Something to Hold Onto

Connor Christensen loved Batman. No but really loved Batman - like wanted to be Batman. He loved taking care of his little sister Lizzie who died when Connor was just 3 years old. And from then on Connor loved kids. He was a swim teacher that knew not just the kids names but the parents names too. He played the drums in his high school marching band and was an Eagle Scout. Connor had some dark tim...

“I wanted to know her longer….” Haven Pike shares about her friend Laurie, who wasn’t a friend she anticipated having. A friend that came by surprise. Laurie was quirky and thoughtful. She sought out Haven at church and then became a dear friend, an unexpected one that was happy and lively. Hawaiian dresses and Birkenstocks her outfit of choice. Haven said, “Laurie was the most joyous human being....

I met Scot & Jen Whetman through a mutual friend who made bears for them out of their son Braydon’s clothes. They have such big hearts and have passed that on to their son Braydon. Braydon was a giver. He had a rough shell around him but was a giant teddy bear inside. A self taught guitarist, Braydon learned from the womb to love classic rock🎶. At age 14, he fell in love with flying and in his da...

Charlene Cornell honors and shares about her dad, John Christian Cornell in this episode. He was the family chef and family meant everything to him. He was always there, always home, always giving. John worked outside the home as well partnering with his wife to provide for the family. The two of them loved to dance. He'd be caught dancing and singing in the house. Charlene also noticed him ponder...

MaryKate met her Jorge in the testing center at college. She thought he was so cute 😊 They had a beautiful life together raising their four wonderful children and navigating the twists and turns life brings. Jorge was a go getter and always had the biggest smile 😃. He died way too young from Covid pneumonia in 2021. MaryKate had no intention of finding anyone else to love in this life. But God h...

Professional Jazz Musician, Mel Shore shares her journey of heartache, resilience and healing. After living in NYC, Broadway musical tours and seeing the world, she met her husband Scott online. After going out with him she said, “Something about him felt like home.” They had a beautiful winter wedding. Scott planned it all and even baked the cake! They spent the season skiing and just being toget...

Mel had an infectious laugh, a knack for story telling and fierce family loyalty. He had a very specific breakfast routine which included pepperoni sticks and cheese for the dogs. He loved watching nature and would call out to everyone when he’d see a bird. He served in the Air National Guard. Disney and snowbird were his favorite places. And games were always in the plans. He was all about family...

Life long friends of Janette Jones Nelson, Laura Kenner and Janette Halpin share memories and glimpses into her life. In April of 2020, Janette Nelson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Right at the beginning of covid she underwent surgery. For 10 days she was on her own in the hospital. Her dear husband Greg (who said she was the most beautiful girl when he saw her in a college class) only able to...

Jill met Rodney the first day of law school. He was kind. They studied together, dated and married their 3rd year of law school. They started a beautiful family and when their son Noah was 3 years old and Jill was pregnant with their daughter Sam, Rodney was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. So much ache filled Jill as she lost her Rodney before Sam was born. Years later she met Jay. He was full...

Ursula Barboza lost her son, Gabriel (age 4), to an accident. He was a special little boy. Something was different about him from the very beginning. She said, “There a lot of things we don’t understand in this life. It’s like a puzzle with pieces that fit together here or fit there.” Her wisdom in what she has learned from her grief journey is priceless. As a grief therapist now, she is changing...

I love Lucy and love that I get to share a little of her with you! She’s always made me feel a part of the family and always shares her love. We talk about the tradition of music, football, Bear Lake, Survivor Nights, making gingerbread houses and more. She lost her husband Doug, seven years ago and her son a year before that. Both too soon. She shares how friends and family carry you through and...

Gena’s best friend, Desiree Cooper-Larsen died in 2021 due to complications of COVID-19. Des was a passionate teacher, leader, mentor, advocate and friend.  Her life was devoted to her husband , family, community, and education.   Gena said that when Desiree walked into a room she filled it up with beauty and fun! That’s what happened when they met doing the rodeo thing in high school. They went t...

I met Allison 17 years ago when her brother, Robert, died. He was their family’s rock. She describes him as the strong, silent type and a ton of fun! He was a wonderful father and husband. After his death from melanoma at age 38, Allison watched her parents grieve. “It crushed them,” she said. It was more than just an emotional loss. Their health deteriorated as well. Years later, in 2021, Allison...

“Peace begins with a smile” - Mother Teresa. Sometimes, when we share a smile even when we don’t want to, it makes us feel better. A smile is contagious. Try the smile game. And spread smiles across the country! It’s starts with just one. Try it! Just smile 😊

My dad loved the mountains. The beauty and the uphill trail all come into our lives. Grateful for my dad’s example to notice the beauty. It helps to balance the heavy part of grief. Honoring our loved ones and all those who have fought to keep us free💙♥️

Lisa met her mother in law, Helen Hanson, the day she was marrying Helen’s youngest son Jim. Helen and Lester Hanson lived on a 1500+ fruit tree farm in Pennsylvania. They began this fruit tree journey after retirement age and enjoyed seeing their hard working efforts pay off. In later years, they lived in Utah where they connected more with family and had cherished time with grandchildren. Lisa l...

Nicole’s dad, Blaine Eugene Sylvester, died 20 years ago, exactly 6 months after 9/11. “My dad was everything. My dad was truly my hero,” she says. When her dad was young about 9 or 10 years old, he was told he had rheumatic fever and the doctor said he could never play sports. He didn’t let that stop him. He played professional baseball for the the St. Louis Cardinals, was an NBA referee and a co...

Aunt Marj was the best. “She never missed a birthday or an anniversary,” said Debbie Tamcke. She was thoughtful and kind. She married later in life at age 40 and raised sheep with her husband on their ranch in Montana. When the nieces and nephews’ kids participated in rodeos, Marj collected all her Olive Garden coupons and took the family to dinner. Marj loved caring about her friends and they car...

Diedra met her Kenneth while she was temporarily living in Virginia. He was in the Navy and she was there enjoying the beach and house sitting her brother’s apartment while he was deployed. When her brother returned he told Diedra she was going to marry Kenneth which took her by surprise but she knew they just fit together. Diedra and Kenneth raised a beautiful biracial family where they knew they...

Kelly Phillipson, mom to Curtin, told me from the very beginning that her son’s entire mission was to bring their family to Jesus. She shares how her Curtin had the biggest smile and the biggest heart. He loved Jesus with an obedient love. Being born with Down syndrome was not a stumbling block but a blessing. Although in his little life he had physical struggles like open heart surgery, viral pne...

This dynamite couple met on Match. What drew Cindy to Greg was his drive for life. He had so many careers. He was a sharp shooter for the special forces in the Army. He was a pilot and an ER doctor. He was the medical director for many companies but loved being the medical director and trainer over the California state parks. He taught so many life guards and EMT’s setting in motion protocols that...

Kim and Todd Olsen are not strangers to loss and grief. As a young mom, Kim lost her husband and 4 year old in a car accident. Then 11 years ago Todd and Kim lost their US Marine son, Nigel, who was serving in Afghanistan. They said, “He died doing what he loved.” Nigel was so patriotic as a young boy. He asked his Dad to put in a flag pole in the backyard so that he could fly the flag. Nigel alwa...

I love how Latin America celebrates the Day of the Dead and how they remember their loved ones, honor them and invite them back. It’s been a bit of a hard month and I have needed my Dad. I have felt him and seen him in the little white butterflies that have been on my path. We need each other. We are not alone in our grief or anxiety or depression. Please reach out. I also share about a sweet litt...

Donna and Denise became more like sisters rather than friends after their firefighter husbands died. Mike (Denise) and Joe (Donna) were two out of 15 of the firefighters of Engine 54 Ladder 4 Battalion 9 on shift that day. As these women talk about their husbands you can feel their deep love and grief they have. They find comfort knowing their guys are watching over them. Donna and Denise also sha...

Open to Hope’s Dr. Heidi Horsley interviewed me and Dave Turner on her show in NYC. Dave lost 15 of his firefighter brothers in the 9/11 attacks. He’s talks of what helps him cope with such a big loss. 20 years later faith, prayer and talking it out still help in healing. “It’s a tough ride but you can get through it,” he said. We also talk about our connection in getting Carrie Bears in the arms...