While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Eight years ago this week, Randy and Katrina Stevens received the devastating news that their healthy, vibrant, 21-year-old daughter Rachel had suddenly and inexplicably died in her sleep while away at college.  In last week's episode, they shared Rachel's story and discussed the impact her homegoing has had on their family and their faith and offered some advice for moms and dads who find themselves at the very beginning of their grief journey.   Today we share a wide-ranging discussion of issues faced by bereaved parents, including husbands & wives who grieve very differently, dealing with our child’s grave, and handling disappointment with God.   We'll also talk about the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center, which provides no-cost occupational therapy services to uninsured and underinsured children from birth to age 18 in the Memphis area. Click HERE for more information about the the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center or to make a donation.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

In the first half of this two-part episode, my friends Randy and Katrina Stevens share the story of their 21-year-old daughter Rachel, who went to sleep one night and woke up in Heaven. They honestly and candidly discuss the impact her unexpected death eight years ago has had on their family and their faith and share some advice for moms and dads who find themselves at the very beginning of their grief journey. I believe Katrina's story about a special gift she received from Rachel on the day she went to Heaven will be an encouragement to your heart today!   I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

Gary and Laura House join me today to share the story of their son Nathan, a remarkable young man with a gift for fixing things, a zest for adventure, and an entrepreneurial spirit.  Nathan began to struggle with depression after puberty, and ultimately took his own life at the age of 25. The Houses are the founders of a nonprofit organization called “Our Hearts are Home”, which offers several avenues of support for bereaved parents.  They are also the editors of a new book called “Until Then:  Stories of Loss and Hope”, that you’ll hear more about in our chat today.  I believe you’ll be encouraged by our conversation. Click HERE to connect with the Our Hearts are Home ministry.Click HERE to view and subscribe to the Our Hearts are Home YouTube channel.Click HERE to purchase the book "Until Then: Stories of Loss and Hope", edited by Gary and Laura  Click HERE for more information or to register for the "Discerning Biblical Truth: A Conference for Bereaved Parents" scheduled for April 21-22, 2023.   This event will be held live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but it will also be available online from anywhere in the world.I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

I remember breathing a huge sigh of relief after getting through our first Christmas after Hannah went to Heaven in 2009.  I figured that other than the one-year mark which would be that next February, I had at least survived all the really hard “first year” stuff.  I had no idea how difficult stepping into the new year without her was going to be.  How could I start a new year without Hannah in it?  How could I close the calendar on the last year she had been a part of our family?  If you have not lost a child, this probably doesn’t make much sense to you … but if you have, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  As time has gone by, there’s still a bittersweetness in starting a new year that Hannah will not be a part of … a year in which fewer and fewer people will remember her, talk about her, or even say her name.  It’s part of what my friend Karen Harmening calls “Long Sorrow”.  Karen and her husband Scott shared their daughter Sarah’s story in Episode 8 … way back when this podcast first began, and she maintains a wonderful blog titled “Listening to Him”.  I’d like to share with you her most recent entry, titled “Long and New Sorrow”.  Wherever you find yourself on this journey of child loss, I believe it will be an encouragement to you.  To read "Long and New Sorrow" on Karen's blog, click HERE.  To listen to my interview with Scott and Karen Harmening recorded in September of 2020, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

"Death is stronger than John and it's stronger than me, but it's not stronger than Jesus, who's the champion of heaven, who rose from the dead and defeated death" ... these are powerful words from Hal Barge, father of John, who battled mental illness for nine years, ultimately culminating in his death by suicide.   Today's episode picks up where we left off last week, with an honest discussion of mental illness and its impacts on a family, dealing with grief after the loss of a child to suicide, and a reminder of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, even after the unimaginable has happened.  To learn more about our While We're Waiting Weekends for Parents Touched by Suicide, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

Hal and Elizabeth Barge's son John was a remarkable young man with a great sense of humor ... an Eagle Scout, a natural percussionist, and an enthusiastic backpacker.  But after high school, they began to see a change in him, which led to a 9-year battle with mental illness, and ultimately to his death by suicide.  Today we discuss navigating the difficult journey of mental illness, dealing with specific issues faced by parents who experience the loss of a child to suicide, and making peace with unanswered questions.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

Today's episode is a continuation of my conversation with Leslie Harder, who joined me for this interview on what would have been her son William's 39th birthday.   I hope you'll listen in for a rich discussion of issues faced by bereaved parents ... Including how the loss of her son has changed her, how  we can choose to build a wall or a road in our grief,  and the fact that she has confidence she'll see William again one day because of his "re-birthday".  Click HERE to get Leslie's book "Joy in the Mourning - Viewing the Rainbow from the Vale of Tears"Click HERE to get Leslie's book "Mourning Devotions - Grieving God's Way"Click HERE to get Leslie's book "Selah - 60 Moments with the Master"I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

I’m pleased today to introduce you to my friend Leslie Harder.  Leslie joined me to record this episode on what would have been her son William’s 39th birthday.  William went to Heaven suddenly and unexpectedly in August of 2016, just five days after the death of Leslie’s mother.  In our conversation today, she shares about that experience and how God walked with her through those early days of grieving both her son and her mother. We also discuss her memoir “Joy in the Mourning – Viewing the Rainbow from the Vale of Tears,” in which she shares her story in a series of dated entries.  I believe you’ll be encouraged by what she has to share today.Click HERE to get Leslie's book "Joy in the Mourning - Viewing the Rainbow from the Vale of Tears"Click HERE to get Leslie's book "Mourning Devotions - Grieving God's Way"Click HERE to get Leslie's book "Selah - 60 Moments with the Master"I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

On this, our fourteenth Thanksgiving season since Hannah left us for Heaven, I wanted to share some thoughts about the early years of my grief and how God has brought healing over time.  Sometimes offering thanksgiving is a sacrifice ... Actually, I believe it's always a sacrifice for a grieving parent.   When you've been deeply, deeply hurt and disappointed with life, it costs something to be grateful.  Yet when we recognize God for who He is, when we truly see His grace, we can recapture gratitude even in the midst of grief. Click HERE to link to The Sullivan Four blog.I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

I’m pleased today to introduce you to my new friend, Moria Rooney, also known as Mother of Wilde.  Moria has a beautiful testimony of “praising Him anyway” even in the midst of loss. Settle in and listen as she shares the stories of her precious babies … two in Heaven and one with her here … and how she has grappled with deep questions of faith on her journey.  We also discuss pregnancy after loss and the beautiful ministry she and her husband have established to honor the lives of infants and children who are now in the arms of Jesus. I know you’ll be blessed by what she has to share.Click HERE to visit the Mother of Wilde website and see the beautiful child loss memorial prints she creates.  Podcast listeners can use the coupon code "WAITING20" to receive 20% off any purchase.Click HERE to access the free download page on the Mother of Wilde website.  Click HERE to connect with Moria on InstagramClick HERE to connect with Moria on FacebookI would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org