Hello. Again.

My first post in this space was September 16, 2015. A lot has happened since then.

My twenty-three year old son, Dominic, ran ahead to Heaven in a single vehicle motorcycle accident April 12, 2014. It shattered my world and my worldview. Longing for a voice who would tell the WHOLE, unedited story of loss and faith, I felt compelled to begin sharing my own journey. I committed then to being as transparent as possible and I think I’ve been faithful to that promise.

The intervening years have had many challenges. More than three thousand posts tell the tale.

If you’ve been here for the past year or so, you know my father had a devastating stroke at almost ninety years old LAST September. In addition to changing my availability for ministry (as I was caring for him), it means that half my time is spent where there is little internet service and almost no cell phone service so writing and posting are really difficult and require a great deal of forethought and planning.

Then in January, my precious granddaughter, Holly, went to Jesus after a brief two weeks here on earth. It has been a hard journey for all of us but especially for my son and his wife and family.

I have tried, tried, tried to send out hope and light across the Internet and around the world even when my own heart was hanging on by a thread.

Over the years I’ve taken a few short breaks and, without really planning it, I took another one for most of the month of September.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and my hands and wrists have made typing difficult so my computer has sat unattended for some weeks while waiting for new medicine to provide relief. Things are just beginning to feel better, so here I am again.

This many years into the journey I have a different perspective than when I began. And I know there are many, other, more popular ways to share insights than what seems now an old-fashioned blog, but this is the format with which I am most familiar and comfortable so I intend to keep showing up.

Some of you are familiar with my ministry, Heartache and Hope (heartacheandhope.org), which I formed a couple years ago. I am praying that next year (2027) I will be able to do some retreats again, perhaps a monthly zoom meeting online and make more devotional and teaching materials available online. Stay tuned (as they used to say!) for updates.

If you’ve read this far, may I ask for your support and prayer?

• Please comment and let me know what challenges you are facing in your child loss journey.
• Tell me what posts have spoken to you and why.
• Allow me to pray for you by sharing your own prayer requests.

Thank you for every heart who has joined me here over the years.

May the Lord meet you where you are in ways that surprise and delight you and may you feel loved, held and comforted.

❤ Melanie