Momming On The Go

I had the honor of sharing in church on Mother's Day. Publicly acknowledging other "Loss Moms" on this emotional day is something I take great delight in doing. This is what I shared. 

Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday. As a Loss Mom this day is really hard for me. American Evangelical Christianity is... Well, not what I'm about. On this Sanctity of Life Sunday 2023 I remember ALL lives... Even and especially the lives gone too soon.I see you. I hear you.#sanctityoflife #perinatalloss #perinatallosssupport #unspokenmotherhoodinc#1in4 #1in160 #pregnancyloss #stillbirth #ihadamiscarriage #stillbornbutstillborn #stillbornstillloved #ihadastillbirth #recurrentpregnancyloss  #stillbirthbreakthesilence #stillbirthsupport #stillbornawareness #babyloss #babylossawareness #babylossadvocate #babylosssupport #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness#pregnancyandinfantlossawareness #pailawareness #lossmama #hopemom #iamahopemom #bereavedmother #bereavedmom

This summer brought lots of big changes to my life... Listen to hear what they are!Scripture Reference: Psalm 18:2Prelude Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most 

Today my friend Ira and her husband Ivan share what they did when they heard the first explosions from their home in Kyiv in the early morning of Feb 24 and how they are processing what is going on. I am humbled by their bravery in sharing this part of their story and I am honored to be able to share it here. Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

Two of my heroes growing up were Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton. When this war first started in Ukraine I immediately wanted to sign up to join Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief Team and be a nurse in Ukraine. After seriously talking about it together my husband supported me applying with them. I spent the next few days praying seriously about it because that is a big decision, always, but also when you have 3 young children still traumatized by the personal deaths we experienced last year.After three days of prayer God filled me with peace about the decision I made and has shown me how I can support the people of Ukraine. Scripture Reference: Romans 8:38-39Prelude Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most Postlude Music: God My GodArtist and Composer: Brandon ReidPlayed with Permission from Brandon Reid

My beautiful friend Ira shares her heart with us again. I continue to be honored by her bravery in sharing her heart in the midst of the war and devastation that is going on around her. Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most 

We have the honor of hearing from one of my beautiful new friends from and currently in Ukraine with her family. Thank you, Ira, for sharing bravely from your heart in this time of great pain and tragedy. Scripture Reference: Psalm 118:1, 6-7Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most 

As a follow up from last week, here are some specific requests for some of the children we know in Ukraine and Russia. For their safety there are not many details but that is not important. God knows who they are. Scripture Reference: Matthew 19:14Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

I have a Ukrainian friend who has fled her city with her family for their lives. We also have Russian friends who are horrified at what is going on. Scripture References: Psalm 23:5, ESVPsalm 46, ESVMusic: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

We celebrated Promise's birth day yesterday as a family. We don't have all the answers on how to process the death of a younger sibling with kids but how we chose to do it with our family turned out to be really special. Thank you to everyone who has and is standing behind us and with us loving us as we remember both Promise and Emmanuel. 

One year ago today I gave birth to my second son, Promise.  This past Saturday was a really hard day that started out in deep and passionate mourning and ended with 3 different people/groups showing me and my family the love we needed to feel. Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

I recently had the honor and privilege of sharing my experience with death at a class for seminary students at my alma mater, Dallas Theological Seminary. I am really honored I got to share, and I am thankful to the kind students who grieved with me and asked me thoughtful questions that have helped me process my experience further. Thank you, Dr. Thacker, for that opportunity!Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

And I'm back! Covid, Pneumonia, school, life, have kept me busy. How am I doing in that busy-ness? I am doing well, but I am also still grieving. I invite you to grieve with me. Scripture Reference: Psalm 56:8Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

My kids went from praying every night the baby growing inside would stay alive to praying that we wouldn't die. I wrestled with my feelings dealing with my second baby boy dying in 6 months. There have been lots of feelings in my house. We have talked about prayer with our kids and how God does not always answer how we want Him to BUT He still hears and He walks gently with us through the painful answers.Scripture:Psalm 56:8People/Books/Author Mentioned (simply because I like them):Amy Carmichael"Hinds Feet On High Places" by Hannah Hurnard"Jewel of the Nile" by Tessa AfsharMusic: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

On Thursday I had a c-section to deliver a still born son at 16 weeks 3 days. For the second time in less than 6 months I have given birth to a tiny little boy. My body hurts and my heart hurts. Thank you for all the people who have been and continue to surround me with love and are letting me grieve for this little son, Emmanuel: God with us. Scripture Reference: Psalm 34:18Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

Today was Promise's Due Date. The day has not snuck up on me, and the last week and a half have been emotional. But. In the sadness I know that God is with me. I believe that truth and I am teaching it to my children. Scripture: 2 Kings 6Isaiah 40:11Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

A month ago I embarked on potty training the little lad. One thing I learned with my daughters was that the same parents and the same technique do not yield the same results so I was not looking forward to this battle of change.  Through potty training the little lad I was convicted of the wet diapers in my own life I cling to. 

Every year on our anniversary my husband and I go on a date. This last Thursday, our 9th anniversary, my husband called me on his way home from work to pick me up for our date and told me his truck had broken down. Our life together is an adventure and I am thankful I get to be journeying it together with him.Scripture Reference: Romans 8:38-39Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most

I had the honor and privilege of sharing an exhortation for mom's at my church yesterday. Mother's Day is a day of great joy, but also great sadness. I have lost children. I know the pain. I know many others who have also lost children, and many more who long for children. I hear you. God hears your cries. He is near to you. 

This week my home has been invaded by ants. There have been various reinforcements called in to help me win this battle and I have been reminded of the importance of diligence and perseverance. Scripture Reference: Romans 5:3-5Music: It Is Well With My SoulLyricist: Spafford, H.G. / Arranger: Bliss, P.P.Public Domain, played by Paul Most