566 results for 'from hope to dispair''

Choose to honor what feels right for you. There are no rules.After my Mom died, I chose to honor the traditions of my family while adding some new. Honoring the traditions of my childhood after my Mom

Adults are often bewildered by the reaction of teens who have lost a family member or close friend. Most adults experience grief as a long journey where they undergo numerous emotional, psychological

I think it’s safe to say that our society does not prepare us for the death of a loved one, either in how to experience it when it is happening or in how to grieve afterwards. We are taught to shelter

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall All the kings horses and all the kings men Couldn’t put Humpty together againThe image of this old children’s rhyme stuck in my mind as

I am on that long walk home. You ran ahead of me and your footsteps now echo the journey I must follow... Terri DreismeierSecluded This First YearI am bitterly cold; the brutality of the winds was

By Mary Ellen Miller PhD, RN, APHN-BCThe early weeks of May continue to be bittersweet for me. During this time, Mother’s Day is celebrated. For me, this time frame brings both joy and sadness. My j

One of my most favorite childhood stories is “Goldilocks and The Three Bears.” I had been given the book by a dear uncle, so for me, it was a treasure. Every time I read it, I felt connected to him.

One of the most intimate moments you will have in life is saying goodbye to a loved one for the last time. Whether your goodbye is planned, unreciprocated or lacking, there is usually a residual feeli

I once heard someone say, “It’s the suffering body that brings us together.” In my case, that’s true. However, for many others it’s the suffering body that tears families apart.Three months ago, my mo

After someone we love has died, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could measure our heart, take a blood test that calculates connection, or estimate the volume of tears we’ve cried so that we could unden

When my daughter was stillborn, friends and family reached out in countless thoughtful ways to show that they cared. They brought meals to fill our bellies, sent cards to offer condolences, and gifted

By Tim Schramm, Licensed Funeral Director and National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) member As Grief Awareness Day approaches on August 30, I'm reminded of a fundamental truth I've witnessed co

I’m sitting at my dining room table and out the window I see rays of sunshine streaming through trees. I sense you among these rays, and I miss you. Golden sunlight illuminates this bright green fores

Goodbyes are necessary. How do you tend to say them? What usually comes upon your mind when saying goodbyes? When was the last time you expressed goodbyes, not out of mere habit or formality, but for

The title of this article by Paula Stephens “What I Wish More People Understood About Losing a Child” quickly caught my attention on my friend, Lisa Payne’s Facebook page the other day. With the artic

Dr. Susan Adams, Licensed Professional CounselorThe corona virus brings fear and death to every continent and every country. It has bound all of humanity in two common goals – finding a cure and stop

HOW I COPED WITH DEATHBY PATRICE D. WILKERSONOn April 19, 2015, I celebrated my father’s birthday. He would have been 56 years old, but he passed away six years ago.When he passed, I was filled with s

Such a rare indulgence of burgers and fries enjoyed with our ten- and twelve-year-old nephews, followed by a brisk walk. My husband and I love hanging with them, allowing us old folks to once again be

Recently, we experienced a pop-up memory of Chad. We (my husband and I) were driving home and stopped at the signal lights. A shiny beige pickup truck came whizzing through the intersection of the b

Mary Ellen T. Miller PhD, RN, PHNA-BC 4/5/25 Spring is my favorite season. I feel excited seeing the rebirth of tree buds, flowers bursting up from the still semi-frozen ground and the return of robin