Hearing how other parents have gotten through the suffocating darkness of child loss can bring a spark of hope, especially when you know they have had some of the same confusing thoughts and struggles.

Today's episode is an unusual and special one, as Dave and Laura are being interviewed by Greg Buffkin to give bereaved parents hope, for his podcast Hope After Child Loss.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Greg Buffkin’s website: www.emptychairendeavor.com

Click the following links to hear the podcast episode:

Tips for Bereaved Parents Heading into the New Year

A New Year Does Not Mean You are Leaving Your Child Behind!

Hope and Help for the New Year after Child Loss

Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: A Daily Reading for Bereaved Parents

Want to know more about the Rebuilding Your Life After Child Loss self-study guidance courses? Click here.

Birthdays:

Aria Arrona was born on December 31 and is forever 15.

Madison Clark was born on January 2 and is forever 20.

Luke Hebenstreit was born on January 4 and is forever 23.

Ryan Hines was born on January 7 and is forever 27.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 281: A Glimpse of Hope After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.

During the Christmas season, we are surrounded by the sights and sounds of being joyful. For many of us who have lost a child, we just want this time of year to be over. We don't see joy being part of our lives ever again.

In this episode, Laura shares from week three in her book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents which tackles the topic of joy during the Christmas season.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here for more info on joining me live, or about the advent book Hope for the Future.

To hear a podcast episode about the fear if our child is in heaven, click here.

Go to the free GPS Hope member library.

Give an end-of-year financial gift to GPS Hope here.

Find out more about the book Come Grieve Through Our Eyes.

Birthdays:

David Paul French was born on December 16 and is forever 52.

Luke Getchell was born on December 19 and is forever 14.

Adelaide Rowell was born on December 20 and is forever 19.

Carissa Perkins was born on December 21 and is forever 29.

John Ferreira Jr. was born on December 24 and is forever 32.

Isaiah Key was born on December 25 and is forever 13.

Diane Holt was born on December 25 and is forever 62.

Nicole Daniel was born on December 26 and is forever 27.

Martin Jesus Alva Jr. was born on December 26 and is forever 34.

Ryan Durkin was born on December 27 and is forever 19.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 280: I Lost My Joy When My Child Died appeared first on GPS Hope.

God will often use things in nature, or things going on around us, to speak to our hearts, showing us something we need to see, or helping us understand a truth we need to grasp.

In today's episode, Laura shares some of the things God showed her while walking mountain trails, that have to do with grieving the earthly loss of our children.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here for more info on joining me live, or about the advent book Hope for the Future.

Find out more about Reflections of Hope – December Edition here.

You can sponsor an episode for your child here.

Birthdays:

Gabriel Burgos was born on December 9, who budded on earth to bloom in heaven.

Maria Elena Navarrete was born on December 12 and is forever 55.

Tyler Sitter was born on December 12 and is forever 32.

Tanner Allen-Harris was born on December 13 and is forever 20.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 279: Climbing the Mountain of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.

This was an unplanned episode, but Laura wanted to share some things before the week was over.

With this being the week of Thanksgiving (here in the US) Laura started wondering if there is a difference between being thankful and being grateful. After listening to what she has to share, Laura would love to hear your thoughts. You can write them in the comment section under the podcast audio bar here, which is directly on the GPS Hope website.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

“Black Friday” special: Click here to sponsor an episode in memory of your child for a $25 donation (instead of $50) through Sunday night, Dec. 1.

Click here for more info on Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents.

Find out more about Laura’s songs, and listen to samples of them here.

Birthdays:

Brendan Weidner was born on November 28 and is forever 14.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 278: Is There a Difference Between Thankful and Grateful? appeared first on GPS Hope.

The holidays can be absolutely brutal to those of us who have lost a child, especially those first few years. Even as we get further down the road, we never know how this time of year is going to affect us.

In today's episode, Laura talks to two different pareavors on how they have navigated the holidays, both in the early years, and as they are now further down this path of being a bereaved parent and missing their child during the end-of-year holiday season.

Sara Faith Nelson taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of her writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God's goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.

Kim Peacock is the author of Victorious Heart, which details her handling of grief over the loss of her 17-year-old daughter. It also provides insightful advice for those seeking to support and help those who grieve. She has raised six children, residing with her husband, Larry in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Kim is the CFO of Peacock Engineering, a cemetery construction company that specializes in cemetery improvement and expansion. Through her blog, Wild Victorious Heart, and her book and speaking, Kim acts as a grief mentor to others in need. She enjoys spending time with her several grandchildren, gardening and playing with the animals on her mini farm.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here for more info on Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents.

Connect with Kim with this link: www.wildvictoriousheart.com

Birthdays (November 17-30):

Lara Ann was born on November 17 and is forever 15.

Timothy Krawiec was born on November 17 and is forever 27.

Cord Ramsey Davis was born on November 18 and is forever 24.

Christian Story was born on November 18 and is forever 11.

Benjamin Krawiec was born on November 21 and is forever 32.

Logan Singer was born on November 21 and is forever 17.

Jacob LeTourneau was born on November 22 and is forever 21.

Melissa Sulikowski Hill was born on November 23 and is forever 38.

Cyrus Amado Salazar Jr. was born on November 26 and is forever 17.

Liam “Trip” Nugent was born on November 29 and is forever 21.

Raelyne Ten Bruggencate was born on November 29 and is forever 1.

Ginny Rettig was born on November 30 and is forever 21.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 277: Navigating the Holidays After Child Loss (with Kim Peacock and Sara Nelson) appeared first on GPS Hope.

Sometimes we can feel like God must not care, or He would not have let our child die and allow us to be in so much pain. There are many people in the Bible who also felt like God had abandoned them. In this episode, Laura shares a few of these, based on a song she likes to listen to occasionally, to remind her that God really does see our struggles and He cares.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Watch the song The God Who Sees here.

To watch the entire movie The Way (where the song is from) click here.

Click here for more info on Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents.

Birthdays:

Chaney Partrich was born on November 4 and is forever 20 years old.

Beau-Dean Gordon was born on November 10 and is forever 23 years old.

Nathan Theriault was born on November 11 and is forever 2 years old.

Hanna Abigail Dinh was born on November 12 and is forever 21 months and 7 days.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 276: You Are Seen appeared first on GPS Hope.

In today's short episode, Laura pulls out her response to an email she received quite a while back, thinking it might be helpful to others who are struggling with questions about things like God's goodness.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here to find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life With Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.

Watch Laura’s talk with Wayne Jacobson titled “Anger and Grief” here.

Take a look at the Savanah’s Adventures website. 

Click here to take a look at preordering Savanah’s Big Surprise to help out Laura and her granddaughter with their children’s book series.

Birthdays:

Pike Petersen was born on October 17 and is forever 14.

Adrian Schartner was born on October 20 and is forever 22.

Matthew Anthony Sulikowski was born on October 22 and is forever 37.

Myles Wofford was born on October 27 and is forever 3 weeks.

Dawson Morris was born on October 29 and is forever 19.

James was born on October 30 and is forever 17 months.

Cassius John Franswah was born on October 30 and is forever 26.

Ikaika Ewer was born on November 1 and is forever 6.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 275: The Enemy’s Objective appeared first on GPS Hope.

Today you are going to hear from a new friend and fellow pareavor, Kim Avery. Kim has so many things to share from a heart that is kind and caring, while encouraging us to learn how to walk from the place of grace that God has for us for the moment we are in.

Twenty years ago, Kim moved from being a professional counselor to working as a certified life and business coach. She loved every minute of it and thought she would do it for the rest of her life. However, four years ago, God called her to radically reorder her life, priorities, and the ways she serves in the world.

Now, as the author of the best-selling book The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur, host of The Pace of Grace podcast, and spiritual director for coaches, leaders, and entrepreneurs, she helps Christ-followers flourish in every area of their lives so they can serve others from a full cup.

Kim lives in beautiful Winter Haven, FL, with her husband Ron and their Australian Labradoodle, Samwise (who secretly thinks he's a Rottweiler.)

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Check out Kim Avery’s website: www.PaceOfGrace.com 

Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.

Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.

Birthdays:

Aaliyah Henderson was born on October 1 and is forever 4.

Samuel Seet was born on October 4 and is forever 28.

Rikki Grace was born on October 9 and is forever 25.

Jeffrey Dunkleman was born on October 10 and is forever 53.

Mitchell Ang was born on October 12 and is forever 17.

David Stolz was born on October 12 and is forever 33.

Alicia Martin was born on October 17 and is forever 36.

Carissa Ellen Hunsaker was born on October 19 and is forever 1.

Samuel Buss was born on October 19 and is forever 21.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 274: Grace and Grief After Child Loss (with Kim Avery) appeared first on GPS Hope.

When our child dies, it can feel like God betrayed us. We prayed for our kids, we took them to church, etc. In other words, we did what we were supposed to do, so why didn't God keep His end of things?

In today's episode, Laura talks about looking beyond what we know here and now, encouraging the listeners to also take into consideration God's view of eternity.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.

Birthdays:

Justin Seehafer was born on September 16 and is forever 28.

Rodney Lorenz was born on September 18 and is forever 49.

Rachel Terrazas was born on September 19 and is forever 22.

Nicole Zanoni Romualdo was born on September 21 and is forever 16 months.

Myles Bradley Shaffer was born on September 24 and is forever 44.

Valerie Ines Cepeda was born on September 26 and is forever 19.

Jacob Rhoades was born on September 28 and is forever 21.

Shea Thomas Patno was born on September 29 and is forever 15.

Stephanie Webber was born on September 29 and is forever 29.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 273: I Feel Like God Betrayed Me appeared first on GPS Hope.

In those first few months (or even first two or three years) many pareavors (bereaved parents) have a hard time believing they will get to the point where they are not in the place of suffocating grief they have found themselves thrown into.

There are thousands of pareavors who are several years down the road, who thought the same thing. But once they find themselves out of that dark pit, is it healthy to purposely put yourself back into a place of painful darkness, remembering the depth of who and what you have lost, like listening to podcasts, or attending a retreat, or something like going on The Grief Cruise?

As Laura's friend, Sara Nelson, recently experienced this when she attended the GPS Hope Weekend of Hope, Laura realized it would be good to have her on the podcast to talk about this.

Sara Faith Nelson, has been on this journey for ten years. She taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of Sara's writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, Jeanette, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God's goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here to find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life With Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.

To look at the Hold On Pain Eases: There is HOPE shirts, click here.

Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.

Birthdays:

Stephanie Wright was born on September 1 and is forever 26.

Bryanna Dugan was born on September 5 and is forever 22.

Alyshia DeFranco was born on September 6 and is forever 24.

Brady Keith Herbert was born on September 7 and is forever 30.

Jacob Sorouri was born on September 8 and is forever 32.

Emma Ho was born on September 9 and is forever 10.

Paul Murphy was born on September 9 and is forever 21.

Zachary Tyler was born on September 11 and is forever 18.

Petrina Charlean Bostic was born on September 12 and is forever 23.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 272: Getting Pulled Back into Our Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.

We are very aware of the four seasons of the year, but have you thought about how our grief can have seasons as well?

In this episode, Laura shares her thoughts about all four seasons, and how they correspond to the grief we deal with, in the loss of our child.

Note: Laura also shares that for a season , she will be releasing a podcast every other week instead of weekly.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here to recieve a personal Weekly Word of Hope from Laura.

Take a look at the hoodies, sweatshirts, long-sleeved T-shirts and sweat jackets here.

Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.

Birthdays:

Kristina Michelle Lee was born on August 26 and is forever 26.

Daniel Budd was born on August 29 and is forever 4.

Victoria Botto was born on August 30 and is forever 20.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The post 271: Going Through Different Seasons of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.