Do you have that one person still on your Christmas gift list for whom you have no idea what to buy? And if you are like me, after you choose something, you include a gift receipt anyway. It is challenging enough to pick out gifts, but what do you give someone who is grieving? How do you celebrate the season… Read More
Talking to children and teenagers about death and loss is hard. It can be difficult to know where to begin in offering help. As a starting point, I offer these ideas. Encourage them to remember at least these two things about grief. First, you are not alone. And second, you can carry joy and grief together. You are not alone…. Read More
Today is the fifth anniversary of when my father-in-law, Don Schweingruber, died. I think of him often and know he’d have a lot of wisdom to share with us all during these chaotic times. We shared many conversations about life and death. I treasure those moments. As I reflect on his life, I wanted to share an earlier podcast I… Read More
For Christians, the Easter season is holy and foundational to their faith. Easter feels different this year because life as we knew it has been upended. But Easter has always represented a different way to love. My daughter Chloe wrote a poem that helps me think about seeing things differently. I share her poem here and wish you all hope… Read More
When my children were little, they did not want to put their faces under water. During swimming lessons, I watched as their wonderful coach gently worked with them to get more comfortable. First they blew bubbles and then gradually put their heads further in the water. It took a long time, over several lessons, before they were able to bob… Read More
My daughters fill the room with laughter as one of them hangs a big rubber band from her ear. To understand why, you have to know more about their PopPop Don. One day, their PopPop told them about a time when he was Dean of Students. Don conducted a serious meeting with a student only to find out afterwards that… Read More
I am honored to share this poem written by my mother-in-law, Nancy Schweingruber. Three years ago on September 12 she stood by her beloved husband, Don, and watched him take his last breath. Her words capture a story of grief and deep love. We miss you every day, Don, and treasure the time we had with you. And to my… Read More
Do you tell others to find closure? Or do you think something is wrong with you because there seems to be no closure after a loss? Stop worrying about closure. We don’t need closure to heal. Closure continues to be a popular concept in our culture. However, it is just a word we’ve made up to talk about loss. Sadly,… Read More
