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Losing a Child: Potentially Helpful Books for Families
On most days, I experience a range of emotions. I will have moments of immense gratitude for my life. Then, I will experience irritation about something—more irritation than is actually warranted. Sometimes I step back and wonder, “How can I possibly feel anything but overwhelming gratitude for every second that I get to live on this Earth with my children and my partner?” I try to remember that it can all change in an instant—that losing a child is something that many families go through. What is the point of feeling irritation when there’s so much to be thankful for?
My heart breaks for several families I know who have … Read More
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How to Help a Grieving Friend from a Distance
Friends of ours just suffered a terrible loss in their lives. I know Matt and I need to do something. However, it’s always hard to know how to help a grieving friend from a distance. I don’t want to say something that trivializes their loss. Nor do I want to stay silent. It’s particularly difficult because they live across the country. We can’t show up and help in ordinary ways.
I turned to these sources below for ideas. The first piece is my favorite:
… Read MoreAbove all, show your love. Show up. Say something.
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Saying Goodbye to Hoss
A young Hoss at our Colorado wedding in 2008 
Hoss was an indelible part of our lives—always I could tell the end was coming, although it all happened pretty fast.
A couple weeks ago, I started noticing that our bloodhound-mix, Hoss, was having more difficulty moving around. It made me stop and re-calculate his age: almost 12.
We were never entirely sure of his age because he was a rescue dog, but we have had him for nearly 11 years.
I went online and researched how long bloodhounds typically live: 10-12 years.
I started having conversations with the boys about how Hoss was getting really old and how he might … Read More