Walking By Faith When Bad Things Happen To Good People
Bad things do happen to good people, but most importantly good things happen to sinners daily. (That’s all of us.) I pray today that the Holy Spirit reaches into hearts and opens eyes to see how truly “present” God is. May hearts open to receive clear understanding of what beautiful, deep, unfailing love is. It…
Good Mourning Hope Behind Trauma and the Holiday Door.
‘Tis the season for families to joyfully gather round the table. Yet, there are parents reluctantly opening their eyes in a fog, wondering how they will breathe or how their heart will keep beating, as the holiday season arrives without their child. We are parents of child loss. A loss so horrific there is no…
Life long lessons from a grade school teacher.
When I was in grade school Physical Education class, we were instructed to run around the large field behind our school. I dreaded this! It was a huge amount of space to cover with my eight year old legs. I remember my teacher saying, “Lauri you always come in last! I want you to remember…
Beauty and a Beastly Challenge
We currently have three teenagers. Those five words contain serious emotion for both them and us. If you have been blessed with raising a teenager, you understand. It’s been said that when young adults turn 25, they realize and appreciate their parents. I’m not sure, as we have not experienced the age of 25. Our…
IS God Good With A Powerful NO?
Is God Good? Daily I hear how God is Good, in the context of: I am blessed because God gave me what I prayed for. A family praying for a child was told the baby had health issues and may not live. Now, they are blessed with a healthy child. God is GOOD. …
Dear Mama…
Your strength, beauty and grace shines. Your unimaginable loss is never forgotten. You are understood, loved and never alone . Beautifully written by Kelli Clodfelter. “October 1, 2014… life was “normal”. I had no idea our world was about to take a dive into a journey no parent should ever understand. I had no…
10 in 20
COVID has been a catalyst for change among loss. SOOO MUCH CHANGE! Each time we are presented a significant opportunity, it’s formed in the crucible of crisis. What we are feeling, is grief. Ten years ago this month, two traumatized children stepped into our lives. Our party of five became seven over night. Good or…
Be still and know…
Today we are celebrating a graduation. Without adoption, John & I would be sending our youngest to college next month. I cannot imagine our home without children. John said he could. 😂♥️ Last night, fears showed up as I slept. It still shocks me to realize what trauma does to the heart and mind. Milestones…
Never underestimate loss.
Have you ever woke up and thought, “How did I get here?” This is not the life I’d imagined. Each time God presents a significant opportunity, it’s formed in the crucible of crisis. It is not free or safe. In a cross road, we choose to look up or walk away. If we see adversity…
Breakthrough
I had no idea what challenges lie ahead for us all. I had no idea how God would show me a portion of trauma that our youngest two had experienced, allowing me the empathy necessary to be their Mother. The adoption story below was shared in the Spring of 2014, six months prior to our…
When the world stopped…
My phone rang. It was my good friend Sarah, who is a Trauma Nurse at St. Louis University Hospital. She was on her way to work, again. Like most in the medical field, she has been working long hours away from her family. In her usual cheery voice, she shared this story with me… …
This virus is really changing my perspective!
This morning I received a text with the title of this blog post. It continued with the truth of many things we take for granted and how much we have to be thankful for. This early morning text left the following words on my heart… We are ALL beginning to understand loss and grief on…