our free private community; if you aren’t a member of our community yet, now is a great time to join -- you can find more information about how to join over at themorning.com/community.

Listen in as I spend time with Carolyn Keller as she shares with me about her daughter Bethany who had trisomy 13. This episode is full of so much wisdom -- Caroyn shares about her pregnancy journey with Bethany as well as her life in the NICU. She talks about what it was like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis and how she navigated that news with her husband and her 3 living children. And then we talk about what it was like to say goodbye and navigate life after loss. Again, we talk about marriage and parenting and what her faith looked like during that time. Carolyn gives so much wisdom in this episode as well as a ton of practical advice including her favorite resources and books for navigating a life-limiting diagnosis and life after loss and how to walk living children through both of those. Carolyn said something towards the end of our time together, something that only another grieving mom would be able to hear and understand, she said: “I look forward to the sadness because through the sadness, I can have joy remembering my daughter.” Such a beautiful and honest and accurate sentiment. Make sure to listen all the way to the end when Carolyn shares a few more words that I promise will offer you freedom and hope today in your grief journey.  I am so thankful to Carolyn and her willingness to share her story and wisdom with us -- I pray it is a blessing to you.    FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle CHRISTMAS BIBLE STUDY GUIDEwww.themorning.com/christmas RESOURCE FOR HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING MOM www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode137 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

A very special episode as we end Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. For us here at The Morning and on The Joyful Mourning Podcast,  honoring your babies, telling your stories, raising awareness about the tragic reality of baby loss, and helping those who love a grieving mom better understand what she needs and how to best support her, is not something that ends when awareness month is over. This is why we are here, week after week, month after month, year after year -- to offer support and community, to remind you that you aren’t alone, to help you navigate the difficult and complex realities of life after baby loss. We wanted to commemorate the end of this special month by sharing your voices, your stories and your wisdom. Listen in to this very very special episode, made up of nearly 30 women with different stories of loss all sharing what they wish others understood about baby loss. If you are a grieving mom this episode will make you feel less alone.  If you love a grieving mom this episode will help you love and understand her better.  I am incredibly thankful to the women who so beautifully and courageously shared their stories and wisdom on this episode. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was my joy to listen and learn from you and it is my honor to walk alongside you in your grief.    FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle RESOURCE FOR HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING MOM www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode136 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

Listen in as I spend time with Mary Prince and she shares her motherhood journey with me. She talks honestly and candidly about her recurrent miscarriages, and then her son Noah who was born at 26 weeks due to a placental rupture who would die just a few short months later as a result of a rare and very difficult to diagnose heart defect. I ask Mary to talk about what it’s been like to be an invisible mother, having experienced pregnancy 4 times, having delivered a baby boy and mothered him in the nicu, but now to have only empty arms. Mary shares what has surprised her about her motherhood journey and the grief that she has endured. If you love a grieving mom, she gives really helpful wisdom and advice about what it looks like to support a mom who has experienced the loss of a baby. At the time of this recording Mary was 18 weeks pregnant and Mary gives an honest real-time look into what pregnancy after so much loss has been like. She gives wisdom and really helpful tangible advice that I think will really encourage you if you are in that season. We talk about all those things and so much more.  I am so thankful to Mary and her willingness to share her journey with us -- I pray it is a blessing to you.   FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode135 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give grieving moms a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom.  In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things: 1) To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. 2) To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate. So, if you are a grieving mom I hope this reminds you that you aren’t alone. And if you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.    Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss.

Listen in as I spend time with Kristyn Szala and ask her all kinds of questions about her motherhood journey. Kristyn has experienced infertility, journeyed through ivf, experienced a miscarriage with one of her twins and then would go on to experience a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Asher. During our time together Kristyn talks honestly about her experience with IVF and what it was like to lose a twin in the first trimester of pregnancy -- she shares what it was like to grieve that loss, the unique challenges it held and what advice she would give to a woman in that situation. We go on to talk about what it was like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Asher -- what she wishes she had known, what she learned and what she would have done differently. Kristyn said that immediately after hearing the news she canceled everything, her maternity photos, her baby shower, everything. But then after thinking about it for a few days she decided this baby and this pregnancy was worth celebrating. She said she asked herself: “how do I want this pregnancy to be? I want it to be full of joy.” This part of our conversation was really beautiful and I absolutely love the idea her friend did for her in the way of a Baby Blessing -- you’ll have to listen to hear exactly what I’m talking about. We talked about a few specific tactics that were helpful to her in navigating life after loss as well as a major career change she made a few years following her son Asher’s death. The last thing we talk about very candidly and tenderly is the reality that Kristyn is unable to have more children and what it’s like to navigate losing your youngest child -- if that is your reality too, I am sure that what Kristyn has to say about this will remind you that you are not alone.   FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode134 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community  

Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give you, grieving moms, a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom.  In this second episode of the series I am talking about why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable  -- or all of the above. If you are a grieving mom I hope this gives you permission to grieve in any way that is helpful to you, and to honor and celebrate your baby in any way you choose. If you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.    Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources: www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss

Listen in as I spend time with Aimee Jones as she shares with me her motherhood journey and the story of her daughter Ginny who was born still at 34 weeks. Aimee shares honestly about life after the loss, what surprised her about this journey and what were some of the unique challenges of losing her first born, having no answers as to why her daughter died and what it was like to make the decision to try to have another baby and what pregnancy after loss was like for her and what wisdom she would give to a mom entering that season. I ask her what it was like bringing a living baby home after losing her daughter and how she coped with the grief while simultaneously holding so much joy -- her answer is so beautiful and wonderfully simple and practical. We also talk about how her grief has changed in the 2 years since she lost Ginny, what it was like at the beginning and what’s it like now and I think her response will be really encouraging to anyone in the fresh days of grief. One thing Aimee has an abundance of wisdom to share for the grieving mom and my time with her really encouraged me personally and I am certain that it will encourage you too.    FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER BABY LOSS Over the past 5 years we have helped thousands of women navigate life after the loss of a baby and we pulled our best and most helpful resources all into one easy to access resource. There is a separate bundle for miscarriage, infant loss and life-limiting diagnosis so the resources are very specific, tailored to you and your grief journey. To get your free resource bundle head to themorning.com/resourcebundle SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode133 FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community

Listen in to the first bonus episode in a series I have titled Conversations with a Grieving Mom. Throughout October I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. In this first bonus episode I am speaking openly about why raising awareness about pregnancy and infant loss is valuable and important, why it matters.  5 Ways We Are Raising Awareness & Honoring Your Baby(s) www.themorning.com/blog/pregnancy-infant-loss-awareness-2021 -- October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month. Maybe you saw the statistics yesterday as women raised their hand to say “I am 1 in 4” and to share their story of baby loss. Or maybe you didn’t even notice, just another ‘awareness’ month filling up your feed. It’s ok, I didn’t know that October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month either until it was me. Until I was the 1 in the 4. But here’s the thing, while you may not be the 1 you likely know her. She is your friend. Your sister. Your daughter. Your neighbor. Your coworker. The stranger at the grocery store. The acquaintance at church.  1 in 4 is so much more than a number. Raising awareness is about so much more than a statistic. It's a person. It’s a life. We raise awareness because that one matters. We raise awareness because the numbers would tell us that if it isn’t you, then you likely know someone who has experienced the loss of a baby. We raise awareness so that you might know better how to love her and care for her.  Because to ignore her pain is to ignore her. We raise awareness because we want you to know our story. To know our baby. Because to know us and not know about our baby is to not really know us at all.  -- 5 Ways We Are Raising Awareness & Honoring Your Baby(s) www.themorning.com/blog/pregnancy-infant-loss-awareness-2021  

Over the past 4 weeks we have been talking specifically about navigating faith after the loss of a baby, asking hard questions about God and what the Bible has to say about our loss because if you are anything like me you have asked those questions before, maybe not out loud for fear of judgment but in the quiet private corners of your own mind. Questions like Why did God allow this to happen? Did I do something wrong to deserve this? How can I trust a God who would let this happen? This series of conversations is incredibly needed and it has been a privilege to discuss these hard, but important questions.    In this final episode of this series on faith after loss, I have the privilege of interviewing Kristin Hernandez, author of the book Sunlight in December, A Mother’s Story of Finding the Goodness of God in the Storm of Grief. Kristin’s motherhood journey has been wrought with loss and she enters into this conversation with incredible tenderness and empathy -- as a grieving mom who has spent time wrestling with God, searching for answers, for truth and for hope.    Kristin shares her motherhood journey with us and what her spiritual walk looked like amidst her losses and after. She talks about misconceptions about what it means to be a strong christian who is grieving and what it looks like when God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we want Him to. And I loved when Kristin said “I can trust and believe what the Bible says, even when I don’t feel it.”   This conversation is for anyone who knows and loves God and is walking with Him. It’s for the woman who is really wrestling in her faith right now. It’s also for the woman who isn’t quite sure what the Christian faith is all about and maybe you are looking for answers or just want to learn more -- this is a great place to start. And lastly, if you love a grieving mom, this would be a really, really great conversation to listen to in regards to better understanding what a grieving mom is experiencing as she navigates her faith journey.    Kristin and I do our best to bring the truth of scripture into these hard, difficult spaces but I am certain that there is more that could be said and additional conversation that would be potentially helpful. One of the best things I would recommend is to come join us in our free community -- a safe space where you are free to wrestle through your questions, anger, sadness, confusion and hurt. Find out more about our free community by heading to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to meet you there and talk about these things with you.   And lastly, we have pulled together our favorite free resources for navigating faith after the loss of a baby including a free 7 day devotional. Check out those resources at themorning.com/faith.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode132

In this episode I am asking a series of difficult but important questions about God, our suffering, and navigating faith after the loss of a baby to Lacey Rabalais. She spends her days studying and writing about God’s Word and as a theologian who had also experienced the loss of a baby I knew she would be the perfect person to discuss these questions with. Many of the questions we are discussing today were submitted by you, listeners of the podcasts and or members of our free private community, The Joyful Mourning Community. These are real questions and like I said, somewhat difficult to answer in a way that might feel acceptable in the midst of heartbreak and sorrow. Questions like: Why does suffering exist? Did God plan our suffering or did He just allow it? How can he be good if either of those are true? Is God powerful enough to heal my baby? Did He just choose not to?    I know that this conversation and some topics we talk about might be hard to think about or consider and I want to encourage you by saying that’s ok -- you’re free to wrestle with the truths we present here. My hope is that as you listen, even to that which might be difficult to hear or believe, that your heart would be comforted in knowing that you are not alone and that you are loved by the God of the universe far more than you could ever comprehend or imagine. And that not only does he love you but he loves your baby too.    We do our best to bring the truth of scripture into these hard, difficult spaces but I am certain that there is more that could be said and additional conversation that would be potentially helpful. One of the best things I would recommend is to come join us in our free community -- a safe space where you are free to wrestle through your questions, anger, sadness, confusion and hurt. Find out more about our free community by heading to www.themorning.com/community . I can’t wait to meet you there.    Additionally we have pulled together our best resources about navigating faith after the loss of a baby including a free 7 day devotional and a few of the resources that are mentioned in this episode -- you can find all of those resources over at www.themorning.com/hope   Ok friends -- thank you for listening. I pray this episode grows your faith and your love for the God who loves you so much.   JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode131 RESOURCES FOR FAITH AFTER BABY LOSS www.themorning.com/hope  

This week I invited my friend Lindsey Dennis back to the podcast to talk about her spiritual journey and walk with God amidst anticipatory grief and the grief that followed the loss of her two daughters, Sophie and Dassah -- both from life-limiting diagnoses. Lindsey shares honestly as she answers questions like: Did you ever get angry with God? Did you doubt His goodness? Did you doubt your faith completely? I also asked Lindsey how she wrestled through the idea that God was powerful enough to heal her babies… or was He? Or did He just choose not to? And if He chose not to, is He still good? We also discuss the question: did I do something wrong to deserve this loss? A question that many of us have probably thought about or asked at one point or another in our grief journey. We end our time talking about heaven and what the Bible has to say for us as grieving moms and the hope we have to see our babies again one day.    Whether you have been following God for a long time, if you are new to the christian faith, or if you are searching or angry or confused or questioning everything you thought you believed -- you are in good company, friend. You are not alone and I think this episode will encourage you today right where you are.    FREE DEVOTIONAL Download a free 7 day devotional written specifically for women who have experienced the loss of a baby. 7 days of bible passages with a short devotion and prayer. www.themorning.com/hope   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode130   FREE PRIVATE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community  

This week I have the privilege of interviewing Vaneetha Risner -- a woman who has walked through an incredible amount of pain in her life, experienced loss and suffering and yet joyfully says ‘God does not make mistakes.” During our time together Vaneetha shares the story of her son Paul and what her relationship with God looked like after his death. We talk about asking God all the ‘why’ questions, why me, why him, why this way? We talk about whether it’s ok for Christians to ask God why. We talk about navigating feelings of guilt that come after a baby dies as we relive all the things we could have done differently that would have resulted in our baby living. We talk about what it means to lament, this word we see in the Bible but don’t hear very often -- what it means and what it looked like in Vaneetha’s life. We talk about what it feels like when God is blessing everyone around you -- does that mean you did something to deserve this or does God love those other people who have not experienced loss more? We discuss the question, where is God in all this, did He cause it? Is He still good? Could He have stopped it and chose not to? Does that make Him a cruel God? We talk about all these spiritual faith questions and more -- if you have been wrestling with similar questions or wondering where God is in all of this, you are going to love this episode and you are going to love Vaneetha. Remember the truths we are sharing here are not from a pious mountain top where everything has gone perfect -- no these truths, the answers and thoughts shared here are from two women who have experienced both pregnancy and infant loss. Vaneetha has endured an incredible amount of suffering and still says, God does not make mistakes. Also, it’s ok if you aren’t there yet. If you aren’t able to say those words. God isn’t angry or disappointed with you -- He loves you. He will never leave you. No matter where you are on your faith journey amidst grief, I pray this episode would remind you of God’s great love for you, give you the freedom to lament, to sit in your grief, and to cry out to Him with your pain. Vaneetha is the author of the book Walking through Fire which I reference throughout our time together -- in this memoir she tells her story in depth and I highly recommend picking up a copy. It was the first book I’ve read in a long time that I couldn’t put down. Her story-telling and honesty is powerful and hope filled. Walking Through Fire, by Vaneetha Risner.   FREE DEVOTIONAL Lastly, we have a free 7 day devotional that I would love to share with you. You can find that and a few other resources about navigating the christian faith after the loss of a baby over themorning.com/hope. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode129

Kelly Griffin joins me on the podcast to share the story of her son Reeves who was given a life-limiting diagnosis of trisomy 18. Kelly shares with me what it was like receiving a life-limiting diagnosis and what advice and wisdom she would give to a mom who has received a similar diagnosis. We cover a lot of topics about life after loss and even life amidst anticipatory grief in this episode as well.    Kelly shares her experience and wisdom about parenting living children amidst a life-limiting diagnosis and after the loss of a baby -- Kelly shares how she explained to them her son’s diagnosis, what it was like to walk with them as they grieved the loss of a sibling, why she chose to invite them into the grief in the ways she did. Her wisdom on this is incredibly helpful and very honest.    We also talk extensively about marriage amidst anticipatory grief and after the loss of a baby -- the wisdom she shares about this is insightful and challenging and wonderfully practical and of course full of so much hope.    We also spend some time talking about a topic that we haven’t talked about very much on this podcast and something that is still very tender for Kelly and that is what if you do not go on to have a living baby after you have lost a baby -- Kelly talks honestly about what that has looked like for her and she addresses how our culture puts a lot of hope in the idea of a healthy living child after the loss of a baby, a rainbow baby; emphasis put on how a new baby will be our redemption, our healing --  she talks directly to that and to the woman who is experiencing that reality. The hope that Kelly shares here is invaluable and even if you go on to have living children after the loss of a baby, this hope, this truth is for you too.   FREE GIFT: ULTIMATE RESOURCE BUNDLE Before we jump into the episode I wanted to tell you about something really amazing that we have been working on for months and months. We have pulled all of our best and most helpful resources together in one place so that you can easily and quickly access the things you need when you need them. The bundle includes: Links to our favorite episodes Understanding & Processing Your Grief Preparing for Labor & Delivery Memory Making checklist (for after your baby is born) Planning a Funeral or Memorial Service Resources for Marriage after Loss Resources for Faith after Loss Resources for Remembering & Honoring your Baby All of our best and most helpful resources in one place. And the best part is, we created one for each type of loss so the resources are specific to your loss journey and it is FREE. This 25+ page Resource Bundle is totally free and you can download it today. Download the Ultimate Resource Bundle that is specific (there is one for Pregnancy Loss, Infant Loss & Life Limiting Diagnosis) at themorning.com/resourcebundle.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode128

Over the past few weeks we have been talking about navigating milestones after the loss of a baby. Milestones like birthdays or difficult anniversaries like a diagnosis day. Today my guest Alison Waldrop joins me to talk about her experience with pregnancy loss and how she navigated her due date and loss day and all the other milestones a grieving mother faces after the loss of a baby. She shares details about the meaningful and intentional ways she chose to honor her baby, why she chose to honor her baby in those ways and what advice she would give to a mom who is anticipating a due date or other difficult milestone.   This episode is going to be particularly helpful for the woman who has experienced miscarriage and may not feel like your loss is worth recognizing -- maybe you are comparing your loss to others who have a seemingly more significant loss or maybe you are feeling the pressure from others to just get over it or you are believing the lie that if you grieve or intentionally mark your milestone days that you are being dramatic or silly. If you have wanted to celebrate your baby but have been hesitating for one reason or another -- this episode is for you. I am so grateful for Alison and her example. Above all, I pray this episode reminds you that a life has value no matter how long they lived. And that you are free to grieve in whatever way feels right and helpful and good to you.    COMING SOON  If you have found this series on navigating milestones helpful, we think you are going to really benefit from this exciting project we have been working on. While it won't only be about navigating milestones, it will give you the most helpful resources possible to navigate grief and life after the loss of a baby, including important topics like honoring and celebrating your baby. Imagine getting to have this conversation, and many others that are relevant to you in your grief right now, in a more intimate setting with tangible and practical steps you can take at home and with the support of other grieving moms who are in a similar season, working through similar things. While we weren’t planning on spilling any of the details quite yet, we thought this was a great opportunity to give you a super sneak peek at what we’ve been working on -- head to themorning.com/comingsoon for more details and to sign up to be among the first to know when this special project is live.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode127

Meg Walker joins me to talk about navigating milestones and important dates after the loss of a baby due to a life-limiting diagnosis. She shares with us what those milestone and important or difficult dates are for her. Specifically we spend some time talking about her son’s diagnosis day and what that looks like for her every year -- as Meg says “that’s the before and after for me -- the day everything changed.” Meg talks about what has surprised her about navigating those milestone days, how she plans for those days and how she cares for herself amidst the more difficult seasons in her calendar year and practically what those days look like for her. How she celebrates her son’s birthday, why she doesn’t sing happy birthday and how she grieves on the anniversary of his diagnosis.  She also shares helpful wisdom about knowing when to include others and inviting them into these days.  And as you heard at the beginning of this episode, my favorite part of this episode is when Meg reminded all of that no matter what we as grieving moms do, whether we plan elaborate events or cry in our bed or do nothing out of the ordinary at all on those milestone or important days, what we do or don’t do doesn’t take away from how important and meaningful our babies are.  This conversation is honest and candid and very tender to both of us as you will hear -- we both share what we have learned over the past few years and how our view of milestone days have changed, mistakes we have made, false pressures we have put on ourselves, what still feels hard but also the beautiful moments we have experienced.    FREE GUIDE Last week, in episode 125, Erica McAfee talked about how she writes her son a letter on his birthday as a tangible way to mother him and celebrate him and also to grieve on that day. This was such practically helpful and tangible advice that I wanted you to be able to incorporate it into your milestones and important dates too. I created a writing guide for you that you can download and use on days that feel particularly important -- this is not just for birthdays but for any date where you want to intentionally spend time reflecting on your baby or processing your grief or simply to spend time tangibly mothering your baby. Download the guide here: www.themorning.com/letter   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode126 JOIN THE PRIVATE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community    

In this episode I am talking with Erica McAfee. Erica is a mom who has experienced considerable loss throughout her motherhood journey. In Episode 98 she shared her story with us and today she is back on the podcast to chat with me about navigating milestones like birthdays, due dates, anniversaries and all those important dates after the loss of a baby.   She shares with us what her important dates are, what they look like for her, how they have changed over the years, and how she and her husband navigate those days differently. Erica’s wisdom in this episode offers a ton of freedom as well as practical insight for navigating those important dates and milestones that we as grieving mothers have.    At the beginning of the episode you heard a snippet of Erica talking about how she writes her son a letter on his birthday as a tangible way to mother him and celebrate him and grieve on that day. This was such practically helpful advice and I wanted you to be able to incorporate it into your milestones and important dates too. So, I created a letter writing guide with more than 10 journal prompt ideas that you can download and use on those days. (This is not just for birthdays but for any date where you want to intentionally spend time reflecting on your baby or processing your grief or simply to spend time tangibly mothering your baby.)You can download that letter writing guide at themorning.com/letter.   SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode125 JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community DOWNLOAD THE FREE LETTER WRITING GUIDE: www.themorning.com/letter  

Season 04 is here and I am so, so grateful to be back. In this special first episode of season 04 I am joined by my friend and Morning Team Member Meg Walker who takes the role as host. Today she is asking me all the questions and I am sharing my story in a way that I have never shared before. I answer questions about how grief has changed in my nearly 13 year journey, what it’s like to share our son in heaven with our living children, what encouragement and words of wisdom would I give to a newly grieving mom. I also get to share why I started The Morning, some things you probably didn’t know about our organization and my hopes and prayers for us in this next season. This episode is not without its tears, in fact we even had to take a tissue break, but even amidst the tears this episode is full of so much hope and I pray it is a reminder to you today that you are loved and not alone. To commemorate this new season of the podcast we have a couple things for you today: New T-shirts! Check out our newest t-shirts in the shop -- head to themorning.com/apparel, i think you are going to love them! Free Art Print & Verse Card Set Download: I created an art print and verse card set for this new season that you can download absolutely free. Head to themorning.com/season4 to grab those! A Giveaway: We have put together an amazing giveaway to celebrate this new season of the podcast that you are going to love. To enter that giveaway head to themorning.com/season4giveaway   SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/124 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community  

This is part 4 of our special 4 part series called: What is Motherhood. All month long we have been talking about what motherhood means to the woman who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. In this round table conversation I talk with five women, each with different types of loss from as recent as 6 months ago all the way to 35 years ago -- these women share honestly about their journey of loss, grief, and finding hope. In this week’s episode, part 4 of our 4 part series, I ask my guests three questions: What does being a mom teach you about yourself? What does being a mom teach you about God?  What encouragement do you have for other moms in the thick of motherhood and grief? Their answers to those questions are incredibly insightful and challenging and hope-filled and honest. If you missed any part of this series, make sure to listen go back and listen to those so you can get to know each of these women and their unique motherhood stories -- this series starts at episode 120 so just skip back a couple episodes to start from the beginning. For more details about each of our guests and to get connected with them, visit themorning.com/motherhoodseries. FREE WORKBOOK We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider your own motherhood journey. No matter where you are in your grief journey this workbook will be a tangible way to help you find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood.   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT We wanted to give you an important update about the podcast. For the last 122 episodes we have shown up weekly, and in some seasons we have shown up daily, to meet you in your grief, to walk alongside you, to bring you comfort, hope and reminders of joy. To remind you that you are not alone. In order to continue to do those things and to serve you best, to continue creating resources, not just here on the podcast but on our blog, in our community and in our shop we have decided to move to a seasonal format. That means, moving forward we will have two seasons a year, a spring season, likely February thru May and a fall season, August thru November, taking a short break through the summer months, June and July and potentially December and January as well. We are hopeful this decision will enable us to continue to create the most helpful and hope-filled resources for you possible . Our last episode of this season will be episode 123 which will air on May 27 but go ahead and mark your calendar for August 5, when the first episode of next season will air. We are already so excited about what we have planned for next season, so make sure you are subscribed to the podcast so you don’t miss a single one of those episodes!   GET CONNECTED / STAY CONNECTEDAs a note we will still be around this summer, just not on the podcast. So come connect with us in our community, on the blog and social media. We listed out the 5 best ways to get connected or stay connected with us this summer -- head to themorning.com/getconnected for those details.   QUICK RECAP This is our last episode of the season (episode 123) We will be back on August 5 with brand new interviews and topics we have never discussed before in such depth. We are so thankful for each of you and incredibly honored to be on this journey with you. We want to stay connected with you throughout the summer, so head to themorning.com/getconnected for 5 simple ways you can get connected with us for the first time or stay connected with us while we take this short break from the podcast.  

This is part 3 of our special 4 part series called: What is Motherhood. All month long we are talking about what motherhood means to the woman who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. In this round table conversation I talk with five women, each with different types of loss from as recent as 6 months ago all the way to 35 years ago -- these women share honestly about their journey of loss, grief, and finding hope. In this week’s episode, part 3 of our 4 part series, I ask my guests three questions: How has your loss shaped your motherhood? What challenges do you find in being a mom? What are some joys you experience in motherhood? Their answers to those questions are incredibly insightful and challenging and hope-filled and honest. If you missed part 1 or part 2 of this series, make sure to listen to those episodes first so you can get to know each of these women and their unique motherhood stories -- this series starts at episode 120 so just skip back a couple episodes to start from the beginning. For more details about each of our guests and to get connected with them, visit themorning.com/motherhoodseries. FREE WORKBOOK We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider your own motherhood journey. No matter where you are in your grief journey this workbook will be a tangible way to help you find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood.   SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT We wanted to give you an important update about the podcast. For the last 122 episodes we have shown up weekly, and in some seasons we have shown up daily, to meet you in your grief, to walk alongside you, to bring you comfort, hope and reminders of joy. To remind you that you are not alone. In order to continue to do those things and to serve you best, to continue creating resources, not just here on the podcast but on our blog, in our community and in our shop we have decided to move to a seasonal format. That means, moving forward we will have two seasons a year, a spring season, likely February thru May and a fall season, August thru November, taking a short break through the summer months, June and July and potentially December and January as well. We are hopeful this decision will enable us to continue to create the most helpful and hope-filled resources for you possible . Our last episode of this season will be episode 123 which will air on May 27 but go ahead and mark your calendar for August 5, when the first episode of next season will air. We are already so excited about what we have planned for next season. Some things you can look forward to when we are back August 5, a series on how to celebrate those special days such as birthdays, anniversaries, and due dates, a series about faith after loss -- we are bringing in experienced theologians for that series to ask all those faith based questions you may have been asking or have wanted to ask -- questions like did God cause this, could He have stopped it, Is God still good? Why does suffering exist? Is God powerful enough to heal my baby? Or did He just choose not to?. We will also bring back the series ‘What your grieving friend wants you to know’ as we continue to try and equip those who love someone who has experienced loss with the tools to love them best in this season. As you can see we have a lot of really great content ahead so make sure you are subscribed to the podcast so you don’t miss a single one of those episodes!   GET CONNECTED / STAY CONNECTEDAs a note we will still be around this summer, just not on the podcast. So come connect with us in our community, on the blog and social media. We listed out the 5 best ways to get connected or stay connected with us this summer -- head to themorning.com/getconnected for those details.   QUICK RECAP Next week is our last episode of the season (episode 123), We will be back on August 5 with brand new interviews and topics we have never discussed before in such depth. We are so thankful for each of you and incredibly honored to be on this journey with you. We want to stay connected with you throughout the summer, so head to themorning.com/getconnected for 5 simple ways you can get connected with us for the first time or stay connected with us while we take this short break from the podcast.  

This is part 2 of a special 4 part series called: What is Motherhood. A special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Listen in to our first ever round table conversation with six women, each with different types of loss from 6 months to 35 years ago, as they share honestly about their journey of loss, grief and finding hope.  No matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss, I hope this conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.   In this week’s episode, part 2 of our 4 part series, I ask my guests two questions: How has grief impacted your everyday life? What does grief look like for you today? How is it different or how has it changed? Their answers to those questions are incredibly insightful and challenging and hope-filled and honest. If you missed part 1 of this series, make sure to listen to that episode first so you can get to know each of these women and their unique motherhood stories, that’s episode 120. For more details about each of our guests and to get connected with them, visit themorning.com/motherhoodseries. FREE WORKBOOK We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider your own motherhood journey. No matter where you are in your grief journey this workbook will be a tangible way to help you find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode121

Your motherhood is motherhood, too. Your mothering may look different than those around you or what you ever imagined it would be. But this day is for you too.  Today I acknowledge you who are hurting this year. “I see you. I have not forgotten. God has not forgotten. YOU are not forgotten.”  To the woman looking at yet another negative pregnancy test; I see you. To the woman holding only a memory of a heartbeat, I see you. To the woman staring at a gravestone, I see you. I see your bravery every time you smile and every time you get out of bed and every time you hold a baby that isn’t yours and every time you give the honest answer about how many children you have. I see your sacrifice when you show up to church or to work or to your best friend’s baby shower even though it hurts like hell.  I see your selflessness when you put another’s needs above your own, even when your heart is breaking.  I see your compassion when you weep over another’s story of loss and heartache.  I see your faith when you praise the God who could have stopped this pain. I see you. And I am so grateful for your example. Your example has changed me. -- http://www.themorning.com/mothersday

This week we start a special 4 part series called What is Motherhood: A special series about what motherhood means to the mom who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Listen in to our first ever round table conversation with six women, each with different types of loss from 6 month to 35 years ago, share honestly about their journey of loss, grief and finding hope.  My hope is that no matter what type of loss you have experienced and how long ago you experienced that loss that this conversation would make you feel known and understood and less alone in this journey.   In part 1 of this conversation I ask my guests two questions: what does motherhood mean to you and what has surprised you about this journey. Their answers to those questions are incredibly insightful and challenging and hope-filled and honest. I am so grateful for each of these women and can’t wait for you to get to know them over the next 4 weeks -- I know you are going to love them too.  FREE WORKBOOK We created a workbook that goes along with this podcast series to give you an opportunity to answer these questions for yourself as you consider your own motherhood journey. No matter where you are in your grief journey this workbook will be a tangible way to help you find healing in a new way. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/motherhood.

Join me in listening to Meg Walker as she reads a letter she wrote entitled, 3 Truths When You Don’t Feel Like a Mom This Mother’s Day. In this bonus episode Meg says these words: “We can’t make promises on whether or not every person you’ve ever met will remember your child’s name or the special anniversaries that are etched into your memory - even your own spouse might forget from time to time. What we can promise is this: you will never forget your baby. But you aren’t the only one. On this Mother’s Day, take heart in that even if no one else remembers your baby, God remembers with you - and he sees you. He collects your tears in a bottle. And your baby is not forgotten.” She goes on to offer so much hope as she directly speaks to the woman who doesn’t feel like a mom this Mother’s Day. We pray this special bonus episode brings you hope as you are reminded that you are loved and not alone. READ FULL PIECE HERE:  www.themorning.com/blog/when-dont-feel-like-a-mom-mothers-day MOTHER'S DAY RESOURCES FOR THE GRIEVING MOTHER www.themorning.com/mothersday

Join me in listening to Meg Walker as she reads a letter she wrote entitled, To the Invisible Mother this Mother’s Day. In this bonus episode Meg says these words: “Your motherhood may be invisible to the outside world, but it’s there.” and she goes on to offer so much hope as she directly speaks to the woman with empty arms this Mother’s Day. We pray this special bonus episode brings you hope as you are reminded that you are seen, that you are loved and you are not alone.  Read the full letter, To The Invisible Mother on Mother’s Day, at themorning.com/invisiblemother MOTHER'S DAY RESOURCES FOR THE BEREAVED MOTHER www.themorning.com/mothersday

As we approach Mother’s Day, maybe you are wondering will anyone recognize my motherhood? Will anyone remember? Will anyone see me as a mother?  Today I am talking about what it looks like to prepare for Mother’s Day as a bereaved mother. I am sharing my best advice about how to tangibly prepare for this day, and the days leading up to it, as well as simple ideas for how you, as a bereaved mother, can celebrate your motherhood this Mother’s Day. Listen in as I share 8 ways to prepare for Mother's Day and 10 ways to celebrate Mother's Day as a bereaved mother. This episode is tangibly helpful so make sure to give it a listen.  SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/episode119 JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community  

Join me in listening to Mary Margaret Powitz as she reads a letter she wrote to you as we anticipate Mother's Day. In this bonus episode Mary says these words: “your motherhood, no matter how it looks, is worth celebrating... However long you had with your child, they still lived, and you still loved them, and you are still a mother. Whether anyone else claims it to be true. And that means, Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about what others do or don’t do, but about how you choose to celebrate your own story and value as a mom.”  We want to invite you to celebrate your motherhood. This Thursday, April 29 we are hosting a simple free event to give you a safe space to do that very thing -- to celebrate your motherhood. To join us for this free event, head to themorning.com/celebratingmotherhood. I hope to see you there.  Mother’s Day is Coming, written and read by Mary Margaret Powitz.  Mother's Day Resources for a Bereaved Mother www.themorning.com/mothersday Celebrating Motherhood (a free event) www.themorning.com/celebratingmotherhood  

If you know and love a mama who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. This episode is for you.  Whether you are a friend or a family member, if you know a mama who is grieving this episode is really important. Because while she may not tell you, the reality is she is hurting right now.  In just a matter of weeks we will celebrate mothers on mothers day. And if you have never experienced the loss of a baby, it is impossible to fully understand the weight of what this day carries for the mom who has. And how difficult the weeks leading up to it really are. In this episode I want to talk about why Mother’s Day feels so incredibly hard for a grieving mom and 5 simple ways that you, as her friend or as her family member can remind her that she’s loved, she’s remembered, and her motherhood is seen and celebrated.   And if you are listening and you are the bereaved mama, there’s a few things I want you to know today too and I’ll share those later in the episode. But for now, I wanted to tell you we are working on a really special project to help share your story of motherhood this Mother’s Day -- for all the details about how you can participate head to themorning.com/mymotherhood. Your motherhood story is a story worth sharing. Also would you consider sharing this episode in whatever way feels most natural, whether it's by texting it to a friend or sharing on your social media accounts? Doing so will help raise awareness about the realities of life after baby loss and it will help educate those who love hurting mamas about how to best love them on and around Mother’s Day. The link to this episode is themorning.com/episode118 -- share it with a friend or family member or just a general social media post. One more thing, if you head to themorning.com/shop you can find our Mother’s Day Cards that are perfect for a bereaved mother. They are currently on sale and come in packs of 5 or as a single card. If you know and love a mom who has experienced the loss of a baby, these cards are a perfect way to tell her she is loved and not forgotten this Mother’s Day. Use coupon code: MOTHERSDAY2021 for a special discount this week only. Whether you are a grieving mama or you love a grieving mama, I am so glad you are here SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode118 JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOP MOTHER'S DAY CARDS www.themorning.com/shop  

Today we finish up our series on marriage after loss with a special interview with Libby Marler about intimacy after pregnancy or infant loss. Libby joins us as a trained and experienced counselor who specializes in the perinatal period, the time of pregnancy and the year following a pregnancy. She also specializes in grief and loss and joins not only as an expert but also as a mom who has walked through a life-limiting diagnosis and infant loss. What Libby shares in this episode is going to be incredibly helpful as it relates to intimacy after baby loss and marriage in general when grieving.  This is an aspect of baby loss that is often not talked about and often considered a taboo topic in culture in general. But it is really important and vital to the health of your marriage so I am incredibly grateful for Libby taking the time to share with us.  She shares this idea about how there are two basic styles of grieving and that in and of itself would be worth listening to -- it was that helpful. Libby talks about why intimacy after the loss of a baby can feel so hard, she addresses the woman who might feel like she is dishonoring her baby by being intimate with her spouse, she addresses the woman who feels guilty for not being able to connect with her spouse in that way, and she also addresses the woman who is finding comfort in intimacy. She gives so much freedom to all of us when she says:  “not all couples, not all women experience things in the exact same way. So there's nuance to each and every experience and just like grief, how you and your husband relate to each other sexually after you experienced the loss of the baby is going to fall on a spectrum at any given time. And we really run into trouble in marriage, when we misunderstand and misinterpret our partners different grieving styles and how they use different strategies to adapt and cope with the feelings of grief that they have. And that can especially happen in terms of our intimate relationship.” During our time together we also talked about how intimacy is more than just a purely physical act and what it might look like to reconnect in other ways. I loved when Libby said this: "Other things that I think of is laughing together. And that's really hard in grief, but finding ways to laugh is important, it connects you and reduces your feelings of stress and actually helps release some endorphins for you to feel happier, more connected. The stress level goes down and gives you more of a sense of wellbeing.” If you want a few ideas for how to reconnect with your spouse and create opportunities for laughter, head to www.themorning.com/datenight to download 29 Date Night Ideas. We created those with the purpose of reconnecting in mind, trying new things and even laughing. Last thing before we jump in, when I asked Libby what resources she recommended on this topic and for marriage in general she said, get in community -- find other women who are navigating this grief journey and marriage after loss journey so you will be reminded that you aren’t the only one and that you aren’t alone. If you have not already joined us I want to invite you to come join our free online community by heading to www.themorning.com/community - I hope to see you there!

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast episode 116. My guest this week is Justice Kreider, a mom to three girls, one here on earth, one in heaven and one growing in her belly. During our time together Justice shares the story of her daughter Selah, She heard the words, we’re seeing some abnormalities at her 20 week anatomy scan but were given no clear answers as to what was wrong or what the prognosis would be. 7 weeks later at 27 weeks Justice would give birth to Selah who would live for 9 days. It would be another month before Justice was given any answers as to what had happened to her precious baby. Justice shares honestly and tenderly and with the heart of a newly grieving mom having just lost her daughter within the year. We talk about what she would tell a mom who has been given news that something isn’t quite right, the mom in the waiting and the uncertainty. She talks about what surprised her about this journey, what helped her in this journey and what she would do differently if she was giving advice to another mom in a season of loss and grief. We also talk about marriage after loss and what it’s been like to parent her living daughter Amara after loss and what pregnancy after loss has been like as well.  Lastly we talk about her faith amidst this journey and it is my favorite part of this episode. When I asked her to tell me about her faith she answered with this: “I didn’t have anything to say to Him. I would sit in his presence though because I knew He was who I needed. He was the only one who would be able to help me through this.” and then in closing Justice says this: “i would never ever say I wish this never happened... because we got her.”  Justice shares in a way that is incredibly relatable and honest. Her words are truly full of hope and I am sure that you will be encouraged by her story and what she has learned along the way.   FREE GRIEF GUIDEIf you are new to the grief journey I want to share a free resource with you that I think will be really helpful. Navigating the complexities of grief can be feel overwhelming and confusing, if you could use a bit of help understanding what you are experiencing right now, head to themorning.com/griefguide to download a free Grief Guide. This is a simple resource written in collaboration with a counselor that will help you understand the grief you are experiencing, learn what is normal in grief, learn healthy ways to process and begin healing. The guide includes an explanation of bereavement trauma, the different aspects of trauma, what normal feelings of grief are, our bodies physical response to grief, when to seek professional help and journal prompts to help you process all of this in a healthy, helpful way that will lead to healing. To download this free guide head to themorning.com/griefguide.   FREE 7 DAY DEVOTIONALOne more thing, if you are looking for hope and encouragement in your faith journey, I wrote a very, very simple 7 day devotional that I think you will really love and find really helpful. To download that free devotional head to themorning.com/devotional.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode116

Today I have the privilege of interviewing Rachel Ramirez about her story of motherhood. Rachel has experienced 3 miscarriages and walked through the subsequent journey of grief and in this episode she is sharing all that she’s learned along the way.  We spend time talking about what miscarriage was like for her and what she wishes others understood about pregnancy loss and what encouragement she would give to a woman who has just experienced a miscarriage. We talk about marriage after loss and how to navigate the inevitable differences in the ways partners grieve. Her wisdom about marriage and how to love your spouse while grieving is incredibly encouraging and practically helpful. We also talk about pregnancy after loss and how she made the decision to try again even after multiple losses. We spend a significant amount of time talking about Rachel’s faith journey. Her answers to my questions about how to navigate faith after loss might surprise you and I am certain they will encourage you. If Christianity and the Bible and God is something you have never thought about much or are exploring for the first time we have words of hope for you too in this episode. Whether you are searching for answers about God, angry at God, confused by Him, disappointed in Him or running to Him, or some combination of those, make sure you listen all the way to the end of this episode to hear Rachel’s analogy of God amidst grief -- it’s incredibly hope-filled and encouraging. If you are unsure about this faith that Rachel and I are talking about, check out www.themorning.com/hope for a few resources that might be helpful to you in your faith journey. FREE DEVOTIONAL We also have a free 7 day devotional called Hope for the Hurting that might be really helpful to you, to download that free devotional head to www.themorning.com/devotional JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode115  

This week I am talking with Sarah Westfall about her son Carter and her experience with grief over the past 10 years. Carter was diagnosed with a prenatal life-limiting condition and during our time together she talks about what it was like to make the decision to continue carrying a baby that would not live long outside the womb, what she would tell a mom who has recently received a life-limiting diagnosis for her baby and what she wishes she had known about carrying and delivering a baby with a life-limiting diagnosis. Sarah also talks about navigating marriage over the past 10 years of life after loss and the two specific things that her and husband did to navigate the challenges that exist in a marriage after the loss of a baby. Sarah also shares candidly about her faith amidst her journey of loss and she talks about what it was like to be at a different place spiritually than her husband in the years following their son’s death. Sarah is really open in this interview about her faith journey and if you have ever asked questions like “Could God have healed my baby? If so, why didn’t he? Did he plan this? Could He have stopped it? Why didn’t He?” Sarah’s words are going to bring you a lot of comfort and hope. And if you are curious or interested about God, Sarah gives her thoughts on a good place to start on learning more. We cover so much in this episode about loss and grief and marriage and spirituality, I love that Sarah shares from a perspective of having walked this journey for many years now. She brings encouragement and reminders of hope as someone who has been there and knows. I think her words and insights are going to really be a blessing to you. EPISODE 114 SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode114 MARRIAGE RESOURCESwww.themorning.com/marriage FAITH RESOURCESwww.themorning.com/hope SUBMIT YOUR MOTHERHOOD STORYwww.themorning.com/mymotherhoodstory  

I’m chatting with Lindsey Dennis about how the loss of her two daughters shaped her very young marriage. We talk about the patterns that developed as a result of experiencing such devastating loss so early in a marriage and what advice she would give to a couple new in their marriage and navigating grief. We talk about how to navigate the reality of grieving differently than your spouse and she gives tangible advice about that that I think will really encourage you. She shares very transparently and honestly about what she would do differently in regards to her relationship with her husband. Lindsey talks about what it looked like for her and her husband to pursue one another amidst grief; she shares honestly about how difficult that was for her and if you are feeling similarly the practical advice about this will be tangibly helpful and encouraging to you. We talk about how important communication is but not just how important it is, which feels really obvious - but Lindsey gives some really helpful advice when I ask her what it looked like practically to communicate amidst grief -- especially when you are grieving differently than your spouse.  Lindsey shares the one question her counselor encouraged her and her husband to ask one another on a consistent basis. And please please make sure to listen all the way to the end because Lindsey’s final words offer such incredible hope.  LINDSEY'S FULL STORY: EPISODE 41www.themorning.com/blog/episode041 EPISODE 113 SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode113 LIVE Q&A / HOPE HANGOUT Once a month we host a live Q&A and Lindsey will be joining us for this month’s q&a as we discuss marriage after loss. For details about how to join our March Hope Hangout, or to rsvp head to:  themorning.com/hopehangout  MARRIAGE RESOURCES29 Date Night Ideas:  themorning.com/datenight Build your marriage and reconnect with your spouse, even when you are in the depths of grief, with these date night Ideas. Check out all the resources we have on marriage by heading to themorning.com/marriage.  

Today I am talking with Allison Schaaf, founder of Miscarriage Hopedesk -- a resource for women who are experiencing recurring pregnancy loss. Allison walked through many miscarriages with no real clear answers as to why this was happening and today we are talking about that journey. We talk about adoption and IVF and pregnancy after so much loss -- I ask her “how did you not give up hope?” Her answers to that question were really helpful and I think her daily mantra will be helpful to you if you are considering pregnancy after loss or are currently pregnant after loss. We talk about marriage amidst loss and after loss and I agreed wholeheartedly when she said “It isn’t talked about enough how difficult the fertility journey is on a marriage.” That’s why we’re here and we are talking about; because your marriage matters and we know how difficult it can be to navigate such an important relationship amidst pregnancy or infant loss. That’s why we created a free Date Night Idea Guide just for you. A resource to help you reconnect and give your hearts a break from the heavy and hard and intense moments of grief.  Head to themorning.com/marriage, to download 29 date night ideas that will help you connect with your spouse or partner even in the midst of grief. During our time together Allison shares about what it looked like for her to advocate for herself and to find answers about why she was experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss. She gives a really practical tip for how to do that, to advocate for yourself, and even if you have not experienced recurrent pregnancy loss I think this tip will be really helpful for you and the way you interact with your doctors moving forward. And lastly as a registered dietician and chef Allison talks about the role food plays in our maternal health; her thoughts on this might surprise you and I think will offer you freedom in this area.  I loved getting to talk with Allison about her journey and I am so grateful for the practical wisdom she offers in this interview -- to check out all the resources we chat about in this episode make sure to check out the show notes at themorning.com/episode112. I think it’s going to be really helpful to you. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE With each of your losses, there were different things that helped you in the grief that followed -- tell me about some of those things. What would you say to a woman who has experienced or is experiencing recurrent loss? Tell me about your decision to try to conceive again and again; how did you not give up hope?  What did it look like for you to advocate for yourself? What steps did you take, medically speaking before you began trying to conceive again? What about throughout your pregnancies?   What about our mental health amidst grief? What advice would you give to someone who might be interested in learning more about how nutrition affects this journey?   You are a registered dietician -- what role does food play in our maternal health? Did you make any changes to your diet amidst your motherhood journey? Tell me about Miscarriage Hope Desk -- What is it? Why did you start it? What was your inspiration? What encouragement would you give to another mom who has experienced recurrent miscarriage? -- SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode112 JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community 29 DATE NIGHT IDEASwww.themorning.com/marriage  

This week I am chatting with Josefina Sanders. She has joined us on the podcast in the past and was a speaker for our virtual conference this past fall. I am excited to have her back on the podcast as she has an incredible amount of wisdom to share. You can look forward to hearing her more as we plan to have her back a few more times in the coming year. This week I am asking Josefina all the questions about what it was like to navigate marriage amidst loss. Over the past 4 years she and her husband have experienced two miscarriages and have walked through much in regard to their journey to becoming parents. It has been difficult and yet Josefina said everything they have gone through has deeply impacted their relationship for the better.    One of the things Josefina and I talk about is how to pursue your spouse or partner even amidst loss and grief; she talked about making time for and being intentional about having fun… even when you’re hurting. We know how difficult that can be but also how important it is, so we put together a free download for you to use to help re-ignite that fun and give your hearts a break from heavy and hard conversations and moments of grief.  Head to themorning.com/marriage, to download 29 date night ideas that will help you connect with your spouse or partner even in the midst of grief.   This episode is full of incredible wisdom, practical advice and tender honesty about navigating marriage after miscarriage; I am sure this episode is going to bless you.    SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode111 JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community  

My guest this week is Adeyling Fiallos. Adeyling experienced a miscarriage that was later followed by the death of her newborn son, Sage, due to a life-limiting condition. Adeyling became an advocate for pregnancy and infant loss in her community and founded Sage and Sara Candle Co (named after her babies) where she makes beautifully scented candles and gives back to hospitals and nonprofits with each purchase. Her mission is to help bring light and comfort to parents amidst the dark days following the loss of their child(ren).    Adelying and I talked about many aspects of loss as it related to her story specifically. We talked about what it was like to receive a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis, what it was like to carry a baby you knew would likely not live very long outside the womb, what it was like to prepare for birth and very profoundly what it was like to go home without her baby. Where everything looked as though nothing had changed but everything had changed. She would never be the same. And she gives helpful and practical advice to any mom listening who has been given a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis about how to prepare for birth and what to expect in the days after.   We also talk about those first few weeks and months after her son died, specifically as it relates to her mental and emotional health. We talked about how grief and depression and postpartum depression have very similar symptoms and I encourage listeners then and I’ll encourage you now, if you have any thoughts of harming yourself or are experiencing intense emotions in a way that is inhibiting normal life functions, please seek professional medical help right away. As always you can Call 911 for emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room. Or call the toll-free 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. No matter where you are in your grief journey Adeyling shares some very practical advice about what has helped her mental and emotional health since experiencing her losses that I think will be really helpful to you. She talks about the role acupuncture played as well as sleep medication. She talks about how valuable writing and journaling was to her as well as finding the right grief support group and how helpful online communities were to her. This would be a great time to remind you that if you are not a part of our joyful mourning community -- we would really love to have you. Life after baby loss is incredibly lonely and we want to come alongside and remind you that you are not alone. We are with you. We understand what you are walking through. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community.     Adeyling also shares her thoughts about trying to conceive again and we talk about what pregnancy after loss has been like for her. At the time of this recording Adeyling was 18 weeks pregnant and if you are pregnant after loss or thinking about trying to conceive or currently trying, I think you will be able to relate to what she has to say about this in a profound way.  And as we mentioned last week in our episode with Maggie Koch about pregnancy after loss we know how hard the pregnancy after baby loss journey is, so we have created several free resources for you that will be tangibly helpful. To check out those resources, head to our Pregnancy After Loss Resource library at themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss.    Lastly, Adeyling talked about the value of having a strong support system in a pregnancy after loss -- a community you can count on and rely on. We agree with Adeyling and that is why we created a free online community just for the pregnancy after loss conversations. Pregnancy after loss is a unique journey deserving of its own safe space and community where you can talk openly about what you are experiencing -- this community comes alongside our existing main community I mentioned previously to provide support for a season of pregnancy after loss. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/pal, that’s themorning.com/pal. We are so hopeful for what this new community will offer to a woman in a pregnancy after loss journey. One more time, to join us head to themorning.com/pal.    This episode is tender and honest and full of relatable moments and helpful wisdom. I think it’s going to really bless you today. - THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/pal SHOW NOTES  www.themorning.com/blog/episode110  

My guest this week is Maggie Koch and we are talking about pregnancy and postpartum after baby loss. Maggie experienced a late term stillbirth with her daughter Olivia and in this episode she is sharing with us what it was like to be pregnant again and what it was like to prepare for labor and what it was like to bring home a living baby and navigate postpartum. Maggie shares candidly about what it was like to make the decision to try and get pregnant again and I could relate when she said, “I wasn’t sure I would ever be 100% ready to try again with no reservations or fear.”  Maggie shared the tangible ways she managed the fear and anxiety as well as the ways she manages it now 6 months after bringing home her son Oliver. We talk about how helpful her care team, questions you might ask them to help you navigate this journey as well as what to do if you are not receiving the care you need. She talks about how she prepared for labor and delivery and what she brought to the hospital to make her feel safe and remind her that her daughter Olivia was not and would not be forgotten. We talked about guilt and the fear of moving on or forgetting our babies, maybe you can relate to Maggie when she said this: “I also struggled with feeling like his birth was going to erase the importance of her life; I wondered, now that he would physically be with us, what did that mean for her memory?” Listen in to hear how Maggie intentionally incorporated her daughter’s memory into Oliver’s birth and how she continues to honor her and remember her in their everyday.  And I think Maggie’s final words of encouragement will be incredibly helpful if you have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth, so make sure to listen all the way to the end for that. QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS IN NO.109 How did you make the decision to try to conceive again after the loss of your daughter Olivia? Did you feel ready to try again? What would you say to a woman who is trying to make that decision? Did you experience fear and anxiety during your pregnancy after loss? If so, how did you cope with anxiety and not living in a constant state of fear throughout your pregnancy? Any practical tips for making the 9 months more manageable? For example: How did you handle doctors appointments? Did you do extra testing? Did you use a home doppler? How did you handle the trauma from Olivia’s birth (stillbirth)?  How did you mentally prepare for labor? What would you say to the mom who experienced a stillbirth and is having a difficult time mentally preparing for labor and anticipating all the memories of her previous labor and baby? Do you have any advice about speaking to medical staff and doctors about concerns and fears or even just telling your story? What would you say to a mom who is feeling guilt over having another baby?  What are some ways that you honor and remember Olivia now with your new son?  What is one final word of encouragement you would give to another mom who is pregnant after the loss of a baby?   PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS RESOURCE LIBRARY www.themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss   PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS ONLINE COMMUNITY Join us: www.themorning.com/pal   EPISODE 109 SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode109  

In today’s episode I am talking with one of our Joyful Mourning Community members, Amy Lagomarsino about her motherhood journey. A journey that has been filled with incredible loss and yet even amidst tears Amy speaks with joy and hope. Amy shares her story of infertility and seasons of waiting, she shares about pregnancy loss and miscarriage, she shares about her daughter Ella who received a life-limiting diagnosis and lived for 27 hours and she also shares honestly and tenderly about being pregnant again after such loss. Like I said, her journey has been full of the hardest of things and yet she shares in a way that reminds me that even in the middle of such loss there is hope to be found.  During our time together, Amy not only shares her story but really helpful wisdom she has learned along the way from the different experiences that make up her motherhood journey.  She has words of wisdom for the woman in a season of waiting and wondering if she will ever get pregnant. She has wisdom and encouragement for the woman who has just experienced a miscarriage. She talks about how she prepared for the birth of her daughter Ella and what advice she would give to a woman who has been given a life-limiting diagnosis. She shares what it was like to walk her son Lorenzo through the loss of his baby sister. We talk honestly about guilt and what to do with all the could-haves or should-haves. We talk about how she said her heart could not handle another loss and that meant no more trying to conceive again, you’ll have to tune in to hear what changed her mind. We talked about the tangible ways she mentally prepared to try and conceive again and how she dealt with others’ excitement over a pregnancy after loss when she just wasn’t quite there yet. In fact, if you love a grieving mom, her explanation of why it was hard for her to tell others she was pregnant again might be really helpful and insightful to you. I specifically loved and was so encouraged by how her parents and extended family responded when she told them she was pregnant again. I wish every friend and family of a grieving mom could here at least that portion of the episode because it would just communicate an incredible amount of love in such a tender moment. We even squeeze in how she chose to celebrate Ella’s birthday and honor her at Christmas  and why it felt so important to do so. If you are a grieving mom, what she shares might give you some tangible ideas for your own celebrations, anniversaries and holidays. And if you love a grieving mom I think Amy’s thoughts on this might help you better understand a grieving mom. This episode is full to the brim of real life wisdom about a journey no one asks for but many of us are on. I pray that this honest conversation is a blessing to you as you navigate your own journey.    FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS If you are feeling alone in your grief I want to invite you to come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community, where I met Amy and was first introduced to her story. Life after baby loss can be incredibly lonely and isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Come join our community and find hundreds of women who like you, are looking for hope in this grief journey. For all the details: www.themorning.com/community.   PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS And because we mentioned pregnancy after loss in this episode I thought it would be helpful to remind you about the free download we created, 40 Verses for 40 Weeks. A verse to meditate, think on and study for every week of your pregnancy. Because we know that pregnancy after loss is incredibly hard and we wanted to give you something tangible that would remind you of hope and peace in moments of fear. To access that free download head to www.themorning.com/4040.   HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING FRIEND We have a super simple free checklist of how to love a grieving friend. It includes a list of "don't do this, instead do this" ideas, things to avoid saying and helpful things to say. To download a free simple checklist about how to love a grieving friend head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily.   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode108

Today I will be spending our time together answering your questions. But not just any questions, I will be answering your questions about the tender and difficult topic of pregnancy after loss. I have said it many times before and I will say it again. Apart from losing my son Aaden, being pregnant again after losing him was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. And I know I am not alone in feeling that way. So today, I will be sharing honestly and candidly about what I have learned from my experience of having been pregnant after pregnancy loss and infant loss. I do not have all the answers nor am I able to say that I perfectly navigated pregnancy after loss, that I did so without fear or wavering, that I was able to enjoy every moment of those pregnancies; no I could never say those things to you. In fact if you listen back to episode 53 you will hear one of the most tender and raw and honest episodes by me. I wrote and recorded that episode as I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with my daughter. Right in the middle of the fear that seemed like it would completely overwhelm me. Right in the middle of feeling completely alone because no one else seemed to understand why I wasn’t celebrating. I wrote these words for that episode:   “The fear settled in as soon as I suspected I was pregnant. With my heart beating out of my chest I stared at two faint pink lines. And immediately, without warning or intention, my thoughts turned to the worst case scenarios. Fear gripped my heart. There were no naive celebrations of joy and expectancy and anticipation.  That has been taken from me.  Joy and expectancy and anticipation are all things I now have to intentionally and willfully fight for.”  So I answer your questions about pregnancy after loss, not as an expert or someone who perfectly navigated those months, but as a real mom, with real fears, and strong propensities toward anxiety and panic, a real person who has experienced pregnancy after loss 4 times and can say quite honestly I see you. I understand. You are not alone.    If you are currently pregnant after loss this episode is for you. If you are considering trying to conceive again or are currently trying to conceive after having experienced loss, this episode is for you. And if you love a mom who has experienced loss, this episode is absolutely for you as well. Because she feels very, very alone and this will help you love her better should she decide to pursue pregnancy again in the future.   And one more thing, I didn’t want to leave you with just words today because while hearing my thoughts about these questions and sharing what I’ve learned from my experiences is helpful, something in your hand that you can reference when the fear is mounting and the uncertainty begins to overwhelm is better. So I wanted to give you something tangible to help you navigate a season of pregnancy after loss. And because I believe there is nothing better than God’s Word to bring hope and peace to an anxious heart we created a free download for you, 40 Verses for 40 Weeks. A verse to meditate, think on and study for every week of your pregnancy. To access that free download head to themorning.com/4040. Friend, I know how difficult this season is and while I cannot promise a healthy pregnancy or a living baby, a fearless next 9 months or a restoration of the innocence lost; I do hope that this episode and that free download will serve to restore your hope and give you a reason for joy even amidst uncertainty. 

This week we are talking all about what it looks like to love a friend that is grieving the loss of a baby. For this interview I get to chat with two friends, Anna and Anna. I thought it would be helpful to not only get the perspective of a mom who has experienced loss but also of her friend -- to have the conversation with them both at the same time about what it looked like to love a grieving friend amidst grief as well as what it looks like to be the grieving friend receiving the support.   Both women have experienced loss, between them they have experienced two pregnancy losses and one infant loss -- so their perspective is unique and full of empathy and tenderness. We talked about the biggest challenges facing relationships when one person is grieving, we talked about what it looks like practically to step into the mess that is friendship and grief, we talk about the value of checking in again and again and again, we talk about helpful things to say and do as well as things that are not so helpful and words that might be hurtful.    And if you are listening as someone who says “but I feel forgotten by my friends and family.” or “that’s great for them but i don’t have a friend like that who cares like that”, keep listening because we address that too.    This episode is so encouraging as it reminds us that it is the simplest efforts like a call or a text or a mug full of hershey kisses matter so much. That loving someone who is hurting does not have to look like grand gestures but rather an imperfect showing up that is consistent and prayerful and thoughtful has the potential to bring so much comfort to a grieving mom.    I pray this episode encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.    FREE RESOURCE FOR HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING FRIEND If you love a grieving mom, check out episode #94 (www.themorning.com/blog/episode106) about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this.  To download a free simple checklist about how to love a grieving friend head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily.    FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY If you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode106

Back in Episode 55 I had the privilege of interviewing Sarah Garvey -- she shared her story of motherhood that included years of infertility, multiple miscarriages, losing triplets at 22 weeks and today she is back on the podcast to talk about what it has been like to be a parent to her living daughter after having walked through so much loss. Listen in to this very real and honest conversation where we talk specifically about pregnancy after loss and parenting living children after loss.    We talk about the decision to try again for more children, how to know if your family is complete. We talk about the fear that feels inescapable in the journey of parenting after loss. Sarah shares what she wishes she had known about this parenting after loss journey and how her parenting looks different today than it did early on. She talks very candidly about her daughter’s first year of life and what it looked like to seek help. And we talk about the value of inviting our living children into this grief journey, how it is not just our story but also theirs because they have a sibling in heaven.    This is a beautifully honest podcast episode about the challenges that we face as we parent living children after having experienced loss and I am sure that if you are currently parenting living children or desire to in the future this episode will be a blessing to you.    FREE GRIEF GUIDE: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN GRIEVINGIf you are navigating the complexities of grief and could use a bit of help understanding what you are experiencing right now in your head and in your heart, head to www.themorning.com/griefguide to download a free Grief Guide. This is a simple resource that will help you understand the grief you are experiencing, learn what is normal in grief, learn  healthy ways to process and begin healing. The guide includes an explanation of bereavement trauma, the different aspects of trauma, what normal feelings of grief are, our bodies physical response to grief, when to seek professional help and journal prompts to help you process all of this in a healthy, helpful way that will lead to healing. To download this free guide head to themorning.com/griefguide.

In this episode my friend Rachel Allene shares her story of miscarriage and what life after the loss of a baby looked like for her. She shares very candidly about her miscarriage experience in the hopes that a woman walking through miscarriage now would feel less alone in her journey. We talk about faith after loss. We talk about misconceptions surrounding baby loss and grief. We talk about the season of waiting and anticipating and hoping for another chance at pregnancy and a living baby. We talk about pregnancy after loss and how viewing rainbow babies as redemption is not helpful and can be dangerous to our health and healing.   Rachel is incredibly honest about her experience with miscarriage and how she felt embarrassed for how heavy her grief felt after her loss. If you have ever thought I should be past this by now or I am crying too much or what’s wrong with me I was only ___ weeks along? This episode is going to be really helpful and relatable for you.    Also, if you are someone who loves a grieving mom, Rachel gives very helpful advice about how to tangibly be a friend to someone who has experienced a miscarriage.    I’m so grateful for Rachel and her honesty about miscarraige and life after loss -- I am certain this episode will bless you as it reminds you that you are loved and not alone.    DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO IS GRIEVING? If you love someone grieving head to themorning.com/friendsandfamily for a guide to practically helping a friend who has experienced baby loss.    FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY If you are a grieving mom, come join us in our free online community! A place where you can share about all these things with women who have experienced it themselves. A place where you can be not alone. A place where you can feel known and understood and loved. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community. We can’t wait to see you there.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode104

In this first interview of the new year I am chatting with Jordan Dooley. Jordan is an author and podcast host, she encourages and educates women entrepreneurs and is an inspiring homemaker -- she wears many hats and like many of us listening has experienced the tragedy of losing a baby. In fact Jordan has experienced two devastating miscarriages. What I really appreciate about this interview is that Jordan is sharing with us right in the middle of the journey. She isn’t on the other side of it, so to speak, she isn’t giving wisdom and advice from a place of a new healthy pregnancy or a living baby -- she’s in the throes of waiting and the questions and the sitting in a faith that feels shaken.  During our time together Jordan talks honestly about what this journey has been like for her. She shares what she wished people understood about miscarriage. She talks about the body image issues we as women of baby loss experience. And the encouragement her mom gave to her is something we all need to hear. No matter our story. We talk about faith after loss and faith in the midst of waiting and if your faith feels shaken or if you feel betrayed by God I think Jordan’s words and encouragement will bring you hope today. As we finish up our time together Jordan gives really helpful, practical advice for someone who loves a grieving mom.  I loved my time with Jordan and think it will really encourage you. For those who are still in the middle of it, those whose stories aren’t wrapped up, whose arms are still empty -- I pray this episode reminds you that you aren’t alone in this.    FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY For another tangible reminder that you are not alone, I want to invite you to join us in our free online community -- The Joyful Mourning Community. It’s a place where you can be not alone in this journey of life after baby loss. A place where you can find women who understand what you are going through. A place to feel known and understood and not alone in your grief. Because grief is lonely but it doesn’t have to be. Come join this free online community by heading to themorning.com/community.   DO YOU LOVE A MOM WHO HAS EXPERIENCED PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS? If you are here because you love a grieving friend, I have a special resource for you too -- head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily for a very simple, free guide about how to love a woman who has experienced the loss of a baby. The guide includes my top 10 "don’t do this and instead do this" ideas, 13 things to avoid saying and instead 9 helpful things a grieving mom would love to hear. That’s all listed out in that free guide you can find at themorning.com/friendsandfamily. There’s a couple other resources there that I think will be really helpful to you as well. So if you love a grieving mom make sure to check out that resource.   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode103

A note to my grieving friends on this last day of 2020. If you feel not quite ready for a new year, or are limping your way into 2021, this episode is for you. I share some truths that I think will offer you a bit of hope and freedom in this moment as well as some practical advice and questions you can spend some time reflecting on. Download a one page printable journal reflection guide to help you process through this year at themorning.com/episode102.   As 2020 comes to a close, I pray this episode does what all the episode before it did, reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine.   THE COMMUNITY If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, welcome. I am so glad you are here. I want to invite you to join our community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- a space to feel known and understood and not alone in your grief. Because grief is lonely but it doesn’t have to be. Come join this free online community by heading to themorning.com/community, that’s themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.

Today I am chatting with Mary Margaret Powitz and Meg Walker about what it looks like to navigate the holidays season while grieving. We come into this conversation with different experiences and different perspectives as our journeys have spanned different amounts of time -- this will be my 12th holiday season since my son died, it will be Meg’s 6th and Mary Margaret's second. I think the different perspectives and what we have learned and are learning along the way will be really helpful.    In this episode we talk about what the biggest challenges a grieving mom faces during the holiday season and ideas and wisdom for how to handle those challenges. We talk about expectations and how to handle those. We talk about hurtful conversation and things said and how to handle those. We talk about what it looks like to parent living children during the holidays when you are grieving. We talk about traditions and triggers and creating boundaries. We also talk about what it looks like to love and support a grieving mom through the holidays.    This episode is honest and holds a myriad of wisdom about navigating one of the most difficult aspects of grief and life after loss. I really think that it will be helpful and a source of hope as we enter into the holiday season.    FREE DOWNLOAD: HOLIDAY PREPARATION GUIDE One additional resource that will be incredibly helpful to you is our Holiday Preparation Guide -- this totally free guide is a tool that will give you space for your thoughts and feelings as you prepare for the Holidays. I am certain that if you go download that guide and spend even just a few minutes working through it, it will be incredibly beneficial to your mental, emotional and spiritual health this holiday season. In that guide we include a list of resources to listen to, questions to evaluate where your heart is right now, space to work through expectations you may be feeling either from yourself or others, triggers and space to create a plan for those as well as journaling pages and meditation prompts. This free guide, the Holiday Preparation Guide can be found at www.themorning.com/holidays2020.   YOU ARE NOT ALONE. JOIN THE FREE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode101

You are listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast episode 100. I cannot even believe it. God has used stories and honesty, tears and even laughter to bring joy and hope and healing to women  around the world who have experienced the loss of a baby.    This episode is an incredible milestone. One that I can hardly believe. There were many many weeks when the ontaking of producing yet another episode felt too much or too heavy. There were weeks when I wanted to shut the nearly broken laptop or put away the microphone and call it quits. But I couldn’t quit because I knew you would show up. I knew you would be waiting. I knew these simple but honest conversations would bring light to the darkness you were walking through. I knew because these conversations were what I needed 12 years ago.    I knew you needed to be reminded that you weren’t alone. I knew you needed the comfort of another mom telling you you’re not crazy, that the emotions you are experiencing are normal, and that while you may not believe it right now, you are going to be ok. I knew you needed to hear moms who had experienced loss who were just a little further down the grief journey laugh because in those early days of grief laughing feels like an impossibility. I knew you needed to hear women talk honestly about their faith journeys and what it looked like to wrestle with God amidst the pain He could have stopped. I knew what you needed because I needed it too. And some days, even all these years later, I still need it. Like you, I need the comfort of other women who understand this kind of loss; of being reminded I am not alone or the only one walking through such loss. I need their listening ear and their prayers and words of wisdom.    I’m so grateful you kept showing up week after week. I’m grateful for every subscribe and every download and every kind review. I’m grateful for every single dm or email -- would you believe that those messages mean so much that I actually screenshot them and have them saved on my phone. So when the work feels too hard I can be easily reminded that it is absolutely, 100% worth it. Because you are worth it.    You matter. And you are seen. And loved. And not alone.   In this special 100th episode I’m going to be sharing 5 things I’ve learned from the last 99 episodes. But more than anything I want you to hear me say:    Thank you for showing up and tuning in week after week. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Thank you for giving me the honor of walking alongside you amidst your grief.  THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I wanted to share two things with you. First, I wanted to invite you to join our free online community -- The Joyful Mourning Community. Join hundreds of other women who are walking this grief journey, women like you who are searching for joy and hope after loss. A place to be reminded that you aren’t alone. A place to find comfort and healing. A safe place amidst the chaos of life after loss. For all the details about how to join this special community head to themorning.com/community. Second I just wanted to share a few words about how this podcast has helped women like you. Aimee said: “This podcast has helped me feel less alone and is the number one resources I share with friends who are going through loss or want to understand it better.” Andrea said “It has helped me know that I’m not alone on this journey and there are other women who are feeling the same emotions as me. It has been my voice of reason on days when I feel like I’m spiraling out of control.” Devyn said “I remember hearing Ashlee laugh and the comfort and hope that gave me that I would be okay, one day, was so healing on it’s own. It was a gateway back to God, as we know how hard that relationship can be post loss.” Kayla said “it was probably the single most helpful thing for me! Being able to hear hope and strength and relate to other women let me know I would get through this.” And to those responses and the many other I received I say “thanks God. thank you for seeing these women. For loving them. For sustaining this endeavor to bring hope to the hurting.”    DAYBREAK ALL ACCESS REPLAY One more thing -- if you love the podcast I have something else I am sure you will love as well. A few weeks ago I hosted our first ever virtual event, Daybreak. And it was amazing. 9 different sessions --- real women sharing honestly about different aspects of their journey of finding hope and joy after baby loss. If you missed Daybreak in its entirety or even just a session or two, head to daybreakconference.com for details about how to get access to the replays. The replay access will only be available for a short time and I want you to have it. Because just like this podcast, it will remind you you aren’t alone and that there is joy to be had. That’s daybreakconference.com -- head there for all the details.   Thank you for being here week after week. Just like always, I pray this episode is a blessing to you. Now let’s jump into today’s episode.    SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode100 SPECIAL THANKS TO: Meg Walker & Mary Margaret Powitz for their constant encouragement and wisdom in this endeavor. I love you ladies and wouldn't have gotten to 100 episodes without you.

Listen in to this special conversation among 4 friends about navigating friendship amidst baby loss. Katherine’s son was diagnosed with a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis at her 20 week anatomy scan and throughout our conversation we discuss how these 3 women, Susie, Sarah, & Tara came alongside her during the days, weeks and months that followed the diagnosis. We talk about what it was like to receive that news, all the practical things they did to show up for her and make sure she was cared for in that season and what advice they would give someone who loves a mom who has received a life-limiting diagnosis for her baby. Katherine also gives wisdom to a mom who is in this situation and is not feeling cared for by those around her. This episode is really really special and I love that we get to hear from 4 different perspectives, there is so much wisdom to be learned from these women. Make sure to listen all the way to the end when these women give their final word of encouragement -- I think it will be incredibly helpful to you.    HOW TO LOVE A GRIEVING FRIENDIf you love a grieving mom, check out episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this.  To download a free simple checklist about how to love a grieving friend head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily, that’s themorning.com/friendsandfamily. On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.   DAYBREAK CONFERENCE Daybreak is a free virtual event for women finding light in the darkness and joy in the mourning after baby loss. This is a one day event, with an incredible speaker lineup, a live q&a panel and even small group breakout sessions. For all the details about Daybreak, our first ever virtual event >> daybreakconference.com.

Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give grieving moms a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom.    In this third episode of the series I am sharing a non-comprehensive list of the things a grieving mom may be thinking about at any given moment. I say non-comprehensive because the things we think about as grieving moms are often complex and can be difficult to put into words. I am sharing this somewhat seemingly random list of thoughts to do two things: 1) To help a grieving mom hear me say -- you are not alone in the way you are thinking about this nor are you crazy. The way you are seeing this and thinking about this is completely normal and to be expected. 2) To help someone who has not experienced the loss of a baby better understand what is happening inside the head and heart of a grieving mom -- to have compassion and empathy when you might not understand how she is responding or better yet to have compassion and empathy when you judge her response as not appropriate.   So, if you are a grieving mom I hope this reminds you that you aren’t alone. And if you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.    Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss.

Listen in as I chat with Erica McAfee. Erica’s story of motherhood is incredibly difficult, she has experienced significant loss and yet she speaks with such hope and joy. Erica shares honestly about what someone who is new to this grief journey can expect, what she wishes she had known about grief and what misconceptions exist about life after loss. She also shares about the work she does for an organization she founded called Sisters in Loss, why she is passionate about doulas, what role they serve and why they are important. We also spend some time talking about the disparities that exist for women of color in regards to maternal health care -- she helps me understand how we can raise awareness about the staggering numbers that exist and what we can do to become advocates for these women. This episode is incredibly helpful and eye opening and full of so much hope as Erica finishes out our time together by saying “God has not forgotten you.”  -- QUESTIONS WE DISCUSS You have walked through so much in regards to maternal health and baby loss -- will you share your story with us? What would you tell a mom who is new to this grief journey about what to expect in regards to life after miscarriage or infant loss? What do you wish you had known or someone had told you? What do you think the biggest misconceptions surrounding baby loss and grief are? You are doing a great work advocating and raising awareness surrounding black infant and maternal mortality and health -- why is this an important topic we should be discussing and advocating for? You founded an organization called Sisters In Loss -- tell me about your work there. How can we get involved? How do we become advocates?  What encouragement would you give to another mom who is grieving? -- SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode098 YOU ARE NOT ALONE | Join the Community www.themorning.com/community  

Throughout October I am highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give you, grieving moms, a voice, to acknowledge your loss and at the same time to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom.  In this second episode of the series I am talking about why we as loss moms talk about our babies and addressing all the other things someone who has not experienced this kind of loss may find strange or odd, awkward or uncomfortable  -- or all of the above. If you are a grieving mom I hope this gives you permission to grieve in any way that is helpful to you, and to honor and celebrate your baby in any way you choose. If you are here because you love a grieving mom, I hope this helps you understand us a bit better.    Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Resources: www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss.

Listen in to the first bonus episode in a series I have titled Conversations with a Grieving Mom. Throughout October I will be highlighting specific topics surrounding pregnancy and infant loss in a series of 4 short mini bonus episodes. My hope is to give you a voice, to acknowledge your loss and to help others who have not experienced this kind of loss understand a little better what it is to be a baby loss mom. In this first bonus episode I am speaking openly about why raising awareness about pregnancy and infant loss is valuable and important, why it matters.    For an abundance of resources about this topic head to www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss. -- October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness month. Maybe you saw the statistics yesterday as women raised their hand to say “I am 1 in 4” and to share their story of baby loss. Or maybe you didn’t even notice, just another ‘awareness’ month filling up your feed. It’s ok, I didn’t know that October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month either until it was me. Until I was the 1 in the 4. But here’s the thing, while you may not be the 1 you likely know her. She is your friend. Your sister. Your daughter. Your neighbor. Your coworker. The stranger at the grocery store. The acquaintance at church.    1 in 4 is so much more than a number. Raising awareness is about so much more than a statistic. It's a person. It’s a life.   We raise awareness because that one matters.   We raise awareness because the numbers would tell us that if it isn’t you, then you likely know someone who has experienced the loss of a baby. We raise awareness so that you might know better how to love her and care for her.  Because to ignore her pain is to ignore her.   We raise awareness because we want you to know our story. To know our baby. Because to know us and not know about our baby is to not really know us at all.    -- RESOURCES: www.themorning.com/pregnancyandinfantloss

We have been working our way through a series of episodes that honestly discuss the realities of friendship amidst loss and grief. This episode is part 2 of a special 2 part episode where I interview best friends Whitney & Nicole. If you missed part 1 skip back one episode because in this episode we will be picking up right where we left off. Whitney & Nicole’s story of friendship is unique and powerful. And in this second part of the interview we talk about the biggest challenges that friendships after loss might experience, they share past hurts from friends and family and how they are processing that now a few years later. We talk about the ways they each felt the most loved after their individual losses and how friendships change, ultimately because we as a grieving mom have changed and how that’s ok. What they share in this episode is honest and tender and I think you will find their thoughts about friendship after loss incredibly relatable and helpful.  And like I said, this is part 2 of a 2 part series -- I wanted to give space for each of these women’s stories to be shared so this interview has been broken into two parts. We will be jumping right into the conversation where we left off last week so if you missed Part 1, episode 96 make sure to go listen to that episode! I am forever grateful for these two women and the friendship they represent. I pray it encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.    FRIENDS & FAMILY If you love a grieving mom, don’t forget to check out episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this.  To download a free checklist of the ideas shared in that episode head to  www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily. On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.    COMMUNITY And as always, if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.   SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode097

We are currently working our way through a series of episodes that honestly discuss the realities of friendship amidst loss and grief. This episode is Part 1 of a special 2 part episode where I interview best friends Whitney & Nicole.   These two women became friends when Nicole reached out with a text that said something along the lines of “I know you don’t really know me but I just found out my baby has died.” Whitney had walked through the loss of her daughter Olivia a year prior and was able to help Nicole in the days following the tragic words that there was no heartbeat for her son William.   They became close friends, bound by a common thread of having lost a baby. Little did either of these women know that just a short time later Whitney’s son Rory would be born with the same genetic condition as her daughter Olivia and a similar text message would be sent only this time it would be from Whitney to Nicole. These two friends would walk this familiar journey through loss and grief once again.   Their story of friendship is unique and powerful. While their story is unique what they share here is honest and tender and their thoughts about friendship after loss are incredibly relatable and helpful.    I wanted to give space for each of these women’s stories to be shared so this episode is broken into two parts. Stay tuned for part 2 next week when we will continue this conversation.    I am forever grateful for these two women and the friendship they represent. I pray it encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.    If you love a grieving mom, don’t forget to check out episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this.  To download a free checklist of the ideas shared in that episode head to  www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.    And as always, if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.   SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode096   COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community

"We don’t want to be a burden but the reality is, we are carrying a big burden. And we need people. We have to be vulnerable and to say what we need." Kelly Griffin In this episode we are talking all about friendship amidst loss and grief. In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing best friends Kelly & Caroline. Kelly received a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis of Trisomy 18 for her son Reeves and during our time together she and Caroline share honestly and tenderly about their friendship and what role it played in Kelly’s loss and healing journey. Caroline gives incredibly helpful and tangible wisdom about how to love a friend who is walking through a life-limiting diagnosis. If you know and love someone who has received a life-limiting diagnosis or has experienced the loss of a baby Caroline’s wisdom will be so helpful to you. Kelly gives wisdom to the mom who may be feeling lonely, who might not be surrounded by friends who step in to help. This episode is so encouraging as it reminds us that it is the simplest things that matter so much. That loving someone who is hurting does not have to look like grand gestures but rather an imperfect showing up that is consistent and prayerful and thoughtful has the potential to really help and bring healing. This episode is tender and raw and I am forever grateful for these two women and the friendship they represent. I pray it encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.    FREE GUIDE If you love a grieving mom, don’t forget to check out last week’s episode, Episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, my simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this.  To download a free checklist of the ideas shared in that episode head to  www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily. On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.    JOIN THE COMMUNITY And as always, if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.   SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode095  

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing resources specifically about how to love a grieving friend. I even had the opportunity to interview moms who had experienced loss with their friend to ask honest questions about what it was like to navigate friendship after loss and amidst grief. If you have ever asked the question: how do I love my grieving friend, this series of episodes and resources we will be sharing is going to be extremely helpful. And if you are a grieving mom this is going to be an incredible bank of resources that you can easily send to those you love about how they can help you in this season. To follow along with all the resources we will be adding over the next few weeks head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily   This episode is broken into two parts, the do’s and the don’ts of loving a mom who has experienced the loss of a baby. Two caveats before we jump in -- first, this list is not exhaustive and better viewed as a great starting point and second, every mom is unique; what might be helpful to one might not be helpful to another. So listen and learn from this episode but filter the things I share here through the knowledge that you know her better than me.    If you love a grieving mom, head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily to download a free checklist of these ideas. That’s themorning.com/friendsandfamily. On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have that will help you navigate this season-- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you. And if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community, that’s themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.

Listen in to this honest conversation with my new friend Jasmine Wilson as she shares the story of her son Mekhi. Jasmine shares what it was like to deliver a baby and then lose a baby during this season of Covid. She gives candid answers about what this grief journey has been like in her daily life and how she chooses to remember, honor and celebrate her son. Jasmine talks about how baby loss and grief have affected her relationships, and what her faith has looked like throughout this devastating loss. She gives invaluable wisdom to a newly grieving mom when she shares what this journey has been like and I am sure you will be able to relate to the way she answered the question “what has surprised you about grief”? And one of my favorite moments of our time together was at the very end of the episode when Jasmine said: “Your baby’s life is just as important now as it was when you were expecting. It’s ok to include them in every part of your life.” Such a helpful reminder for us moms with babies in heaven.   I really enjoyed my time with Jasmine and am sure her tenderness and honesty will be a blessing to you as well.   One of the things Jasmine and I chatted about at length is reading through the Psalms or praying the Psalms when we don’t know how to pray anymore or even what to pray -- when our hearts are just hurting so badly. I put together a Psalm Prayer Guide for you, just a few of my favorite Psalms you can pray through when your heart is aching and you’re angry or frustrated or disappointed in God and not quite sure what to say to Him. Praying His Words back to Him can be incredibly healing. Download that guide at themorning.com/psalmprayerguide.   Thank you for tuning in. I pray this episode blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone. Now let’s jump in. 

I have said it before and I will say it again. Apart from losing my son Aaden, being pregnant again after losing him was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. And I know I am not alone in feeling that way. In fact the topic I receive the most requests for is pregnancy after loss. Just this week over in The Joyful Mourning Community a community member posted this, she said: “how do you deal with the crippling anxiety of being pregnant after loss?” Over the past month or so I have added several resources specific to pregnancy after loss to our resource library including podcast episodes and blog posts -- you can see all of those newly added resources by heading to themorning.com/pregnancyafterloss. In today's episode I wanted to share 5 simple things to know about pregnancy after baby loss. These 5 things are meant to remind you that you aren’t alone in all the feelings you are feeling and the thoughts you are having. And even though you may feel crazy, you aren’t crazy. If you are currently pregnant or hope to be pregnant again soon I pray this episode brings a ton of freedom. As you probably know, it is incredibly difficult for someone who has never experienced pregnancy or infant loss to know the depths of pain and fear that can be present in a pregnancy after loss. So consider this episode a reminder of things you already know but might just need to hear again, from a friend who has been there and really does understand. A friend giving you the freedom to feel all the feelings with no shame or guilt.   SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode092 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community

Listen in to this honest conversation with Kelsey Hayes. A mom who experienced multiple losses that ended with a full hysterectomy and a chance at having future biological children. We talk about what hope looks like when there is no foreseeable rainbow, we talk about how grief was different for each of her losses, we talk about how joy and peace can exist in the middle of absolute heartache. And her perspective on how to view and act towards people who say the most hurtful things after loss is both challenging and encouraging as she shares very candidly about a really painful experience with a family member. We talk about the challenges of parenting after loss and I could really relate when she said “it's tough being a parent after having a loss, you're on guard for anything that can happen and your brain goes to the worst possible scenario.” We talk about all of that and more in this episode. Kelsey’s raw vulnerability and honesty is incredibly relatable and I am sure that it will be helpful as it reminds you that you are not alone in this grief journey. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY If you have experienced the loss of a baby I want to extend an invitation to The Joyful Mourning Community. A place where you can find women who have walked and are walking this road of baby loss and navigating life after loss. It’s a place to remind you that you aren’t alone. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to meet you. SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode091

This is a very special episode as it marks the 2 year birthday of this podcast. 2 years ago I launched this podcast out into the world. I am so grateful for the opportunity to weekly bring you tangible reminders that you are not alone in your grief and that you are loved deeply by a God who has not forgotten you or left you.   In this annual anniversary episode I want to spend a few minutes sharing why I started this podcast, the same why that kept me going when producing and publishing yet another episode felt nearly impossible, and a few clips from your favorite episodes over the past year.   I pray this episode does what each episode before it did, reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine.   JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community UNDERSTANDING GRIEF (FREE GUIDE): www.themorning.com/griefguide  

Listen in to an honest conversation about pregnancy after loss with my dear friend Katelyn James Alsop. We talk very candidly about what it’s like to be pregnant again after losing a baby. There are moments of tears and of laughter in this episode, but isn’t that the reality of this grief journey; a dance of joy and sorrow. We talk about how Katelyn made the decision to try again for another baby after her son James died from complications from Down Syndrome. We talk about when or if there ever is the right time to announce another pregnancy, what it’s like to keep our baby’s memories alive when a new baby is born and I love when Katelyn talks to me about battling the fear that plagues so many of us in our pregnancies after loss. We even talk about parenting after loss and parenting while pregnant after loss; what it looks like to invite our living children into our grief and our fear. And in doing so, hopefully teach them about what it looks like to trust God even when it’s scary and even when the worst happens and also show them what finding healing can look like. I am so grateful for Katelyn and her story and her honesty in this episode. I pray that it reminds you that you are not alone. And that there is joy to be had, even in the scary, fearful places like pregnancy after loss.    JOIN THE COMMUNITY If you have experienced the loss of a baby I want to extend an invitation to The Joyful Mourning Community. A place where you can find women who have walked and are walking this road of baby loss and navigating life after loss and even specifically pregnancy after loss. It’s a place to remind you that you aren’t alone. Come join us by heading to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to meet you. -- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode089

In our previous episode, episode 87, I talked with counselor and maternal health expert Libby Marler, from The Counseling Collective, about what someone who has experienced the loss of a baby can expect in regards to grief. In that episode, Libby shares invaluable expertise regarding baby loss and grief, including helpful steps to take to process through your grief.    Libby is back in this week’s episode to talk with me specifically about pregnancy after loss and how unresolved grief can affect a pregnancy after loss. We talk about why pregnancy after loss can be so incredibly difficult, the common emotions associated with pregnancy after loss, how grief and stress can affect a pregnancy and what steps we can take to deal with the grief and stress in a healthy way. If you have experienced the loss of a baby and are pregnant again, or would like to be pregnant again, this episode is a must listen. If you have ever asked the question, when is it the right time to try to get pregnant again, this episode is for you. And if you love someone who is pregnant after the loss of a baby this episode is an absolute must — it will help you understand what she is going through in a really significant way.   DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PDF GUIDE: UNDERSTANDING GRIEF: www.themorning.com/griefguide SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode088

If you have experienced the loss of a baby or know and love someone who has experienced the loss of a baby this episode is an absolute must-listen. Libby Marler is my guest this week; she is a trained counselor who specializes in women’s issues including maternal mental health, parenting, grief and loss, as well as anxiety issues. Libby became passionate about providing counseling and support for women after she navigated the death of her own daughter due to a life-limiting diagnosis. In this episode Libby shares with us a general overview of what someone who has experienced the loss of a baby can expect in regards to grief. For many of us, the loss of our baby was the first time we have experienced a significant loss close to us, we are unfamiliar with the grieving process and we are trying to discern what’s normal, what isn’t, what is expected of us, when should we seek outside help -- basically all the things and in this episode Libby breaks it all down for us. She shares invaluable expertise regarding baby loss and grief, including helpful steps to take to process through your grief in a way that is not burdensome or weighty but instead, very freeing.  If you have ever wondered if what you are feeling and thinking amidst grief is normal or if you have ever asked yourself ‘Am I showing enough emotion? Am I showing too much emotion?’ or ‘Shouldn’t I be farther along by now?” this episode is for you. Libby offers wisdom that I am sure will encourage you in your grief today. I created a helpful guide called Understanding Grief to go along this episode that breaks down much of what Libby talked about in today’s episode. This guide includes an explanation of bereavement trauma, aspects of trauma in regards to baby loss, what are normal feelings of grief, what are normal physical responses to grief, ways to process your loss, thoughts about when to seek professional help and several helpful journal prompts. I think this guide will be incredibly helpful to you in your grief journey.  To download your free pdf guide head to www.themorning.com/griefguide. Thank you for being here and tuning in. I pray this episode and that free resource I just mentioned reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and there is hope to be had, even in the mourning.   SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode087 UNDERSTANDING GRIEF GUIDE: www.themorning.com/griefguide JOIN THE COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community  

This episode is sure to inspire you and strengthen your faith -- at least it did in me. Listen in as I chat with my new friend Lola who shares the story of her son Elijah. At Lola’s routine anatomy scan, the doctors gave these first time parents the news that their son had a life-threatening heart condition making it very unlikely that he would make it to term or be delivered alive. Against all odds, Elijah would be born and would live for weeks. He would get to meet his mama and daddy and many family members and friends. Lola’s story is not unlike many of you listening. Lola’s story is not that different from my own. And yet, her faith is vastly different. Making me pause and reflect and think about the truth that she shared during our time together -- that we can hope, that we can have joy, even in the mourning, despite all of our circumstances. She talks to me honestly about what her pregnancy with Elijah was like and her lack of fear is nothing short of a miracle and reminds me that God is able to bring supernatural peace that we cannot fully understand even into the darkest of places. Even when we receive the worst of news. Even when our world feels shaken. He can bring peace. Lola shares with me what she wish others knew about life after infant loss, what pregnancy after loss was like for her -- again, her story even in this is remarkable and incredibly encouraging. Lola also shares what she has learned about infant loss within the African culture and what she would like to see happen within that community in regards to baby loss. We talk about our spiritual walks and how there can be purpose in the pain, how her son Elijah’s life changed her forever.  Lola’s faith is contagious and I am incredibly grateful for her story.  If this is your first time joining us and this faith that Lola is talking about feels foreign or shaken I would love to invite you to download a free 7 day devotional that will encourage your heart and remind you of hope -- maybe for the first time. You can download that free resource by going to www.themorning.com, you can find it linked under the Resources tab.   JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode086

Listen in as I chat with Stephanie Schoonover. Stephanie was given a life-limiting diagnosis for her daughter Grace at a routine 12-week ultrasound. In this episode Stephanie shares with us what it was like to continue her pregnancy and make the most of the time she did have with her daughter. Stephanie also shares all about how she prepared for Grace’s birth and what she wish others understood about what its like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis for your baby.    Stephanie shares with us her experience of joy while carrying her daughter Grace but also how the resources to help a family in this situation were lacking. As a result Stephanie founded the non-profit Carrying To Term and tells us all about that amazing organization in this episode.    If you or someone you know have received a prenatal life-limiting diagnosis, this is a must-listen episode. Like always, this episode is both practically helpful and honestly hopeful. I pray that no matter what brought you here today, this episode would serve as a reminder that you are never, ever alone in this journey and that you are more loved than you could ever imagine. Stephanie’s story has so much hope to offer and I pray that it blesses you today.   If this is your first time joining us and you have been given a life-limiting diagnosis for your baby, I want to say, I am so incredibly sorry. I want to also tell you that while you probably feel very alone right now, you are not alone. I would love to invite you to join our free online community where you can find other moms just like you who have walked or are walking now a similar journey. You can join us by heading to themorning.com/community. Also, we have created a lengthy list of resources just for you and you can access all of those by heading to themorning.com/lifelimitingdiagnosis. Thats, themorning.com/lifelimitingdiagnosis. I am grateful you are here and I pray that this episode and those resources I just mentioned will be an enormous blessing and help to you in this season and the season to come.   JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community   SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog

Listen in as I chat with Kristin Ironside, a mama who endured the heartbreaking journey of knowing the baby she carried would most likely not live more than a few hours. Kristin’s daughter, Annabelle was diagnosed with unilateral renal agenesis and unilateral multi cystic dysplastic kidney -- basically at her 18 week anatomy scan, Kristin learned that her daughter’s kidneys were not functioning properly and without properly functioning kidneys in the womb her little body could not produce amniotic fluid necessary for lung development. Non functioning kidneys and lungs would be lethal to her baby girl. Baby Annabelle could continue growing as a healthy baby in her womb, but they would need to prepare themselves for a stillborn or a life of "minutes to hours." In our time together Kristin shares what it was like to receive a diagnosis like that, one of incomprehensible heartbreak, and what it was like to carry Annabelle for another 15 weeks knowing she would not bring her home after she was born. Kristin shares very helpful and practical advice about how to prepare for a birth in a circumstance such as this but more than even practical advice she shares hope. She says “it is possible to have joy through it all.” and “one day you will get on the other side and you will get to say yeah i did make it and let me tell you how good God was through it all.” She gives such a hope-filled reminder as we are wrapping up when she says “God will give you the grace for all those moments that feel impossible now.”  This episode is both practically helpful and honestly hopeful. I pray that no matter what brought you here today, this episode would serve as a reminder that you are never, ever alone in this journey and that you are more loved than you could ever imagine. If this is your first time joining us and you have been given a life-limiting diagnosis for your baby, I want to say, I am so incredibly sorry. I want to also tell you that while you probably feel very alone right now, you are not alone. I would love to invite you to join our free online community where you can find other moms just like you who have walked or are walking now a similar journey. You can join us by heading to themorning.com/community. Also, we have created a lengthy list of resources just for you and you can access all of those by heading to themorning.com/lifelimitingdiagnosis. I am grateful you are here and I pray that this episode and those resources I just mentioned will be an enormous blessing and help to you in this season and the season to come.  -- SHOWNOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode084 COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community

As we approach Father’s Day in just a few days I thought, what better way to honor dads than by giving them a voice. So since this podcast is primarily for grieving women, I thought it might be helpful to interview a few trusted men I know and ask them to tell me what they would want their wife to know about their grief. I’m going to share their answers with you in this special Father’s Day episode -- an episode for the women, that we might better understand our husbands and their grief, especially as we celebrate them this weekend.    P.S. If you are listening as a friend or family member of someone grieving the loss of a baby -- this episode will really help you to love and support a grieving dad, who unfortunately is often overlooked.   I want to thank Aaron, Tim & Michael for helping me create this episode. I’m so grateful for your honesty and transparency about what it’s like to be a grieving father.    Thank you for tuning in today friend. I pray this episode reminds you, in a special way, that you aren’t alone in your grief. While your spouse or partner may grieve differently than you or not show their grief in the ways that make sense to you, they are grieving. And I pray that that truth brings you comfort today. -- -- JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode083

This week’s guest on the podcast is Lynnelle Peters. Listen in as we talk about so many things surrounding pregnancy and infant loss. Lynnelle shares her story of motherhood that includes the joy of healthy, living babies and the heartache of 2 miscarriages, 14 months of infertility and the late term loss of her son River. We talk about many things but maybe the most important thing we discuss is Lynnelle’s experience with anxiety, ptsd and postpartum depression -- much of what she shares in regard to this topic she is bravely sharing publicly for the first time in the hopes of bringing awareness to mental health. She begs listeners who may be experiencing some of what she is talking about to get help. She says: “Please, please don’t isolate yourself. I have walked that road and it is not healthy in any way. There is help and there is hope. You don’t need to be afraid. Even if you feel afraid. There is so much hope ahead for you and you are a good, good mom.” This topic is one of the last things we talk about and because I think it is so important, I want to encourage you to listen all the way to the end or if you are short on time, skip a bit ahead to around the 50 minute mark.  I am so grateful for Lynnelle bravely sharing her story. I pray that it reminds you that you are not alone. And that it’s ok to seek out help. There is absolutely no shame. In the shownotes for this episode I will be including several resources for seeking out help -- you can find the shownotes by going to themorning.com/blog/episode082 -- JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode082

As our country begins to open up and people begin to head back to the workplace I thought it would be helpful to continue this conversation about heading back to work after the loss of a baby. In this episode I am talking with Rebecca Hennessy about her experience returning to full time work just 1 week after experiencing premature labor and losing her daughter at 18 weeks. Rebecca is incredibly honest and tender in this episode as we talk about why she chose to go back to work when she did, the challenges she faced, the triggers she experienced, and how she told her coworkers. She also gives helpful thoughts about how to prepare to head back to work, what she would have done differently and how to love a mom you work with who is grieving.   No matter your story, and whether you plan to return to work outside of the home in the near future or ever, the rawness and tenderness of this episode is sure to remind you that you are not alone in this grief journey.  -- JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode081

Today is my 15th wedding anniversary and I get the privilege of interviewing my husband for this episode. Our marriage has been marked by loss, beginning all the way back to our first wedding anniversary when I began miscarrying our first baby and then just a few years later when our nearly 6 week old baby died in his sleep. As we embark on year 15 together we thought it would be helpful to talk about what it has looked like for us to  navigate marriage while grieving the loss of a baby.  Listen in as we talk about the challenges we faced, the mistakes we made, what we would have done differently and the encouragement we give to newly grieving parents.   QUESTIONS WE ANSWER (OR TRY TO ANSWER) DURING THIS EPISODE What does grieving together look like 10+ years in as it compares to the early years? What do you think is the most challenging aspect of navigating the marriage relationship amidst loss and grief? How have those challenges changed over the years? What wisdom or advice would you give a newly grieving couple about how to practically navigate those challenges? How was our grief different from one another?  Did you have any fears or worries towards me and my grief? What would you say to a husband who may be feeling worried or fearful towards their wife? Counseling: What did our counseling journey look like? Did we get counseling, together or separate and if so, was that helpful? A community member said: My husband and I are wrestling through that now, but he is very unsure and nervous. Pregnancy After Loss: How did we navigate the decision to try and get pregnant again?  Pregnancy After Loss: How did you both cope and support each other in your pregnancies after loss?  Important Dates: What have you learned about to best handle important dates? What does communication look like? Important Dates: What advice would you give to another couple just starting out in regards to important dates like due dates, birthdays, anniversaries of the day baby died? Friends & Family: How would you encourage friends and family (those who love a grieving mom and dad) to love and support a grieving couple?  -- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode080 COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community  

Back in March we had started the conversation about what it looked like to return to work after experiencing the loss of a baby. As our country begins to open up and people begin to head back to the workplace I thought it would be helpful to bring this conversation back. We know that amidst deep grief and such significant loss you are no longer the same but the work is the same and the expectations may be the same and the daily interactions are probably the same. So how do you do it? How do you prepare for this difficult moment? How do you face coworkers when you don’t want to talk about what has happened or when you do want to talk about what has happened? What do you do when you feel like your mental capacity is significantly less than before? What do you do when you feel incapable of performing at the level you previously performed at? In this series of episodes we are discussing all these types of questions. Addressing the challenges of going back to work, how to prepare mentally and emotionally, and even the benefits of going back to work.    In today’s episode I am talking with Ashley Daugherty about her experience returning to full time work just 6 weeks after losing her son Boston as a result of premature labor. She shares honestly about what was especially hard in the transition back and what she would do differently in the hopes of helping to prepare those of you listening who are getting ready to go back to work. She talks about the value of seeking out counseling and how she wishes she had done that sooner than she did. She talks about the value of talking with your leaders and having them help you game plan your transition back. She talks about the benefits she experienced as a result of going back to work and of course we talk about how to a grieving mom in the workplace. And my favorite part of the episode is when she says: “This is going to be so hard. But you are strong. Even though you don’t feel strong. You can do this.”    Ashley is gentle and honest and gives such helpful and hope-filled wisdom in this episode; I am certain that this interview will remind all grieving mamas that they are not alone in this grief journey.   JOIN THE COMMUNITY www.themorning.com/community SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/blog/episode078

Happy Mother’s Day Your mothering may look different than those around you or what you ever imagined it would be. But this day is for you too.  Today I acknowledge you who are hurting this year. “I see you. I have not forgotten. God has not forgotten. YOU are not forgotten.”  To the woman looking at yet another negative pregnancy test; I see you. To the woman holding only a memory of a heartbeat, I see you. To the woman staring at a gravestone, I see you. I see your bravery every time you smile and every time you get out of bed and every time you hold a baby that isn’t yours and every time you give the honest answer about how many children you have. I see your sacrifice when you show up to church or to work or to your best friend’s baby shower even though it hurts like hell.  I see your selflessness when you put another’s needs above your own, even when your heart is breaking.  I see your compassion when you weep over another’s story of loss and heartache.  I see your faith when you praise the God who could have stopped this pain. I see you. And I am so grateful for your example. Your example has changed me.   -- www.themorning.com/mothersday

If you know and love a mama who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss. This episode is for you. Whether you are a friend or a family member, if you know a mama who is grieving this episode is really important. Because while she may not tell you, the reality is she is hurting right now.  This weekend we celebrate mothers. And if you have never experienced the loss of a baby, it is impossible to fully understand the weight of what this day carries for the mom who has.  In this episode I want to talk about why Mother’s Day feels so incredibly hard for a grieving mom and give 5 simple ways that you, as her friend or as her family member, can remind her that she’s loved, she’s remembered, and her motherhood is seen and celebrated. And if you are listening and you are the bereaved mama, there’s a few things I want you to know today too and I’ll share those later in the episode. But for now, we made a few special resources just for you to help as you walk through this weekend. You can find all those resources over at themorning.com/mothersday. Resources to remind you that you are a mother and that your motherhood is worth celebrating. Whether you are a grieving mama or you love a grieving mama, I am so glad you are here. I pray this episode is a blessing to you. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode078 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.morning.com/community GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/gift-shop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Delivering a baby during this season of Covid-19 feels scary, in all the uncertainties and all the sacrifices. But for a mom delivering a baby with a life-limiting diagnosis or a baby that will be born sleeping -- this is extra hard. It’s loss upon loss. And for the mom who is delivering a baby after having experienced loss this feels extra hard. The anxiety is already heightened and the extra feelings of helplessness and lack of control only add to the weightiness of the moment. Knowing all of those things -- knowing that this moment is especially difficult for many of you listening, I wanted to bring my friend Katie Mears onto the podcast. She has been a labor and delivery nurse for over 15 years and has an enormous heart for women like you. Women who will say goodbye to their baby after just meeting them. Women whose baby will only live for a short time or women whose baby have already been born into heaven.  In this episode Katie talks about what you might expect from your hospital -- what we are seeing on the news feels scary and I asked her to be honest about the conditions there. Obviously she can only speak for the hospital where she serves but what she has to say will likely bring you a lot of encouragement and peace if you are expecting to deliver soon. She helps us understand how to be best prepared to deliver during this season, what questions we should be asking to our medical personnel and even what to bring to the hospital to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Her wisdom and practical advice and overall love for women who are in this situation is incredibly encouraging and comforting. She offers freedom when she says “never be afraid to ask questions and speak up. Just because your providers are doing things one way doesn’t mean it cant be done a different way.” She reiterates over and over again that the nurses and medical team are there to serve you, they want to help, that they care. And stay tuned all the way to the end -- Katie’s last sentiments to you is incredibly hope filled and comforting. If you or someone you know will be delivering a baby during this season of Covid-19 and all of the hospital restrictions, make sure to check out our free photography guide with tips and checklists for photographing your baby when a professional photographer can’t be present. This guide was created in partnership with Laura Foote, a professional photographer and volunteer photographer with the organization Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. She walks you through the process step by step, making it as simple as possible so you can have the memories of your baby forever documented. You can find that free resource at themorning.com/babyphotography.   --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode077 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.morning.com/community GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/gift-shop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

If your baby has been given a life-limiting diagnosis and you will deliver during this time of Covid-19 or you somehow miraculously found this episode as a mom who just got news that there is no heartbeat and will deliver a baby already born into heaven -- this episode is for you. If you are a nurse who works with labor and delivery this episode is for you too. Today I interview my friend Laura Foote. She is a full time professional photographer who also volunteers as a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is a non-profit organization that provides beautiful, professional photography for families who are experiencing or expecting the death of their baby. Laura voluntarily walks into hospital rooms where mamas are saying goodbye to their babies. She documents these moments, the details, tiny fingers and toes and desperate embraces. If you are listening and have not gone through the loss of a baby, this may sound incredibly strange -- who wants images of the worst, most tragic moment of your life -- and yet, while it is a tragic moment, photographs capture the life that was lived. A baby we love. A baby we will never forget. Images catch details we might forget. Details we want to remember but may become hazy over time. And while photographing a moment like this may feel impossible, even looking at the photographs may feel impossible for a time, having them is not something a grieving mom will ever regret.  Unfortunately during this time of Covid-19 with restrictions and limitations placed on hospitals it is very likely that having a professional photographer with you when your baby is born will not be possible. And as a mom who has buried a baby, as a mom who has only a handful of photographs to remember him by, that feels devastating to me -- all you have when you leave the hospital are the photos and in a moment of such loss and such grief capturing images is most likely the furthest thing from your mind.  So, in this episode I asked Laura to walk us through how to take photos of our baby even in an unthinkable moment and to make it is as simple as possible. She does that and more. Stay tuned to the end to hear the details about Laura is currently offering a service to professionally edit any photographs you take absolutely free. As a gift because she cares so deeply about you.  Throughout the episode we discuss what tools you will need, what items you should bring with you to the hospital to photograph your baby, a few simple tips for getting better photos as well a list of images you will want to take. We have put all of this together in a pdf that you can download and take with you to the hospital so you don’t even have to think about it. When the time comes, ask one of your nurses if they might be able to help you with this list. You can find that resource in the show notes for this episode, simply head to themorning.com/episode076 --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode076 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/gift-shop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Just like last week’s episode, the conversation in this week’s episode is really, really helpful and full of hopeful reminders that are vital for anyone who has experienced grief and is currently navigating life in the midst of the pandemic at hand. In this episode I spend some time talking with Meg Walker about what it’s been like for her personally to navigate this season. She speaks candidly about the grief that this moment has stirred up in her as a loss mom and what it has looked like practically to live through those realities.  I love towards the end of the episode when Meg says these words:  “It’s ok to not have it all together. It’s ok to be having a really hard time with this. It’s ok for this to be resurfacing things we thought we had conquered. It’s ok for fears to arise.  It’s ok to say I can’t do this God and I need you to do it for me." And also this: "You are not alone. You might feel forgotten. But you are not forgotten by the One who matters. You are so loved by Him. And on the days when it’s really hard and you can’t even get out of bed. That’s ok. He doesn’t love you any less. There’s so much grace for you.” Thank you for being here friend. Thank you for tuning in. I pray this episode meets you right where you are today, bringing light to the dark places and spaces; bringing a reminder of hope; a reminder that you are loved and not alone.  And two more quick things before we jump into today’s episode. First, the audio recording quality of this episode gets a bit glitchy at times; that is most likely due to the entire world being on the internet right now. I apologize that the quality isn’t quite what I would want it to be. But while the technical aspect may not be perfect, the content is still really really good and definitely worth listening to.  Second and last thing, we talk a lot in this episode about reaching out if and when you feel alone. And one of the best places to do that is The Joyful Mourning Community -- its a group of women who know first hand what you are going through. They are able to say ‘me too’ and remind you that you aren’t alone because they have been there too. So come join us and be reminded that it’s ok to feel like a mess right now. It’s ok to feel scared. It’s ok to doubt or be angry or sad or confused. It’s ok. We want to remind you that you are loved. We want to remind you that you're not alone in all those feelings. So, come join us by heading to themorning.com/community. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/blog/episode075 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/gift-shop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

I am so grateful for this episode and I really, really think it will be helpful for you, right now. I had the privilege of interviewing Libby and Julie from The Counseling Collective and we are talking very intentionally and very practically about what it looks like to navigate the current circumstances of a pandemic that has changed everything about our lives in just a matter of weeks, while also living in a reality of loss and grief and trauma. The ripple affects of the pandemic are far reaching, and I am overwhelmed at how this is affecting the community of grieving women as it amplifies all the things that are already hard. The grief, the fear, the brokenness, the hurt, the anger, the anxiety, the loneliness -- they are all being exposed and triggered and compounded with new emotions about the current crisis at hand.    Julie and Libby give helpful and hopeful thoughts about the emotions we are all feeling and practical tools for navigating these unfamiliar and unusual circumstances. They explained things in a way that brought comfort to my own anxious heart and I am so grateful for our time together. I think you will be as well.   The second half of the interview is spent doing a Q & A of questions submitted by women in The Joyful Mourning Community specific questions about navigating grief after the loss of a baby and I think this time will be incredibly helpful to you as well!   This episode is gentle and thoughtful and gives such helpful wisdom for navigating this current moment and also life after loss in general. I really think it will bring a reminder of hope to your heart today.   --- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there.   --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

If you listened to the previous episode, Episode #72, you know that I had planned for this month to be all about what it’s like to return to work after experiencing loss. I scheduled all the guests. I recorded all the interviews. I created all the resources. Months ago. And then just as this series was beginning, our world was slammed with a pandemic of unthinkable scope and repercussions -- we are seeing sickness and disease like nothing we have ever seen before. We are being strongly urged to “stay home” and self quarantine to limit the spread of the disease -- thus making my “Return to Work” series not very timely, applicable or even necessarily helpful when we are facing a crisis. The topic is still valuable and the interviews will be incredibly helpful at some point in the future -- but right now we need something a bit more. So while this episode is a bit different than our normal interview style, I pray that it will be incredibly helpful and hopeful for you today We need a reminder of truth and hope and comfort. We need to know that while it doesn’t seem to be true, that God is in fact in control. We need to be reminded that even though we can’t possibly understand why a good God would allow such death and such loss on such a grand scale, it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t care or that He isn’t working or that He’s surprised or that He isn’t good.  If you are like me, I imagine your heart feels anxious. Your faith feels wobbly. Your doubts about God’s character, about His goodness, about His love for you, may be screaming louder than ever. If you are like me, your mind is distracted and your heart just feels heavy as you consider how impossible this situation seems to be.  We know that settling an anxious heart, strengthening our faith and quieting those doubts can only come from one place. We know that finding hope and joy and peace in the midst of crisis and tragedy and moments of confusion can only come from one source and yet if you are like me, going to that source-- God’s Word and opening it up and sitting in it,  in a moment like this can feel impossible.  So I wanted to spend this podcast episode simply reading a few of my favorite passages of scripture over you. No commentaries or my own thoughts to muddy the waters. Just God’s Word. I believe Hebrews 4 to be true when it says that the word of God “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” So today’s episode is a little different than most but my hope is that His Word alone would remind all of us who God is -- how He loves deeply, how He is working even when we may not be able to see it with our own eyes, how He is in control and how because of all of those things our hearts can be filled with peace even amidst uncertainty.  --- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there.   --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Returning to normalcy and routine and responsibilities can be incredibly difficult after the loss of a baby, especially the responsibility of work. Having to face co-workers and bosses and having to complete tasks and perform even the smallest of jobs can be so hard for a grieving mom. Knowing how difficult the return to work can be, I have brought 4 women on the podcast to share their personal experience of going back to work after experiencing the loss of a baby, asking them questions about the challenges they faced and what advice they would give to a mom returning work. Make sure to tune in to each of those 4 interviews, episodes 71-74. In today’s episode I am talking with Michelle Gutierrez about her experience returning to work as an accountant just 8 weeks after losing her son Evan. Michelle shares openly about the challenges she faced upon her return as well as the very practical steps she took to help with the transition of going back to work. And even if you are not returning to work I am sure you will be able to identify with Michelle when she talks about how returning to routine and normal made her feel guilty, like she was forgetting her son when she should just be grieving him. She shares honestly about how emotional those first few weeks were and how it’s ok to just cry if you need to. She shares about why going back to work was helpful, giving hope to those in that situation as well as what she would have done differently if she could do it over, giving practical advice for those listening who are preparing to go back to work. If you are listening as a friend or coworker of someone who has lost a baby, Michelle offers very tangible wisdom for you as well about how to love and support a grieving mama who is heading back to work, when she answers the question “what would you say to your coworkers if they were listening in?”  Michelle is tender and gracious and I think this episode will leave all grieving mamas feeling known, understood and very hopeful. --- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

There are so many aspects of life after loss that feel incredibly difficult and challenging, impossible even. Even doing mundane, normal or routine things can feel daunting. And we all know from experience that the first firsts after losing our baby can bring unexpected tears or feelings of anxiety or fear or deep sadness. So it makes sense that going back to work after experiencing the loss of a baby can feel especially challenging. We fear having to resume normal tasks when our heart is shattered and our mind barely feels as though it’s functioning. We fear having to face people who knew us before loss. We are afraid of having to talk about our baby and at the same time afraid that people won’t ask. We are wondering what people are thinking about us or saying about us. We are wondering if we will ever be able to do our job at the level we performed before losing our baby.  Understanding that returning to work is one of the most difficult aspects of life after loss, I wanted to create a special series of episodes where we talk about how to navigate that very thing. Throughout the next 4 episodes I have the privilege of talking with women specifically about what it looked like for them to return to work after losing their baby. In today’s episode I am talking with Maggie Koch about her experience of heading back to the hospital where she delivered her stillborn daughter to resume her work as an RN. Her interview is incredibly honest and tender and practically very helpful. She gives advice that is tangible and realistic and I am sure that if you are in a position where you will be heading back to work soon, this episode will be an enormous blessing. Over and over again throughout this interview Maggie reminds you to be gracious to yourself, to take your time, to communicate your needs and that it’s ok to not be ok. Her words are gentle and encouraging and hopeful as she instills the truth that while this will be hard, you can do this. If you are listening as a friend of someone who has lost a baby, Maggie offers very tangible wisdom for you as well about how to love and support a grieving mama who is heading back to work. From all of us grieving mamas -- thank you for caring and loving and supporting -- your efforts mean more than you could ever fully know. I am certain that Maggie’s story and wisdom will bless and encourage you. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Over the past few weeks we have been talking about marriage and what it looks like to very practically navigate the relationships to those closest to us after the loss of a baby. In this week’s episode I am talking with Mary Margaret and Tim Powitz about what it looked like for them walk through grief together after the loss of their daughter Helen. This honest interview is helpful and hopeful as it reminds you that while you may grieve differently than your spouse or those around you it doesn’t mean you didn’t love your baby and it doesn’t mean you don’t love your spouse. This episode is full of practical and tangible advice for any couple walking through loss about how to continue to fight for your marriage, even in a season as hard as this one. I am hopeful that Mary Margaret and Tim’s story will bless and encourage you today as it reminds you you are not alone in this grief journey. And that while this relationship will never be the same, it can grow stronger and deeper. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Navigating relationships after the loss of a baby can be incredibly difficult, especially the marriage relationship. Throughout the month of February I have the privilege of talking with couples about marriage after the loss of a baby. The good, the hard, the awkward and even the funny things I am sure you will be able to relate to. Last week in Episode 68, Meg & John-Mark Walker shared their story of loss, the challenges they faced and how they worked through those challenges. In this week’s episode I am talking with Laura and Andrew Moore. They navigated marriage and grief after losing their son Hudson to Trisomy 18. Laura and Andrew are incredibly honest in this interview, sharing openly about their journey. They answer questions hard questions about their spiritual journey during the months after their baby’s diagnosis and the months after his death. They talk candidly about what it looked like to still pursue each other and their relationship in the season of anticipatory grief and also the season after their son died. They talk about feelings of jealousy and feeling like you’re behind when everyone else has a growing family and you no longer do. They give incredibly practical and tangible advice for any couple walking through loss about how to continue to fight for your marriage, even in a season as hard as this one. The wisdom shared here is incredibly helpful and hopeful; I feel certain that Laura & Andrew’s story will bless encourage you today. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

One of the most difficult aspects of life after baby loss is navigating relationships, especially the relationship with our spouse. Throughout the next 4 episodes I have the privilege of talking with married couples who have experienced the loss of a baby and have fought hard for their marriage amidst such grief. In our first episode in this special series all about marriage I get to spend some time talking with Meg and John-Mark Walker. They share their story of loss, the challenges they faced and how they worked through those challenges. They give helpful advice for those navigating loss, especially those who are early in their marriage. Meg and John-Mark share candidly and honestly about how they grieved differently, about the mistakes they made and all they have learned over the last 5 years. And they give such hope to any couple walking through loss when they share how this grief journey has bound them together, giving them a deeper and more meaningful relationship. This episode is for everyone, not just those who are married. The wisdom shared here is incredibly helpful and hopeful as Meg & John-Mark encourage those listening to fight for those they love, to move towards them even when things are hard or painful or feel very lonely. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #67. This is our fourth and final installment of our special series all about the enneagram and grief. If you have never heard of the enneagram, it’s simply a personality typing tool that helps us to better understand ourselves and others. And this series has been incredibly helpful at exposing how we are all different and therefore grieve differently. There are 9 enneagram types and for each type I have been asking our special guest Moniqe Scrip, a certified enneagram coach, a specific set of questions, including, what might this enneagram type look like amidst grief and how can we best love someone who is this enneagram type and is grieving. This week’s episode we are specifically discussing enneagram types 5, 6 & 7 -- what these personalities might look like amidst grief and how we can love someone who is this type and is grieving. Again, this series of episodes is so helpful at being reminded that we all grieve differently and helps us to better understand how we might be grieving ourselves or how someone we love might be grieving. I pray this tool will helpful as you navigate this season of grief. If you are new to this podcast or just jumping into this series, I would encourage you to listen to the first episode in this series, Episode 64 where Monique gives a helpful overview of what the enneagram is and why this tool can be especially helpful to someone who is walking through grief. If you are unsure what your enneagram type is or are curious about learning more about this helpful tool, I recommend reading The Road Back to You by Ian Chron and taking Monique’s free enneagram typing test over on her website www.moniquescrip.com. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/enneagram-grief THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

This is our third installment of our special series all about the enneagram. If you have never heard of the enneagram, it’s simply a personality typing tool that helps us to better understand ourselves and others. And this series has been incredibly helpful at exposing how we are all different and therefor grieve differently. There are 9 enneagram types and for each type we are answering a specific set of questions, including, what might this enneagram type look like amidst grief as well as how can we best love someone who is this enneagram type and is grieving. Monique Scripp, a certified enneagram coach is our expert who is walking us through this conversation and answering all my questions. This week’s episode we are specifically discussing enneagram types 2, 3 & 4; what these personalities might look like amidst grief and how we can love someone who is this type and has experienced the loss of a baby. Again, this series of episodes is so helpful at being reminded that we all grieve differently and helps us to better understand how we might be grieving or how someone we love might be grieving. I pray this tool will helpful as you navigate this season of grief. If you are just jumping into this series I would encourage you to listen to Episode 64 where Monique gives a helpful overview of what the enneagram is and why this tool can be especially helpful to a grieving mother or to those who love a grieving mother. And if all this enneagram talk has got you wondering what your enneagram type is I recommend reading The Road Back to You by Ian Chron and taking Monique’s free test over on her website www.moniquescrip.com. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/enneagram-grief THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

This is our second installment of our special series all about the enneagram and grief. Maybe you have never heard of the enneagram or maybe you have read all the books, either way this series is going to be incredibly helpful in growing our understanding of how we all grieve differently as we take a look at this personality typing tool. The enneagram gives us compassion for ourselves and others as we grow to understand ourselves and those around us in a deeper and meaningful way-- something that is so important in grief. In today’s episode I am talking with Monique Scripp, a certified enneagram coach about Enneagram types 1, 9 and 8 and specifically what these personalities might look like amidst grief. She walks us through a description of each of those types, what they might look like in grief, what they might struggle with that is specific to them and their unique personality. We also talk about how to best love someone who is a 1, 9 or 8 who is walking through the loss of a baby. This series of episodes is so helpful at being reminded that we all grieve differently and helps us to better understand how we might be grieving or how someone we love might be grieving. So, if you are a grieving mama who has felt misunderstood in your grief or felt as though you no longer really understand those closest to you or even understand yourself. I pray this tool will provide an avenue for better understanding this season of grief and loss. If you are new to the enneagram, are curious about it or even a skeptic make sure to listen to Episode 64 where Monique gives a helpful overview of what the enneagram is and why this tool can be helpful amidst grief. If you are unsure what your enneagram type is I recommend reading The Road Back to You by Ian Chron and taking Monique’s free test over on her website www.moniquescrip.com. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/christmas THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #64. This week we start a special series all about the enneagram. Maybe you have never heard of the enneagram or maybe you have read all the books, either way this series is going to be incredibly helpful in growing our understanding of how we all grieve differently; giving us compassion for ourselves and others as we grow to understand ourselves and those around us in a deeper way. Throughout this series I will be talking with Monique Scrip, a certified enneagram coach. She will be walking us through each of the 9 enneagram types, what they might look like in grief, what they might struggle with that is specific to their type and how to best love someone who is that type and is walking through the loss of a baby. In today’s episode we start with an introduction about the enneagram. Monique helps us to understand what the enneagram is, what it isn’t and how it’s different than other commonly known personality typing tools. She gives a very helpful overview of this helpful tool and even does a bit of impromptu coaching for me. This series of episodes is for you if you are a grieving mama who has felt misunderstood in your grief or felt as though you no longer really understand those closest to you or even understand yourself. I pray this tool will provide an avenue for your relationships to grow in depth and value as you gain a better understanding of how each other is processing and navigating this season of grief and loss. So listen in if you have ever been curious about the enneagram or if you are skeptic about all this; or if you are just interested in knowing what enneagram type I am and her thoughts about my specific blind spots. But mostly listen in if you are a grieving mama who is hoping to better understand your grief, how you are processing loss and how to better understand the way those closest to you are processing their grief as well. DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? If you are new to The Joyful Mourning Podcast I would love to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place to feel known and understood. If you feel alone in your grief, this is the place for you. Join us by heading to www.themorning.com/community sign up there and you will receive a special link to join. I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/christmas THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, A Christmas Series, Week 04 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 To know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to trust Him. No matter what. In this 4 week Christmas series we will get to know Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas by studying the names He is given in Isaiah 9:6 — in order that our hearts would love Him and trust Him despite the hurt and brokenness we may feel today. The first title or name that the prophet Isaiah gives to this child who would be born is “prince of peace.” What does that title help us to understand about who He is? What does that mean for us today as hurting, broken mamas? -- FREE CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONAL I created the simplest and most manageable Christmas Daily Devotional for you that is FREE. To be the first to know when this free helpful tool is available head to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as the daily devotional is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/christmas THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, A Christmas Series, Week 03 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 To know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to trust Him. No matter what. In this 4 week Christmas series we will get to know Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas by studying the names He is given in Isaiah 9:6 — in order that our hearts would love Him and trust Him despite the hurt and brokenness we may feel today. The first title or name that the prophet Isaiah gives to this child who would be born is “everlasting father.” What does that title help us to understand about who He is? What does that mean for us today as hurting, broken mamas? -- FREE CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONAL I created the simplest and most manageable Christmas Daily Devotional for you that is FREE. To be the first to know when this free helpful tool is available head to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as the daily devotional is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/christmas THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, A Christmas Series, Week 02 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 To know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to trust Him. No matter what. In this 4 week Christmas series we will get to know Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas by studying the names He is given in Isaiah 9:6 — in order that our hearts would love Him and trust Him despite the hurt and brokenness we may feel today. The second title or name that the prophet Isaiah gives to this child who would be born is “Mighty God.” What does that title help us to understand about who He is? What does that mean for us today as hurting, broken mamas? -- FREE CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONAL I created the simplest and most manageable Christmas Daily Devotional for you that is FREE. To be the first to know when this free helpful tool is available head to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as the daily devotional is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/christmas THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, A Christmas Series, Week 01 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 To know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to trust Him. No matter what. In this 4 week Christmas series we will get to know Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas by studying the names He is given in Isaiah 9:6 — in order that our hearts would love Him and trust Him despite the hurt and brokenness we may feel today. The first title or name that the prophet Isaiah gives to this child who would be born is “wonderful counselor.” What does that title help us to understand about who He is? What does that mean for us today as hurting, broken mamas? -- FREE CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONAL I created the simplest and most manageable Christmas Daily Devotional for you that is FREE. To be the first to know when this free helpful tool is available head to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as the daily devotional is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #59. Throughout November I have had the privilege of talking with mamas specifically about what it looked like to navigate the holiday season while grieving. The past three episodes have been incredibly helpful and relatable and if you haven’t gotten a chance to listen to those yet I would highly recommend it. In this week’s episode I am interviewing Lauren Woo about her experience with miscarriage and stillbirth and navigating the holidays while grieving the loss of her baby. Her insight is full of very practical thoughts about navigating family expectations and potential triggers and she shares incredibly helpful advice about what it looks like to love a grieving mom through the holidays. Lauren shares her favorite traditions and wisdom about how to find joy even when it feels impossible. And to the mom with no living children she says the most profound and grace-filled sentiment that is so true. She says these impactful words: “Being a mom of a baby that’s not here on earth is a very special kind of mom and it’s not a mom that everybody gets to see; and you have to get creative with how you are that kind of mom because it’s different than what you picture a mom being. But you are still a mom.” Friend. You are still a mom. And though it will look differently this holiday season than what you ever pictured, it doesn’t make your role as a mom or your baby’s life any less valid or real. I pray you know that to be true. *TRIGGER WARNING* Also, I want to let you know that there are a few moments within this episode when you can hear Lauren’s baby boy Arrow making sweet little baby noises. I did my best to edit the episode in a way that eliminated that potential hurtful trigger but just in case I wanted to give you the warning that it is there. I hope you know my heart and that I would never intentionally want to add to your hurt. -- FREE CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONAL I created the simplest and most manageable Christmas Daily Devotional for you that is FREE. To be the first to know when this free helpful tool is available head to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as the daily devotional is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, a special Christmas Bonus Episode. Over the next 4 weeks I have a special Christmas series. In this special series we will get to know Jesus, the one we celebrate at Christmas by studying the names He is given in Isaiah 9:6 — in order that our hearts would love Him and trust Him despite the hurt and brokenness we may feel today. If this is your first time joining us on The Joyful Mourning Podcast, welcome. I am so grateful you are here. The Joyful Mourning Podcast exists to bring hope and joy to women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are walking through this holiday season with a broken and grieving heart. This special 4 week Christmas series is a bit different than our normal episode structure and my prayer is that these simple weekly devotions will point your aching heart to true joy and true hope this Christmas season. To download a simple and free daily devotional that goes along with this episode and continues throughout this series head over to: www.themorning.com/christmas.

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode No. 58. Each week during the month of November I am interviewing women about what it looked like to navigate the holiday season while grieving. If you are joining us for the first time, make sure you go back and listen to episode 56 with Lindsey Dennis & episode 57 with Ashlee Karasch for incredibly helpful and relatable wisdom about navigating the holidays while grieving. In today’s episode I have the privilege of interviewing Mary Catelyn Stamm. She offers gracious and tender words that are honest but bring comfort and hope. We talk about what makes the holidays so hard amidst grief, we work through the expectations we put on ourselves and expectations others put on us and how to navigate that. Mary Catelyn offers invaluable wisdom about communicating expectations with your spouse or partner and how even though those conversations are messy it’s vital and incredibly worth it. We talk about creating traditions and I loved that Mary Catelyn said “I wish I had given myself permission to not expect myself to do all the holiday things that first Christmas as if she was still with us.” She goes in to more detail about why she feels that way, what traditions she will keep and what she will not be doing any longer. Her thoughts on having a niece very close in age to her baby girl who died, is incredible and will surprise you. And if you are listening because you love a grieving mom, Mary Catelyn shares very freeing words of wisdom for you as well. Lastly, make sure you listen all the way to the end -- Mary Catelyn’s last words of encouragement may be just what you need to get through this holiday season. I promise, they are that amazing. -- FREE CHRISTMAS DAILY DEVOTIONAL I created the simplest and most manageable Christmas Daily Devotional for you that is FREE. To be the first to know when this free helpful tool is available head to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as the daily devotional is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Each week during the month of November I am interviewing women about what it looked like to navigate the holiday season while grieving. In Episode 56 I spent time talking with Lindsey Dennis and her perspective was incredibly helpful and relatable, especially for a mom who has received a life-limiting diagnosis for their baby. In this week’s episode I am interviewing Ashlee Karasch about her experience with miscarriage and navigating the holidays while grieving the loss of her baby. Her insight is grace-filled and hope-filled and also full of very practical thoughts about navigating family expectations and potential triggers. She shares helpful advice about what helped her find joy that season and the encouragement she gives at the very end of the episode to all grieving moms is really, really helpful so make sure you listen all the way to the end. Ashley mentions the value of shifting our heart and mind to the reason we have hope in the holidays and how helpful that is amidst grief. One way we do that is by reading God’s Word. Opening the Bible and spending some time there. Even when it’s hard. Even when we’re angry. Even when we’re hurting. FREE CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL I have something really special for you that will make opening the bible throughout the Christmas season very simple and very manageable. To be the first to know about this free helpful tool that will redirect your heart to the hope of the Christmas season and help you find healing go to www.themorning.com/christmas. Sign up there and as soon as this special project is ready, you will get an email with all the details. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

In a special series of episodes throughout the month of November I will be talking with 4 different women about what it looked like for them to navigate grief amidst the holidays. In this first of four episodes I spend some time  talking with Lindsey Dennis who shares with us hope-filled wisdom about her journey through the holidays after she lost her daughters Sophie and Dasah. Lindsey’s experience with loss happened very close to the holiday season so her perspective is incredibly helpful and applicable to anyone who is grieving the loss of a baby, especially those who may be facing this for the first time. Lindsey talks about what it looked like to navigate thanksgiving when she did not feel thankful at all. She talks about the traditions that she incorporates every year to honor and celebrate her daughters. She also shares the triggers that added to the pain of the holiday season in the hopes that those listening might avoid some of those non-helpful painful triggers. Lindsey also gives invaluable insight to those listening who may love someone who is grieving this holiday season and what it looks like to walk alongside a hurting mom and dad, providing love and support. No matter if this is your first holiday season with your baby or your tenth. Know that you are not forgotten. Know that you are loved and prayed for and not alone. There are women just like you walking into this season with heavy, anxious hearts. I pray this episode provides a bit of tangible help and wisdom along with a bit of comfort reminding you that you are not walking into this season alone. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY And lastly, if you feel alone in this journey, I want to remind you about The Joyful Mourning Community - a free online community where you can find other women walking a similar path. Women who offer a safe place to talk and feel known and understand; women who will pray for you and offer gentle wisdom when you need it. If that sounds like something you need, come join our community. Head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you join us and I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #55. In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing Sarah Garvey, a woman who has experienced an incredible amount of loss and yet she communicates in a way that is full of hope and joy and wisdom. Sarah experienced infertility, three miscarriages, and the premature birth and death of her triplets. Her experience with loss and trauma has led her to a career serving as a bereavement expert. And her expertise is incredibly evident in this episode. She gives cautions and advice and wisdom that will be practically helpful to those in the middle of grief and for those who love someone grieving. Sarah spends some time talking about the uniqueness of grief and how we all grieve differently, even those grieving the same loss, such as a husband and a wife -- and why it’s dangerous to think that we grieve the same. We talk about the physical aspects of grief and we talk about grief and faith. Sarah says: “grieving with faith is difficult, but grieving without faith feels impossible.” And like I said she gives SUCH great and helpful wisdom to those who love a grieving a mom, she says this to you: “You are valuable and your support is important and necessary and it’s ok for you to not know what to do or say. Just do your best.” This episode is full of wisdom from a bereavement expert, but more than even that -- from a mom who has been there. A mom who has walk a similar journey to the one you are walking today and I am sure that her story and her heart and her encouragement will remind you that you are not alone in this and all the things you are feeling and thinking and experiencing are normal. As Sarah says in this episode, “You aren’t crazy. You’re grieving.” THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY And lastly, if you feel alone in this journey, I want to remind you about The Joyful Mourning Community - a free online community where you can find other women walking a similar path. Women who offer a safe place to talk and feel known and understand; women who will pray for you and offer gentle wisdom when you need it. If that sounds like something you need, come join our community. Head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you join us and I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

EPISODE 54 Listen in as I spend some time with Carmen Smith as she shares about her journey to motherhood and in motherhood. She shares openly and honestly about her experience with infertility and pregnancy loss. While Carmen has children of her own, her story, like many of ours, is not wrapped up with a pretty bow. She talks honestly about how she still feels barren and still feels broken all the while fighting for the truth she knows in her head that infertility is not her identity and that God is good even when your heart is breaking. In this episode Carmen gives helpful insight about what it’s like to walk through infertility and then a miscarriage. Her insight is honest and helpful. She shares why she quit social media and her biggest advice for women who are in a similar season. Carmen is raw and transparent about what this journey has truly been like and I pray that her honesty and vulnerability bring freedom to your heart today as it reminds you that you are not alone in this journey. That you aren’t the only one who is angry with God. The only one who fights jealousy over other pregnant women. The only one who wants to isolate and hide from the world because it just feels like it’s too much. No matter what brought you here today, I pray that above all, you hear two broken women fighting for truth in the darkest places. I pray you are reminded that you are not alone and that you are loved today. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY And lastly, if you feel alone in this journey, I want to remind you about The Joyful Mourning Community - a free online community where you can find other women walking a similar path. Women who offer a safe place to talk and feel known and understand; women who will pray for you and offer gentle wisdom when you need it. If that sounds like something you need, come join our community. Head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you join us and I can’t wait to see you there. --- SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/listen THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

I’m getting really honest in today’s episode about what pregnancy after loss has been like for me and sharing a few practical ideas for how to fight through the difficulties and challenges a loss mama might face in this season. If you love someone who has experienced the loss of a baby and is either trying to conceive or is pregnant again, I think this episode will help shed some light on what she is feeling and experiencing and in turn help you to understand a little better what she is going through. At the time of this recording I am nearly 34 weeks pregnant. The past 30+ weeks have held high highs that have been incredibly sweet and joy-filled, moments I will treasure forever, but I would by lying if I didn’t tell you that the majority of these past 30+ weeks have held incredibly low lows. In this episode I share a few practical physical, mental and spiritual tips for fighting those low lows. This episode likely did not answer all your questions about pregnancy after loss but I pray that it gave you an honest picture of a girl trying to fight for faith amidst a war of uncertainty and fear. I pray it encourages you that you are not alone in this and that you are reminded of a God who will one day restore and redeem all that has been broken. You are so loved friend and I am praying for you today. --- WRITE THE WORD JOURNALS If you resonate with the things that Diana shares in this episode -- about how hard it was for her to open her bible or to pray in this season of loss when she was experiencing so much anger and doubt and confusion about who God is, The Write the Word Journals might be a perfect solution for you. This tool provides a simple way to interact with God, to write down all those thoughts and to spend time thinking about just a small portion of scripture. I do believe that even when our faith feels weak or even non-existent or when the doubts loom large, spending time, even a few minutes in God’s Word and journaling out your thoughts can be the exact place where healing can be found. To check out all the details about these Write the Word Journals (as well as a generous coupon code) head to www.themorning.com/cwm. --- EPISODE 053 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode053 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode 52. This week we celebrated my son’s birthday. He would have been turning 11 years old. Celebrating the birthday of a baby who has died is incredibly hard. And over the years it has often felt impossible. Like I might just be crushed under the weight of that reality. In today’s episode I’m sharing with you all the things I’ve learned about navigating birthdays over the past 11 years. I’m telling you why I think they are so hard, what you can do about it and a few very practical ideas to get you started on creating meaningful and joy-filled birthday traditions even in the midst of sorrow. WRITE THE WORD JOURNALS If you resonate with the things that Diana shares in this episode -- about how hard it was for her to open her bible or to pray in this season of loss when she was experiencing so much anger and doubt and confusion about who God is, The Write the Word Journals might be a perfect solution for you. This tool provides a simple way to interact with God, to write down all those thoughts and to spend time thinking about just a small portion of scripture. I do believe that even when our faith feels weak or even non-existent or when the doubts loom large, spending time, even a few minutes in God’s Word and journaling out your thoughts can be the exact place where healing can be found. To check out all the details about these Write the Word Journals (as well as a generous coupon code) head to www.themorning.com/cwm. -- EPISODE 052 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode052 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #51. In this week’s episode I spend time talking with Diana Stone -- the mother of two girls here on earth and three boys in heaven. She is the editor-in-chief at Still Standing Magazine: a site for all those grieving infertility and child loss. My time with Diana is real and honest as we talk about her experience of losing not one but 3 baby boys. She shares honestly about her wrestle with God after those devastating losses and if you are listening as someone who is unsure where God is in all this brokenness and pain and have felt guilt or shame over not having perfect answers or feeling doubt or tremendous anger towards God -- I am sure that this portion of Diana’s story is going to bring you freedom and comfort. As mothers who have been on this grief journey for many years now and both work in the loss community we share honestly about what grief feels like now, 6 and 11 years later. And one of the most encouraging parts of our interview for me personally is towards the end when I ask Diana how the loss of her 3 boys has shaped how she lives now. You’ll have to listen to hear why her answer is so impactful to me -- but I imagine that her response will likely have you nodding along or saying “me too” out loud. And if you are listening because you love someone who is grieving and you want to better know how to love them amidst their grief -- Diana shares some very helpful thoughts on that as well. My time with Diana was truly a gift and I am sure it will be for you too. No matter what brought you here today, I pray it reminds you that you are not alone in your grief. And that it’s ok to wrestle with the hard reality of loss and where God was and is in it all. WRITE THE WORD JOURNALS If you resonate with the things that Diana shares in this episode -- about how hard it was for her to open her bible or to pray in this season of loss when she was experiencing so much anger and doubt and confusion about who God is, The Write the Word Journals might be a perfect solution for you. This tool provides a simple way to interact with God, to write down all those thoughts and to spend time thinking about just a small portion of scripture. I do believe that even when our faith feels weak or even non-existent or when the doubts loom large, spending time, even a few minutes in God’s Word and journaling out your thoughts can be the exact place where healing can be found. To check out all the details about these Write the Word Journals (as well as a generous coupon code) head to www.themorning.com/cwm.

Listen in as I spend some time with Brooke Stone whose son Sawyer, was diagnosed with Trisomy 13. Brooke shares helpful and practical thoughts about Trisomy 13 and her experience of carrying a baby to term that had a life-limiting diagnosis. She shares invaluable wisdom about the decisions that need to be made, how to ensure the best possible medical care, what she did to prepare for her son’s birth, what she packed in her hospital bag and even the sweet and memorable ways she celebrated him after he was born. We talk about hard and valuable things like the value of communicating expectations to those who are walking along side you and listen to the end to hear her priceless and incredibly helpful advice for marriage in the midst of loss and grief. Brooke is tender and kind and communicates seemingly impossible hope in our time together; to hear a mom who has walked through such loss say “God showed me His goodness and His mercy through my son’s life. I was able to enjoy things I never thought I would be able to enjoy.” is just a massive grace to those of us listening and I am so grateful. No matter what brought you here today, I pray that you hear the hope and the grace in Brooke’s story. That you are reminded that even amidst brokenness there is joy to be had. > FREE DEVOTIONAL If you are in a place where hope feels impossible and joy feels unthinkable, if you are full of uncertainty and doubt and confusion about who God is in the face of your loss, my biggest piece of advice would be to spend time in God’s Word. It doesn’t have to complicated or overly spiritual, just getting to know the God of the Bible who can bring about true healing to a broken heart. I know how difficult opening the Bible can be amidst grief so I created a simple resource for you -- a free 7 day devotional called Hope for the Hurting. I wrote this mini devotional specifically for women who have experienced the loss of a baby, 7 days of bible passages with a short devotion and prayer -- to download that free resource, simply head over to themorning.com/devotional. And if you aren’t quite sure what to think about this christian faith, if reading the Bible isn’t something you have ever done before, or if opening the Bible just feels impossible right now, maybe give this a try. It’s super simple way to be introduced or re-introduced to this faith and God we talk about so much here. Either way, I pray that resource blesses you. Again, you can find that free 7 day devotional at themorning.com/devotional And one final reminder before we get started, all the resources Brooke mentions in today’s episode will be listed in the show notes, to find those simply head to: themorning.com/episode050. -- EPISODE 050 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode050 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I spend some time with Elizabeth Bloomquist who’s daughter, Isabelle was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 after early prenatal testing around 11 weeks. Elizabeth shares very helpful and practical wisdom in this episode about Trisomy 18, what it is and how you can advocate for your baby if you have been given a similar diagnosis. She talks very practically about who you will need on your care team, the decisions you will need to make, why creating a birth plan was helpful and resources she used to make sure all of those things were in place. And while those things are incredibly necessary and I am so grateful for the tangible help this episode will provide for women facing a trisomy diagnosis, the most beautiful part of this episode was hearing Elizabeth talk about her daughter -- how much she loves her and how because of her, everything has changed -- in the best kind of way. Elizabeth speaks with a deep-rooted joy and a confident hope that is sure to encourage anyone listening who has received a life-limiting diagnosis for their baby. If that’s you today, I pray this episode is a gentle reminder that you are not alone. There are women who have walked this road and who want to help you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE If you are feeling alone today and are looking for a safe place to share what you are going through, a place where you will be understood in this season of loss -- come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place where you will find women who have been through loss and understand. A place where you can share honestly about how you are doing and ask questions to women who can give practical wisdom because they have been there too. To join this free community, simply head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com -- all the details for how to join are right there. We would love to have you join us, we would love to remind you that you are not alone. -- EPISODE 049 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode049 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I spend some time with Kathryn Ann Casey -- a mom to 4 children here and 3 in heaven, a woman who’s journey to motherhood and in motherhood has been full of heartache and loss and grief. And yet, after experiencing so much suffering she speaks with such tenderness and peace and reminds listeners of the joy that can be had even in the midst of suffering. Kathryn experienced 2 miscarriages, her son, Peter, has a rare and life-threatening genetic condition called SPINT2 and her daughter Celeste died during birth at 37 weeks from anencephaly. In our time together Kathryn shares wisdom specifically for women who have received a life-limiting diagnosis for their baby (she even explains why she prefers that term over terminal or fatal), she shares with her why she made the decision to carry her daughter to term but she also helps us understand the struggle she had with making that decision. She gives helpful wisdom to those who may love someone who is grieving and very tangible advice on how to walk older siblings through the death of a baby. And her answer to “is there anything you would do differently” may surprise you -- but it is honest and helpful and full of much wisdom. Listen for that around the 38-39 minute mark. This episode is full of practical wisdom, but more than that it is a reminder that joy can be had even amidst the worst of circumstances. That we can find the good, even in the pain. And most of all, I pray this episode reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and that you are more loved than you can ever imagine. YOU ARE NOT ALONE If you are feeling alone today and are looking for a safe place to share what you are going through, a place where you will be understood in this season of loss -- come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. A place where you will find women who have been through loss and understand. A place where you can share honestly about how you are doing and ask questions to women who can give practical wisdom because they have been there too. To join this free community, simply head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com -- all the details for how to join are right there. We would love to have you join us, we would love to remind you that you are not alone. -- EPISODE 048 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode048 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I chat with Laura Moore -- a mama who endured the heartbreaking journey of knowing the baby she carried would most likely not live more than a few hours, days at the most, after birth. Laura’s son Hudson was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 and in this episode she shares honestly about her pregnancy, what it was like to prepare for his birth and the tangible ways she did so, how she celebrated his life while he was alive and why maternity photos were incredibly meaningful to her. Laura also talks very specifically about the resources that were most helpful to her as she planned for Hudson’s birth as well as how she went about planning a funeral for her son and the role her friends and family played in that process. Laura spends some time recounting the day her son was born and marvels at what a beautiful day that was. If you or someone you love is walking the journey of carrying a baby that will not live beyond birth -- this episode is both practically helpful and honestly hopeful. I pray that no matter what brought you here today, this episode would serve as a reminder that you are never, ever alone in this journey and that you are more loved than you could ever imagine. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. The Cultivate team is offering Joyful Mourning listeners an exclusive discount. Head to www.cultivatewhatmatters.com/JoyfulMourning to order your Write the Word journal today and receive 10% off with the code JOYFULMOURNING. -- EPISODE 047 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode047 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I chat with Natalie Sanders, a mama who experienced pre-term labor, delivered her baby boy Axel at 24 weeks and said goodbye after he lived for just 24 days. Natalie and I talk about everything from marriage to friendship and the very beautiful but feasible and practical ways her family is honoring and remembering Axel in their every day life. Natalie also shares how she has grown as and is growing still as a result of Axel’s life and death. I think what she has to say about finding purpose in the loss will encourage anyone listening who is new to this grief journey. This episode is full of very practical wisdom and just genuine honest conversation from two moms who have had to bury their sons. I pray that even more than practical advice or honest conversation, this episode would serve as a reminder that you are never, ever alone in this grief journey and that you truly are more loved than you could ever imagine. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. The Cultivate team is offering Joyful Mourning listeners an exclusive discount. Head to www.cultivatewhatmatters.com/JoyfulMourning to order your Write the Word journal today and receive 10% off with the code JOYFULMOURNING. -- EPISODE 046 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode046 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I chat with Mary Margaret Powitz, a wise mama who has walked through the loss of her baby girl Helen. Mary Margaret shares incredible wisdom about her journey with grief, her wrestle with faith and God, and what she is learning right now about life after the loss of a baby. We talk about the enneagram and how our unique personalities grieved differently. We talk about all the ways she felt the most loved and cared for amidst her grief -- helpful for anyone listening who has a friend or family member walking through loss. We talk about the ways she is experiencing God redeem such tragedy -- and the ways she mentions might surprise you. And she is incredibly transparent about what her faith journey has looked like since the loss of her daughter. This episode is tender and honest and I am sure will be incredibly helpful to you. I pray that more than anything your time listening serves as a reminder that you are never, ever alone in this grief journey and that you truly are more loved than you could ever imagine. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. The Cultivate team is offering Joyful Mourning listeners an exclusive discount. Head to www.cultivatewhatmatters.com/JoyfulMourning to order your Write the Word journal today and receive 10% off with the code JOYFULMOURNING. -- EPISODE 045 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode045 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

If you are anything like me, you have wrestled with fear this week. Fear is a monster that wreaks havoc on a grieving heart. Keeping you up at night. Keeping you from finding rest. Keeping you from enjoying the gifts right in front of you. It can paralyze and debilitate and cause you to question everything that is good. In today’s episode I wanted to share 5 things I learned from Psalm 23 that remind me that this monster of fear actually has no control or power over me or you. I pray this episode reminds you that you are never, ever alone and that you truly are more loved than you could ever imagine. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. The Cultivate team is offering Joyful Mourning listeners an exclusive discount. Head to www.cultivatewhatmatters.com/JoyfulMourning to order your Write the Word journal today and receive 10% off with the code JOYFULMOURNING. -- EPISODE 044 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode044 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

This is a very special episode as it marks the 1 year birthday of this podcast. Exactly 1 year ago I launched this podcast out into the world. And while this endeavor has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, I am so grateful for the opportunity to do so -- to bring you a tangible reminder that you are not alone in your grief and that you are loved deeply by a God who has not forgotten you or left you, a God who is working to bring about healing to your broken heart. Today I want to spend a few minutes sharing why I started this podcast, the same why that kept me going when producing and publishing yet another episode felt nearly impossible, and 3 very specific hopes and prayers I have for you, my joyful mourner listeners, as we move forward into year 2 of this podcast. I pray this episode does what each episode before it did, reminds you that you are not alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. The Cultivate team is offering Joyful Mourning listeners an exclusive discount. Head to www.cultivatewhatmatters.com/JoyfulMourning to order your Write the Word journal today and receive 10% off with the code JOYFULMOURNING. -- EPISODE 043 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode043 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I spend time with Megan Hillukka. She shares the story of her daughter Aria and the subsequent trauma she faced as a mother whose 15 month old daughter had died in her sleep. Megan shares her journey with PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, and gives invaluable wisdom about getting help and the specific therapy that has brought her healing. We also spend some time talking about how you can love and support someone who is walking through trauma as well as what it practically looked like for Megan to help her older children work through the grief of losing their baby sister. Anyone who has suffered loss has experienced trauma and yet we rarely associate post traumatic stress disorder with the loss of a baby so I am incredibly grateful for Megan sharing her experience and wisdom with us in this episode. I pray this episode provides freedom in your grief journey as you are reminded that it is both helpful and important to get the help you need when you are grieving. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. To check out all the details about the Write the Word Journals, as well as a generous 10% coupon code, head to www.themorning.com/cwm -- EPISODE 042 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode042 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as Lindsey Dennis shares honestly about what it was like to receive a fatal diagnosis for her daughter Sophia, to choose to carry her to term, and the ways she celebrated and cherished Sophia’s life in the days she did have with her. Lindsey’s story of loss and grief did not end with Sophia and she would go on to receive a second fatal prenatal diagnosis with her second daughter Dasah. This episode is real and and raw and hearing Lindsey’s story flooded my heart with familiar questions about God’s goodness and kindness and purpose for such loss. Lindsey redirected my heart and she will redirect yours too as she shared hope-filled truth that is helpful to any woman walking through loss and grief. While I cannot begin to understand God’s purposes for such pain I am grateful for the wisdom that Lindsey has gained through her suffering and for her graciously sharing it with us in this episode. I promise that this episode will leave you changed for the better friend -- reminding you that you have not been forgotten by God and you are never alone in this grief journey. -- Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for supporting The Joyful Mourning Podcast. Cultivate What Matters are the creators of the PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner as well as the Write the Word Journals -- two of my most favorite tools for intentional, purposeful living. For the grieving mama who may find opening the Bible to be too difficult in this season, The Write the Word Journals are a perfect solution. This tool takes the overwhelm out of opening the Bible and provides a simple way to consistently spend time reading God’s Word -- where I believe true healing can be found. To check out all the details about the Write the Word Journals, as well as a generous 10% coupon code, head to www.themorning.com/cwm -- EPISODE 041 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode041 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as my special guest Aubrey Tollefson shares her story of loss after loss after loss but the remarkable way she found hope and healing through intentionally choosing gratitude amidst an unbelievable amount of grief. During our time together Aubrey and I talk about what pregnancy after recurrent loss is like, why she couldn’t even bring herself to buy maternity pants and why she hates the phrase ‘pregnancy is a natural thing.’ Aubrey also gets really honest about the complex nature of experiencing both joy and loss all at the same time and what she would say to another mom who is walking through such a dichotomy. And make sure to listen all the way to the end when she shares a piece of absolutely invaluable wisdom. No matter what has brought you here today, I am sure that this interview will resonate with you as it did with me. -- EPISODE 040 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode040 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #39. This episode is one of my favorite episodes to date and I am sure the words spoken by our guest will leave you changed. Listen in as I spend some time talking with Nancy Guthrie -- 20 years ago this wise woman experienced the loss of her daughter Hope and soon after she walked through loss a second time with her son Gabriel. Her story of loss is powerful and heart wrenching and will likely stir up questions about God’s character and His goodness amidst such loss -- at least that’s what Nancy’s story does in me. Nancy’s answers to my questions are challenging to hear but while they are challenging they are incredibly helpful and hopeful and truthful. This episode is a bit different than my others in that Nancy is farther removed from her suffering than all of our other guests and that is so helpful to us today, her voice on this can be trusted as she has lived it and walked it for so many years and time often offers a different and wiser perspective -- one that can see just a bit further down the road. Listen in to this woman who loved her babies and loves them still, you can hear her heart ache for eternity, you can hear her empathy and compassion for other women walking a similar journey of pregnancy loss or infant loss. You can also hear her love and trust in a God who knows all and sees all and is above all. A truth that feels difficult in the face of such loss and yet Nancy proclaims it with such certainty, a certainty that I am sure will encourage your heart today. Nancy mentions several helpful resources throughout our time together and I have linked them all in the show notes for this episode. You can find those over at themorning.com/episode039. DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 7 DAY DEVOTIONAL www.themorning.com/devotional -- EPISODE 039 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode039 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I talk with Denise Wolfe and Johanna Mutz. Cousins, best friends and founders of Laurel Box, a shop that offers thoughtful gifts for women who have experienced loss. Listen in as Johanna shares her story of miscarriage and all the things she would go back and say to the grieving Johanna then. Things like: “I wish I had given myself the rest I needed. I wish I had let myself be human.” If you are walking through a miscarriage right now, the wisdom Johanna offers in this episode is priceless. Denise shares what she has learned from walking alongside several friends and family members through loss, and what it means to really love someone who is grieving. Her tangible, practical advice is incredibly helpful and not at all burdensome. If you have ever wondered how to help your grieving friend or family member, this episode is for you. Johanna and Denise offer all the wisdom and practical advice for how to do so and how to do it well. These two women are such a joy and a gift to those who are hurting, and their passion for those who have experienced loss is genuine and from a place of truly desiring that those who feel broken would find healing and comfort. I am so grateful for these women and the way they are bringing light to dark places. You can find their beautiful shop and thoughtful hand-curated gift boxes over at www.laurelbox.com. Enjoy a 15% off discount at laurelbox with coupon code: TheMorning. -- EPISODE 038 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode038 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as I talk with Lianna Davis about what life and faith after she experienced the death of her daughter Noelle. Lianna shares about the moments immediately following her daughter’s death as well as the weeks and months and years that followed. She talks about how her faith was challenged and how she has grown in her understanding of who God is as a result of having walked through death and grief. We discuss difficult questions that one faces when confronted with death, questions about the truth of who God is, His character and His goodness and His presence. And Lianna answers questions like  “how could God use something this painful for His sovereign purposes? For good? How could He have a purpose for this?” She talks about a season of really grappling with whether or not all that she believed was even true -- exploring the thought that “maybe there are other possibilities besides Christianity maybe this isn’t really the only way and maybe i don’t need to hold so fast to these truths i have professed my entire life.” Listen in to hear how this wise woman reconciled those questions and in the end could say these words: “I just come back to the cross again, in the mind of the Lord that he would have such wisdom to turn such glory and such salvation from such a death -- that gives me the hope that He can do the same in our lives. That He can turn our pain into something that will ultimately bring honor and glory to Him.” Lianna’s knowledge and understanding of Scripture and theology is challenging in the best kind of way -- especially in light of what she has experienced. She trusts God and can say He is good even in the face of losing her daughter. If the Christian faith is something that feels foreign and unknown to you, or if you just aren’t at a place where you can say that “God is good” right now; I want you to know that I’m praying for you today and I think that while it may be challenging to hear or even believe this podcast episode has the potential to be very helpful to you. Know that I am praying for each and every one of you -- that God would meet you right where you are and remind you of His great love for you today. --- FREE DEVOTIONAL During out time together Lianna says “don’t let a season of doubt take you away from scripture”so if you are in a season where opening your bible feels too hard or it’s something you’ve never done before I wanted to make it really simple for you. I have a free 7 day devotional that I wrote specifically for women who have experienced the loss of a baby, 7 days of bible passages with a short devotion and prayer -- to download that free resource, simply head over to www.themorning.com/devotional And again, if you aren’t quite sure what to think about this christian faith or if  reading the Bible isn’t something you have ever done before, maybe give this a try. It’s super simple way to be introduced to this faith we talk about so much here. Either way, I pray that resource blesses you. -- EPISODE 037 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode037 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning

Listen in as chat with Lacey Rabalais about miscarriage and finding joy amidst the mourning. We talk about all the things, life after loss, pregnancy after loss, and how to love someone who is grieving in a way that is helpful and meaningful. Lacey also what she has learned since walking through loss and all the ways how she has grown and changed as a result of walking through the pain of miscarriage. She offers so much honesty and hope for a grieving mother and I am grateful for her tenderness and empathy for those walking this journey. --- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? Join The Joyful Mourning Community! If you feel alone today and like there is no one in your life who understands what you are going through, come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. This community is a place where you will find women who have been through loss and understand what you are going through first hand. A place where you can talk honestly about how you are doing and ask questions to women who can give practical wisdom because they have been there too. To join the The Joyful Mourning Community, simply go to www.themorning.com/community for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you friend. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 036 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode036

Listen in as my special guest Natalie Young shares the story of her daughter Paisley. After a perfectly healthy pregnancy, Natalie experienced every mother’s worst nightmare when, at 23 weeks pregnant, Paisley’s heart unexpectedly stopped beating. Listen in as she shares how she found joy amidst the mourning. She also shares practical resources that were helpful to her individually in the days, weeks and months that followed her daughter’s death, as well as very helpful wisdom and resources for couples grieving the loss of a child. Natalie also shares what she has learned since walking through this horrific experience, how she has grown and changed and what she would say to a grieving mother walking through this pain today. Natalie is full of such tender empathy and grace as she speaks and I am so grateful that she shared her story with us today. -- RESOURCES MENTIONED IN EPISODE 035 Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko -- FREE 7 DAY DEVOTIONAL: HOPE FOR THE HURTING I wanted to share a resource with you that I thought might be helpful. In this episode Natalie talked how healing it was for her to work through a devotional that was specific to loss in the days following her daughter’s death; I wanted to tell you about a free 7 day devotional that I wrote specifically for women who have experienced the loss of a baby. 7 days of bible passages paired with a short devotion and prayer — if that sounds like something that would be helpful to you, simply head over to themorning.com/devotional to download yours. And if you aren’t quite sure about this faith and God thing or reading the Bible isn’t something you have ever done before, maybe give this a try. It’s a super simple way to be introduced to this faith we talk about so much here. Either way, I pray this free resource blesses you. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 035 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode035

Welcome to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #34. In this week’s episode I get the honor of spending some time with Jana Bishop. She is a wife and a mom, a photographer and business owner. Jana has walked through so much pain and loss and yet joy just radiates from her voice -- I dare you not to smile in this episode, her joy, even after heartbreak after heartbreak is simply contagious. Listen in as Jana shares her journey of motherhood that has been wrought with loss beginning with her first pregnancy and then years of secondary infertility following the birth of her son Rowan. Jana’s story doesn’t end with a tidy bow that’s all wrapped up yet she speaks with tenderness and grace and like I said before, immense joy. What an encouragement and example she was to me during this interview and I am sure she will be to you as well. DO YOU FEEL ALONE? During our time together Jana says these words: “In order to heal and to grow amidst the pain, it is necessary to have other people you can talk with honestly and know that they’re going to understand what you’re saying without you even having to say it.” If you are looking for those people, the ones you can talk with honestly about how you are doing and know that they will understand -- come join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community. Simply head to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com for all the details on how to join. We would love to have you join us, we would love to be that safe place for you. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 034 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode034

This week's special guest was the first woman I ever knew who had experienced a loss similar to mine. Her daughter Grace had died just days before my son and she reached out to me almost immediately. While we had mutual friends we had never met in person and yet we would now be linked together forever - members of a club that no woman ever wants to be a part of. She became my first grieving mom friend and we would email back and forth dozens of times in the following months and years, telling each other how we were praying for one another and thinking of each other’s babies. Today’s guest was such a gift to me and I am sure she will be a gift to you as well. Her name is Heather Young, a mama to 4 living miracle children, a mama who was told she would never be able to get pregnant on her own. Listen in as she shares the story of her daughter Grace and how losing her made everything else in life infinitely more precious and brought her to a more dependent relationship with Jesus.   Make sure you listen all the way to the end because the last few things Heather shares is absolute gold. Pure grace-filled, hope-filled wisdom that I know will encourage you today. And lastly, if you love someone who is grieving, Heather shares a bit of wisdom for you as well in the last few minutes of the podcast. No matter why you are here, I am grateful you are listening and I pray this episode encourages you and reminds you that you are not alone. DO YOU FEEL ALONE? If you feel alone today; if you are hurting and looking for someone who really understands what you are walking through, come join our free community by clicking here: The Joyful Mourning Community. There you will find hundreds of women who understand this pain first hand and can offer support and friendship and care. Come join us, I’d love to see you there. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 033 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode033

Listen in as I talk with an old friend, Sarah Sandel, who is wise and tender and just profoundly gifted with her words. Sarah’s view of God and love for God, even after such heartache is an example and encouragement to me today. Sarah shares her experience of 3 miscarriages and the loss of her 4 babies, she offers hope-filled validation for women who have experienced a 1st trimester miscarriage and may find themselves believing that this life was too short to matter; as she said: "It’s never JUST a miscarriage. This is a life that we can honor and that we can be thankful for, no matter how brief." Sarah also gives a few wise, wise words about how to handle the hard and disappointing things people sometimes say or do when you’re hurting. And if you are listening because you love someone grieving -- Sarah gives an abundance of wisdom for you in this episode about what is truly meaningful and helpful when your heart is breaking. Lastly, if you are fighting to believe God is good today, listen all the way to the end when Sarah finishes this sentence: "The goodness of God is not defined by…" Her definition of God’s goodness is challenging in the best kind of way. No matter what brought you here today, I am sure this episode is going to encourage you and challenge you and maybe make you wrestle a bit with who God is amidst your grief but it will also remind you that you are loved and that you aren’t alone in this journey. DO YOU FEEL ALONE? If you feel alone today; if you are hurting and need someone who really understands what you are walking through, come join our free community by going to www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com. You’ll find hundreds of women who understand this pain first hand and can offer support and friendship and care. Come join us, I’d love to see you there. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK If you love this podcast, would you do me a favor? Take just a few seconds after the episode to leave a review. Reviews help me to know that this content is helpful to you and reviews also ensure that other women like you can easily find this resource. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 032 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode032

Your mothering may look different than those around you or what you ever imagined it would be. But this day is for you too. Today I acknowledge you who are hurting this year. I see you. I have not forgotten. God has not forgotten. YOU are not forgotten. To the woman looking at yet another negative pregnancy test; I see you. To the woman holding only a memory of a heartbeat, I see you. To the woman staring at a gravestone, I see you. I see your bravery every time you smile and every time you get out of bed and every time you hold a baby that isn’t yours and every time you give the honest answer about how many children you have. I see your sacrifice when you show up to church or to work or to your best friend’s baby shower even though it hurts like hell. I see your selflessness when you put another’s needs above your own, even when your heart is breaking. I see your compassion when you weep over another’s story of loss and heartache. I see your faith when you praise the God who could have stopped this pain. I see you. And I am so grateful for your example. Your example has changed me. On a day when you might feel forgotten or lost or unsure of your place, know this: You are a mother. I see you. And I am so grateful for you. And more importantly, God sees you. Every sleepless night, every tear. Every single one. Psalm 56.8 says: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle."  On this day that feels heavy and hard, I hope you know and treasure this above all else: that you are loved and seen today by a God who is powerful enough to heal your broken heart, a God who is ever-present, never leaving you alone, a God who is Sovereign, always in control, a God who is faithful, committed and loyal and constant, unwavering, a God who loves you unconditionally, with a never stopping never giving up unbreaking always and forever kind of love, a God who is attentive and aware. He sees you, He knows. And He has never left your side and He never will. Because He loves you. I pray you know and believe today that you are more loved than you could ever imagine. Happy Mother’s Day sweet friend. I’m praying for you today. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/mothers-day-hurting-mama/

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 05 : GOD IS ATTENTIVE The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in Spirit. Psalm 34:15, 17-18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, Psalm 145:20a WHAT DOES THIS TRUTH, THAT GOD IS ATTENTIVE, MEAN FOR ME? It means that I can trust that He sees me, that He knows, that He is aware. It means that God is alert, watchful, observant, mindful of my life and not just generally but very specifically -- even about details that really wouldn’t matter even to us, like how many times we will sit down and stand up today. (Psalm 139) He is not a distant God who is unaware. In fact, the opposite is true. He is near. He hears your cry. Even better, He knows your words before you even say them (again, Psalm 139). God’s care for you is so deep and so thorough He never misses a step or a word -- you are fully known by Him and fully loved. Maybe you feel unseen today. Unknown. Like no one around you knows how you feel or what you are walking through, how hard it was to get up this morning, how hard impossible joy feels, how big your doubts and how little your faith. Maybe you feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, that God isn’t listening. Maybe you are wondering if He is even real. What these verses tell us is that God is real and God is aware, He sees and He hears -- He is attentive to the cries of His children. And that means we can call out to Him knowing with full assurance that He hears us and He knows. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode06

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 05 : GOD IS LOVE Romans 8:35, 37-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What does the truth that God is love, mean for us today: It means that He is unconditionally committed to us. It means He would do anything for you and He showed that by sending Jesus to die on our behalf, there is no greater assurance of His love or His commitment to keep His promises than that moment on the cross. It is God’s essential nature to love and He shows that by loving a people who do not deserve it. A people who by their own nature are rebellious towards Him. This kind of love that is essential to God’s nature is not a feeling kind of love, God is bigger than mere sentiment. Rather this is sacrificial love. A love that dies for the sake of another. A love that forgives. A love that chases after those in need of rescue. A love that loves the unloveable. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” And this isn’t a generic blanket of love. No this is a personal and individual love. God loves you personally. That means you can trust Him with your life. With your grief. With your pain. With your deepest desires and your deepest fears. You can run to Him because He loves you more profoundly than you could ever imagine. This unconditional kind of love we see here in Romans 8 means there is nothing that could ever get in the way of His love for you. Not even your own self - not your anger or frustration or doubt or fear towards Him. Nothing can separate you from His love. He is unconditionally devoted to you -- whatever it takes. I love the way Sally Lloyd Jones describes God’s love for His children as - “never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever kind of love.” --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode05

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 04 : GOD IS FAITHFUL Psalm 36:5, 7-9 "Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” What does the truth that God is faithful, mean for me and you: First, what does it mean that God is faithful? It means that He is perfectly loyal, constant, true, devoted, unwavering, steadfast, dedicated, committed. So if God is faithful, committed, devoted, constant, unwavering and loyal that means I can trust Him to always keep His promises. That He will do what He has said He will do. He will accomplish what He sets out to accomplish. He keeps His promises. He promises to be my refuge and my strength. So that means that I can run to Him for refuge because I know he will always be there. I never have to doubt His constant presence. He promises that He will never leave me so that means I can go about my day knowing I am not alone in this. He promises to bring good from this heartache. That means I can joyfully search for the ways He is working to bring about redemption. He promises a future and a hope and an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading that He is guarding and keeping safe by His power so I can look toward the future knowing that my present circumstance is not the end. We see through human eyes and humanity is never perfectly loyal or perfectly committed or perfectly constant so it is difficult to imagine a God who is. But the truth is: His faithfulness is not fickle. It does not depend on our ability to love Him in return or our ability to live a faithful life. He is faithful because He is faithful -- His constancy and commitment is not dependent on how big our faith is or how good we are or how well we are handling our grief. It is because He is a good God who’s faithfulness is without measure. It reaches to the heavens. It has no bounds. There is nothing you could do or have done that would ever limit His faithfulness or His love towards you. And because His faithfulness never wavers you can trust Him to keep His promises. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode04

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 03 : GOD IS SOVEREIGN Daniel 4:34-35 "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”" Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Psalm 135:5-7 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. What does this truth about who God is, that He is Sovereign, mean for me and mean for you? First, let’s talk about what the word Sovereign means -- if we were to look it up in a dictionary we would see “supreme ruler” or possessing “supreme or ultimate authority or power” But what does that mean when we apply it to God? It means that He is the ultimate source of all power, authority and everything that exists. It means that there is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority because He is over all and above all. He has no limitations. This attribute of God, His being sovereign, over all and above all, supreme and ultimate power and authority, is what makes Him superior to all other gods and makes Him, and Him alone, worthy of worship. Worthy of our trust. So what does that mean for you and me today; how does God being sovereign help me in the middle of my pain? In the middle of my paralyzing fear? It means that if He is over all and above all, and if nothing happens in the universe that is outside of His authority or His control then I am safe. It means I don’t have to be afraid or live in fear because He is in control. It means I can live with a joy even amidst my pain because I know that He has not forgotten me, He sees me, He loves me more deeply than I can ever imagine so I can trust that what is in front of me can be used for my good and His glory. Even when it hurts. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode03

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 02 : GOD IS EVER PRESENT "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you." Psalm 139:7-12 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Isaiah 43:2 What does this truth about who God is, that He is Ever-Present, mean for me and mean for you? It means that He is always with me and He is always with you. It means we are never alone. It means that He doesn’t expect us to face the pain and the hurt and the brokenness on our own. It means that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Psalm 23 It means you never have to be afraid. Because the God who is All-Powerful, the God who is never overwhelmed, the God who has never faced a challenge too difficult for Him, the God who says “Nothing is too hard for me” is right there with you. He has never left your side. He is with you in the fire and in the flood and by His power He is guarding you and protecting you. You are safe because He is there. You are never, ever, ever alone friend. And he never meant for you to walk this road on your own. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode02

Mother's Day is especially painful when your heart is longing for a baby. So on this week leading up to Mother's Day, a week that feels difficult, impossible even, I imagine you might be feeling like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when he says: “in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints.” Maybe you feel far away from God. Maybe you feel like He is punishing you. Maybe you feel like He has forgotten to be gracious. Maybe you feel like His faithfulness has come to an end and that He is no longer compassionate. Spend the next few days with me as we diligently make an effort to remember the God we love and serve. Just like the Psalmist in Psalm 77 when, after his seemingly harsh lament towards God, says very decisively, “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’" (meaning I will call to mind all the ways I have seen Him work and what I know to be true from my past) and the psalmist goes on to say: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Let’s spend a few minutes together each morning this week intentionally remembering who God is and what that means for us personally. DAY 01 : GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17 What does this truth, that He is all-powerful, mean for me? It means that He can help me with anything and through anything. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing is impossible for Him. Nothing that stands as insurmountable for Him. Nothing, not one thing in the history of the world, that is overwhelming to God. Your pain is not too big for Him to heal. Neither is your relentless anxiety. Your restlessness and sleeplessness. Your deep fear. Your bitter jealousy. Your joyless heart. Your utter brokenness. None of it is too big for Him to heal and restore and make new. None of it overwhelms Him. Nothing is too hard for Him. You are not too much for Him. His strength and His wisdom are sufficient. He can do it. Maybe it’s because we have likened God to humanity that we forget His power. We see our inability, we feel our overwhelm, we sense our powerlessness and we mistakenly assume the same for God. But He is God. And we are not. May our inability point to His ability today. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning SPECIAL EPISODE 01 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/specialepisode01

Whether you are walking through infertility, miscarriage, infant loss or you are here because you love someone who is walking through that kind of grief -- the truth and wisdom shared in this episode will undoubtedly leave you changed. Listen in as my friend Gina Zeidler gives the most honest, tender and truth-filled interview. Gina is a wife, a mama, and an amazing photographer -- she is also a woman who has walked through years of infertility and two miscarriages. Her honesty about how she has grappled to believe that God is good amidst such pain and loss offers freedom to the woman who is fighting to believe in His goodness today. Her honesty about what she wishes people on the outside knew about infertility and baby loss is tangibly helpful for those who are desperately trying to help a grieving friend. Gina’s vulnerability and candid wise words are filled with such hope that I promise this interview will leave you different -- whether its the way you give yourself the freedom to ask for help when you’re hurting or the freedom to talk to God honestly or the freedom to realize, maybe for the first time, that God will bring about healing, that you will have joy again. Gina’s story isn’t wrapped up with a tidy bow and yet she speaks with joy and hope. I am sure that because of this, no matter where you are in this grief journey, this episode is sure to bless you. DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? In Gina’s final words to the listeners she encourages women who are grieving to find community. Find women who understand what this pain feels like. Women who can say "I know" and really mean it. Gina talks about how invaluable this kind of support is in the healing process. If you are listening today and you feel alone in your grief, come join our free online community by clicking here. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO IS GRIEVING? As we near Mother’s Day I just wanted to let you know about two things: 1. I have created a set of really beautiful instant download, printable greeting cards specifically for the grieving mother on Mother’s Day. One of the kindest and most generous things you can do for a grieving mother is tell her you love her on Mother’s Day; that you’re praying for her and remembering her. These cards will help you do that very thing. You can find those at shop.themorning.com/collections/mothers-day-cards. 2. If you are looking for a gift for your grieving friend this Mother’s Day, I have the perfect thing for you. Check out The Morning Gift Shop, a carefully curated gift guide for grieving mothers. You can find that over at www.themorning.com/giftshop. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 031 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode031

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #30. Listen in as I talk with my new friend Jenna Dail. Jenna is the founder of The Color Blue & Hope, a non-profit organization that provides comfort and care resources for women on bed rest in the form of Boxes of Hope. She founded this organization after experiencing a significant period of bed rest while pregnant with her twin boys, fighting to keep them alive. Jenna knows the pain of bed rest and she knows the pain of loss when bed rest doesn’t end the way you hope it would, with two healthy baby boys on the other side. During our time together, Jenna talks honestly about the realities of bed rest and the difficult reality of losing her twin boys. She shares openly about pregnancy after loss and gives a few very practical words of wisdom about walking through that season. We talk about the expectations we put on ourselves and on others while grieving and she shares the most valuable piece of wisdom her counselor gave her regarding those expectations. Jenna also talks about what it looked like for her to finally realize that she didn’t have to hide her grief from her older children and instead what a meaningful role it is to help them learn what it looks like to navigate hard things. Lastly, she shares why she started a non-profit and what she loves about it most may surprise you. This episode is sure to bring practical wisdom and freedom to your grief journey. DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? In this episode, Jenna shares how important it is to find a friend to talk to and walk through this journey with. If you feel alone and need a friend who understands the realities of life after losing a baby, come join our free online community by going to www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO IS GRIEVING? As we near Mother’s Day I just wanted to let you know about two things: 1. I have created a set of really beautiful instant download, printable greeting cards specifically for the grieving mother on Mother’s Day. One of the kindest and most generous things you can do for a grieving mother is tell her you love her on Mother’s Day; that you’re praying for her and remembering her. These cards will help you do that very thing. You can find those at shop.themorning.com/collections/mothers-day-cards. 2. If you are looking for a gift for your grieving friend this Mother’s Day, I have the perfect thing for you. Check out The Morning Gift Shop, a carefully curated gift guide for grieving mothers. You can find that over at www.themorning.com/giftshop. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com GIFT SHOP FOR GRIEVING MOTHERS: www.themorning.com/giftshop THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 030 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode030

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #29. In this week’s episode I have the privilege of spending some time with Josefina Sanders. Josefina is a writer an artist who has used words and art to process through the grief of losing a baby. Josefina shares her story of miscarriage and the ways she found healing. Shes talks about the value of journaling through the grief and a few very simple and practical tips for getting started with journaling if that is something that is new to you. She also shares invaluable wisdom about walking through grief with a spouse or partner -- how important it is to ask questions like “how are you?” even when the other person is processing so differently than you are. And as we end our time together Josefina gives so much freedom to women who are grieving by saying “Be gentle with yourself. Give yourself time and space to grieve.” This episode is sure to bless you today as Josefina’s wisdom is beyond her years and her joy is contagious. I hope you love listening as much as I loved chatting with my new friend. DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? Josefina mentioned in our time together was how helpful it was to find women who understood the pain of miscarriage when she was walking through her grief. If you are alone in your grief and just need another woman who has been there and understands, come join The Joyful Mourning Community. It’s a free online community created to be a safe place for women just like you to be reminded they aren’t alone in this, to find another woman who understands, who can listen and pray and offer wisdom and just be there so you don’t have to feel alone anymore. Come join us by going to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 029 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode029

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode 028. In this week’s episode I get to spend some time chatting with Libby Marler, a wife, a mother and an experienced counselor who recently set out to specifically help families who have received difficult news such as fatal diagnosis’. Libby shares her own story of her daughter Meredith, what it was like to receive the news that Meredith had a life-threatening congenital heart defect, what it was like to lose her after complications from an open heart surgery and what it has been like since then, learning to live without her. Libby shares an incredible amount of wisdom about walking through grief -- wisdom that will bring you freedom in your own grief today. We talk about bringing all of our emotions, all of our feelings, even the messy, ugly ones, to God and how He wants us to bring those things to Him. We talk about the importance of community and friendships and saying out loud how we are doing and how much healing takes place when that happens. And if you are here because you love someone who is grieving -- we have so much wisdom for you in this episode too and we even share the one question we think you should be asking to someone who is hurting. I’m so grateful you are here friend and I pray this episode blesses you today. -- DO YOU FEEL ALONE IN YOUR GRIEF? As I mentioned, and as you will hear, Libby and I spend time talking about the value of community, of friendships, of having a safe place to process how we are doing. If you are looking for that very thing, if you feel alone in your grief and just need another person to listen, come join The Joyful Mourning Community. It’s an online community of women just like you who can listen and pray and offer wisdom and just be there so you don’t have to feel alone anymore. Come join us by going to thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com. I’ll see you there. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 028 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode028

In this episode I get to spend some time with my friend Jess Connolly as she shares the story of her miscarriage. Listen in as Jess gives invaluable wisdom about loss and grief. She shares with us the most helpful advice she was given after her miscarriage, that came her mom; advice that I wish every woman could hear and allow to inform the way in which they grieve. We talk about the dichotomy of fear and joy that co-exist when a woman who has experienced miscarriage gets pregnant again. We talk about what it looks like to give your spouse the space to grieve and we even talk about the enneagram.* Jess also shares one of the most tender and encouraging visual images that will remind an aching heart that though there may be death in our physical bodies, God is still growing something good in the spiritual. We talk about the value of saying out loud the fears or insecurities or lies we are believing about our grief and the importance of finding a safe place to say those things. If you are need of a safe place to voice those things, come join us at The Joyful Mourning Community -- created to be that very thing, a safe place where you can feel known and understood in your grief. A place where other women who understand what you are going through can remind you that there is no shame in the way you are processing your grief. To join the The Joyful Mourning community go here: www.themorning.com/community. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 027 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode027

Episode 026. In this episode I talk with Ashlee Karasch, a wife and a mama, who has walked through multiple miscarriages. In this episode Ashlee shares her story of loss and how during that season of intense grief her faith was tested as she questioned everything she thought she believed. Ashlee shares honestly about how she found healing, what advice she would give to a grieving couple, and what it was like to try to get pregnant again. She also talks about how she found help amidst her loss and her answer might surprise you. Lastly, we talk about the importance of finding women who understand what this grief feels like and giving them permission to speak into you life. If you are looking for women who understand what you are walking through, if you feel alone in your grief, I want to invite you to join The Joyful Mourning Community -- a place where women who are walking through the grief of baby loss, can feel known and understood. Come join this hope-filled, honest community by going to themorning.com/community. This episode is full of honest and candid wisdom, helpful for any mother who is walking through the loss of a baby. No matter where you are on your grief journey, I pray this episode will bless you. --- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 026 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode026

In Episode 025 I have the privilege of talking with Justine Fulton, a mama who has had to do the unthinkable – plan a funeral for her 5 month old baby boy who tragically died of SIDS. Memorial or funeral services are not something we think about until the moment it becomes absolutely necessary and in that moment all the decisions that need to be made can be absolutely overwhelming. In this episode Justine and I spend our time together talking about all the beautiful details she implemented for her son’s memorial service giving ideas for simple ways to make the hardest of moments a bit sweeter and a bit more intentional. If you or someone you know is in the midst of planning a funeral for a baby there are multiple free resources including a free 10 page planning guide for you at themorning.com/episode025 THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 025 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode025

In Episode 024 I’ll be sharing a little about my own experiences of pregnancy after loss as well as a few thoughts about how to deal with that fear that can so easily plague our hearts and minds. And at the end of today’s episode I’ll be doing a little Q&A session with real questions submitted by listeners like you about pregnancy after loss. I pray this episode is helpful and hopeful for you today. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 024 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode024

This episode is truly one of the most honest and tender interviews I’ve done and I am so grateful for the wisdom and hope shared in this episode. My special guest is Sharon McKeeman, a mother to 7 children, 4 here on earth and 3 in heaven. During our time together, Sharon talks about what it looked like and looks like still to fight for a healthy marriage while grieving, and how to do that when you are grieving so differently than your spouse; we talk about ways to love a grieving friend and Sharon gives a few incredibly simple but absolutely invaluable tips for how to do that. We talk about how helpful and healing naming your baby can be even if you never got the chance to meet him or her and if you only have a few minutes you should skip to the end when she says this about grieving mothers, ‘We are strong. We are warriors. We have gone through so much pain and so much suffering. And yet there is so much beauty to be had from it.” I hope you know that to be true today, that you are strong even when you don’t feel that to be true and that you might see a bit of beauty from the ashes today. I pray this episode blesses you. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 023 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode023

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, episode #022. Today Meg Walker and I are talking about Postpartum Depression, specifically in women who have experienced the loss of a baby -- what the symptoms are, how to reach out for help and most importantly multiple reminders that there is no shame if you are experiencing this. You haven’t done anything wrong. We share trusted resources that are available to you, resources that will bring help and healing, and those are listed for you in the show notes for this episode as well. Neither Meg or myself are trained professionals in the areas of postpartum depression, we are simply approaching this topic from a place of having been there, from knowing first hand what its like and providing a bit of limited research in the hopes that if the symptoms we will talk about today sound like you, that you would know you are not alone and there is no shame in reaching out for help. There are resources available to help you in the show notes for this episode and you can find those at www.themorning.com/episode022 . THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 022 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode022

In Episode 021 I get to talk to Meg Walker about the anxiety and fear and depression that can be so pervasive after experiencing the loss of a baby. Meg is a former guest on the show who has become a dear friend, you can hear more of her personal story of loss in her interview in Episode 010. In today’s episode Meg and I share honestly about what fear and anxiety looked like in our own lives after our losses. We do our best to give words of honest hope as well as practical advice for those in the midst of it. Neither Meg or myself are trained professionals in the areas of anxiety or depression, we are simply approaching this topic from a place of having been there, from knowing first hand just how debilitating and paralyzing the fear can be. Our hope is that if you are battling fear and anxiety today that you would know you are not alone. There are resources available to help you find peace amidst your debilitating fear and I have listed those in the show notes for this episode, you can find those at www.themorning.com/episode020. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.thejoyfulmourningcommunity.com THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 020 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/episode020

Welcome to The Joyful Mourning Podcast, episode #20. In this episode I am going to take a look back at 2018 and share all the good that happened here last year. I am going to share with you what I am celebrating from 2018, all the great things that happened this past year, as well as a few of the challenges from last year. And lastly, the 3 specific hopes I have for us in 2019. Thank you for being here friend and for listening in. I am so grateful for you and I pray this episode blesses you today. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 020 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/2018-in-review

Day 25 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 24 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 23 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 22 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 21 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 20 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 19 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 18 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 17 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 16 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 15 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 14 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 13 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 12 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 10 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 10 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 09 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 08 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 07 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 06 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 05 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 04 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 03 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 02 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Day 01 of 25 days of God’s promises for women who have grieving, broken hearts this Christmas, for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss and need a reminder of God's goodness, a reminder of true Hope when hope feels impossible. Join me this Christmas season for a daily promise, a promise that we can trust, a promise that would bring our hearts great joy, a promise that will restore our hope in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die, so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE MORNING ONLINE: www.themorning.com

Hey friends and welcome to The Joyful Mourning Podcast. I’m so grateful you are here. My name is Ashlee Proffitt and I started this podcast to remind hurting, grieving mothers they aren’t alone. And there is no better time than the Christmas season to give a few extra reminders. So for the 25 days leading up to Christmas I have something special just for you. Join me for 25 days of God’s promises, a daily promise that we can trust, a promise that is better than our definition of good. My prayer is that these daily reminders of God’s promises would bring our hearts great joy, restoring our hope and our trust in our Savior-Redeemer-King who was born to die so that we might live. I pray this podcast series blesses you and reminds you that you aren’t alone in your grief and you are more loved than you could ever imagine. www.themorning.com/christmas

The Joyful Mourning Podcast Episode #19. Listen in to this week’s honest and raw episode as I talk with Molly Stillman, a mother of two children here on earth and two baby boys in heaven. Molly shares her story of two back-to-back second trimester losses, her decision to have her baby’s cremated, and why it’s important to be an advocate for yourself and your baby. She also shares why she chose to name her baby’s as well as the meaning behind the beautiful names she chose. Molly gives honest, helpful and healing wisdom to grieving mothers and I am sure this episode will bless you today. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 018 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/molly

Listen in to this week’s special episode as I interview two women about what it looks like to navigate the holidays amidst grief. We chat about the challenges of the holiday season as well as simple, practical ways to find joy when your heart is aching. Meg Walker and Sterling Myers have such incredible wisdom to offer that is encouraging and freeing and full of real empathy and knowing -- I am so grateful they joined me for this special episode. As we enter the holiday season I pray this episode reminds you that you aren’t alone in the difficulty that is navigating holidays, nor are you alone in the pain of grief and loss and lastly, I pray this episode reminds you that you are more loved than you can even know. THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning EPISODE 018 SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/navigating-holidays

10 years ago on November 15, 2008 my son died. And I would never be the same. Forever changed. Forever would my view of this world, of parenting, of being a mother, of being a wife and a friend and a daughter be changed. Forever would my view of God be different. It would take many months, years even, before I would be able to accept this new reality and begin to see all the changes in me as a gift. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you are fearful of this new reality too and the woman staring back at you in the mirror, you hardly recognize these days-- her thoughts, her fears, her doubts, her anger. I understand, I’ve been there too. I want you to know it’s normal to not want this reality, who would? But after 10 years of grief I can say that good things can come from brokenness, good things can come from ashes. Hope can be restored. Joy can be had. As I look back over the past 10 years I can see that the testing of my faith has not been without purpose. God promises that my pain was never in vain, and neither is yours -- He is working to make our faith in Him stronger, full and complete, lacking nothing. In today's episode I'm sharing with you 10 ways I have seen God bring about purpose from the pain. -- THE JOYFUL MOURNING COMMUNITY: www.themorning.com/community THE JOYFUL MORNING INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thejoyfulmorning THE JOYFUL MOURNING SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/10-years-later

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast episode #16. In today’s episode I get to spend some time talking with Mary McLeod. Mary lives in Uganda where she moved with her husband to adopt their oldest daughter. Shortly after moving to Uganda and adopting their oldest daughter she experienced a the loss of her first biological child. In today’s episode, Mary gently and honestly leads us through her story of miscarriage. We talk openly about the physical reality of miscarriage, why she decided to name her baby, how to help a grieving friend and so many more things. I’m so grateful for Mary’s candid heart about her story of loss as I’m sure it will be helpful and encouraging to you. I pray this episode blesses you today friend. SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/mary-mcleod/

You’re listening to The Joyful Mourning Podcast episode #15. In today’s episode I have the honor of talking with Angie Smith, a wife, a mom, a writer and a teacher. Angie started blogging in 2008 after receiving the news that her daughter Audrey would not survive after birth and since then she has ministered to countless women, including myself, with her wise and courageous words. Listen in to this honest conversation between two mamas who have experienced great loss, the truths we wish we would have heard 10 years ago, truths we’ve struggled to believe and a message of hope to women walking this road. And Angie’s prayer over hurting, broken and grieving women at the end of this episode may just be my favorite part of our time together. I pray this episode blesses you. SHOW NOTES www.themorning.com/angie-smith/

In episode 014 I have the privilege of talking with Adriel Booker. Adriel is an author, speaker, and advocate who believes storytelling, beauty, and the grace of God will change the world. She's the author of Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss and has created multiple resources for grieving women on her website: adrielbooker.com. Listen in as she shares the story of her 3 consecutive miscarriages and what she’s learned about loss and grief and what it means to trust God amidst suffering. No matter what brought you here today, I’m grateful you are here and I pray this episode blesses you. SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/adriel

In episode 013, special guest Sterling Myers, a mama to a precious girl in heaven, joins me to talk about choosing joy, looking for gratitude and finding hope after the death of her daughter. Listen in as Sterling shares her story as well as honest and candid wisdom about walking through loss, helpful for any mother who has experienced the loss of a baby. No matter where you are on your grief journey, I am sure this episode will bless you.

Joyful Mourning Podcast episode #12. This past week we celebrated my son Aaden’s 10th birthday. Knowing exactly how difficult it can be to navigate a birthday after a baby has died I thought it would be helpful to share a few specific ideas about how to do so. Listen in as I share 12 specific ideas for celebrating, as well as a few thoughts from my experience having walked through 10 birthdays without my son here on earth. I hope this episode is helpful to you and makes what could be a difficult day a more joy-filled one. SHOW NOTES: www.themorning.com/birthdays

As you may or may not know, October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month and in this short episode I thought it would be helpful to share 7 simple ways to commemorate this special month. Whether you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a baby I am sure that this episode will be practically helpful to you - either in helping you to love and recognize someone who is grieving or in finding tangible ways to commemorate your own loss. I hope this episode brings freedom to your pain and hope as you feel seen and heard and remembered this month.

In today’s episode I have the privilege of talking with Meg Walker. Listen in as Meg shares her story of finding joy amidst the mourning as she tells us about her son Jacob, what it was like carrying a baby with a terminal diagnosis, giving birth to him and then coming home from the hospital without him and then experiencing a miscarriage only months later. Meg gives an incredible amount of wisdom and hope in this episode, sharing how she has learned there can be beauty even in the sorrow. I am sure this episode will bless you. Show Notes: www.themorning.com/meg

In this week's episode I have the privilege of talking with my long time friend Kat Schmoyer about what it has looked like for her to navigate two miscarriages. Listen in as she talks openly about her story of loss, the challenges of grieving differently than her husband, going back to work, what joy amidst mourning means to her and so much more. For show notes visit: http://www.themorning.com/kat-schmoyer/

In this week's episode I thought it would be helpful to talk candidly about a few of the things I learned from planning a memorial service for my own son. This podcast is a bit different than the others and I wrote it as a list of the 5 specific things I would tell a newly grieving mother who is faced with planning her baby’s funeral. I share a few things I would have done differently, a few reminders of truth and hopefully lots of helpful information should you or a friend or a family member ever walk this road. Show Notes: www.themorning.com/planning-a-funeral-baby Funeral Planning Resources: www.themorning.com/baby-funeral/

In today’s episode I have the privilege of talking with Michelle Horton, a certified biblical counselor, a woman full of grace and wisdom. Listen in as we have a live Q&A discussing a range of questions from “is it ok to grieve miscarriages and early losses” and “how do I respond to hurtful comments after loss” and “I feel so much guilt and shame over the loss of my baby, what do i do?” Today’s episode is incredibly helpful to the woman grieving as well as friends and family members of those grieving.

In today's episode I talk with Lindsay Ostrom. Listen in as she talks candidly about her son Afton, how his life and death changed the way she sees the world and the one thing she would tell herself if she could go back to those early days of grief. Her very practical and tangible wisdom for newly grieving mothers is incredibly helpful and I hope that it brings encouragement to you today. For show notes: www.thejoyfulmourning.com

In today’s episode I have the privilege of talking with Katelyn Alsop. Listen in as Katelyn shares the story of her son James and the reality of carrying a baby with a terminal diagnosis. Her wisdom and encouragement for women walking through a similar reality is freeing and incredibly helpful, I hope it blesses you today.

In today’s episode I have the privilege of talking with Lara Casey, a woman who is full of immense joy and invaluable wisdom. Listen in as we talk about her miscarriage, the grief that followed and why she can say with assurance that good things grow from the hard places. For show notes and more information about today's guest head over to thejoyfulmourning.com.

Listen in as I talk with my very best friend about navigating friendship amidst grief, a few things we wish we would have done a little differently in those early days of grief, what it looks like to experience joy and suffering simultaneously, and a few very practical ways to love a friend who is grieving. For show notes and more information about today's guest head over to thejoyfulmourning.com.

In this episode you will hear an honest and candid conversation between a married couple who has experienced both miscarriage and infant loss. Listen in as they talk about the different ways they grieved, what their marriage looked like after the loss of a baby, a few of the mistakes they made along the way, and what they wish they would have known 10 years ago. For show notes head over to TheJoyfulMourning.com.

In this episode you will hear the story behind The Joyful Mourning Podcast, the story of my son Aaden, his life and his death, and about what finding joy amidst mourning really means. For show notes and more information about this podcast visit: thejoyfulmourning.com

A podcast about finding hope and joy for women who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.