While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Welcome to episode #190, which is a continuation of my conversation with Kim Peacock.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her 17-year-old daughter Nicole, who was killed in a horrific ATV accident in 1998.  Kim is the author of the book “Victorious Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Devastating Loss” which details her grief journey in the...

I’m excited today to introduce you to my new friend, Kim Peacock.  Kim’s 17-year-old daughter Nicole went to Heaven right after Christmas in 1998, in a horrific ATV accident while on a family vacation.  Kim is the author of the book “Victorious Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Devastating Loss” which details her grief journey in the aftermath of that event.  She has a lot of wisdom to share...

Back in October, my husband Brad and I had the opportunity to meet Mark Vroegop at the Our Hearts are Home conference in Indianapolis. Mark is the lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis.  He and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of four living children, and a daughter, Sylvia, who was stillborn in 2004.   He is the author of a book titled “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace...

Today’s episode features the second half of my conversation with Don and Deondra Chamberlain, whose son Dustin was murdered during a home invasion in December 2011.  We extend our conversation to include topics including “the things people say”, dealing with the holidays, the “before and after” of child loss, the support group they lead for bereaved parents, and how Dustin’s life continues to have...

Dustin Chamberlain was a remarkable young man, a pre-med student at Baylor University, who was home on Christmas break when he was murdered during a home invasion in 2011.  His parents, Don and Deondra, join me today to talk about what happened that day, and how God has sustained their family on this difficult journey.  Listen in and be encouraged!   I would love to hear your thoughts on the show....

Joe and Becky Canal have experienced the loss of two of their five sons … Their oldest son, Josh, to complications related to a heart defect, and their youngest son, Jesse, to a motor vehicle accident.  Joe is the senior pastor of Tyler Christian Fellowship in Tyler, Texas, and together, they host a WWW support group in Tyler.  Their faith has been tested by their losses, but they have found hope...

My friends Joe and Becky Canal have experienced the loss of two of their five sons, and they share their story in today's episode with honesty and grace.  Listen in and be encouraged, and be sure to come back next week for the second half of our discussion. This conversation was recorded prior to my husband's accident last month.  For those that don’t know, Brad was severely injured on D...

My husband and partner in ministry, Brad Sullivan, joins me on the podcast today to discuss some of the highlights of the While We're Waiting ministry in 2023, including a couple of testimonials from parents who attended one of our retreats this past year. PLEASE NOTE - This episode was recorded prior to Brad's accident on December 22, 2023.  We are so grateful to everyone who has been c...

Barbara Scorza is my guest again today, as we extend our conversation to address issues that all bereaved parents can relate to, including facing the holidays without our precious children.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her family’s escape from Hurricane Katrina and the homegoing of her son Kevin in 2011.   Barbara is a gifted storytelle...

Barbara Scorza is my guest on this week's episode, and I'm so excited to introduce you to her!  She is a captivating storyteller, and she has a lot to share ... being a teenage mother, going through a difficult divorce, losing everything in Hurricane Katrina, and experiencing the loss of her son Kevin.  In spite of all she's endured, she tells her story with grace, wisdom, and joy,...

Have you heard the oft-repeated statistic that 80 to 90% of marriages fail after the loss of a child?   Did you know that that is actually a myth?    Today's episode features a webinar that my husband Brad and I recently presented along with our friends, Keith & Shawnda Freer, who are the founders of the GriefHope ministry.  In this webinar, we discussed the impact of grief on marriage, i...

Today's episode features a recording of a panel discussion at the recent Our Hearts Are Home conference for bereaved parents in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The panel includes Gary & Laura House, Keith & Shawnda Freer, Molly Huffman, Greg & Susan Albers, Carol Brown, and my husband Brad & me.  We explore the difficult truths and realities of child loss including the following: The...

As I’m recording this episode, it’s the day before Thanksgiving, and the unofficial kickoff to the full-blown Christmas season hustle-bustle.  But before we get into all that, I wanted to take a moment just to slow down, take a deep breath, and acknowledge the sorrow that underlies this time of year for most bereaved parents.    My friend Karen Harmening is a bereaved mom and gifted writer, and I...

Will we know our children when we get to Heaven?   Is my child an angel now that he or she has died?   Does my child send me signs?  Is it possible to "move forward" in our lives without fearing that we're leaving our children behind?   Is the best really yet to come?  Austin and Valerie DeArmond enjoyed 366 days of blessing with their son Gabriel until the Lord took him to Heaven d...

Austin and Valerie DeArmond are the parents of a daughter, Addie, and a son, Gabriel, a joy-filled little boy who was known for his enthusiastic and sloppy open-mouth kisses. Gabe was the life of every party, and he relished that role. Austin and Valerie enjoyed 366 days of blessing with Gabriel until the Lord took him Home following a sudden and unexpected illness. We have a wide-ranging discussi...

When Neal and Rhonda Harrington's 19-year-old son Adam was killed by a single bolt of lightning in the summer of 2006, their lives were profoundly altered.  As we continue our conversation today, we talk about how grief has impacted their marriage and their relationships with others, and how it has changed each of them individually.    We discuss some practical topics like dealing with the so...

My friends Neal and Rhonda Harrington join me on the podcast today to share the story of their 19-year-old son Adam, who was killed by a lightning strike in August of 2006.  Adam was jogging at the high school track with his granddaddy when the incident happened, and in that split second of time, the Harringtons’ lives were forever changed.  In today’s episode, they share who Adam was, the story o...

Today's special bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast features a conversation with bereaved mom and author of the new book "Sunlight on the Ocean", Rhyl Venning.  A return guest to the podcast, Rhyl shares today about her journey to becoming an author, her objective in writing the book, and how writing Kari-Lee's story impacted her grief.  She also shares some o...

Welcome to episode #172, which is a continuation of my conversation with Cameron and Lyssah Fry.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of their tiny and feisty daughter, Jubilee … born at 25 weeks, 6 days, and weighing just 18 ounces … who repeatedly astounded medical staff with her tenacity and fighting spirit. Her testimony, throughout her 393 da...

Jubilee Nileen Fry was born at 25 weeks, 6 days gestation, weighing in at just 18 ounces, and was not expected to live through her first night.  However, she repeatedly astounded her medical team with her tenacity and fighting spirit.  Her testimony throughout her 393 days in the NICU was “Watch What God Will Do”, and her earthly life, though short by some standards, continues to have a profound i...

When you're living with a child who's battling cancer, you learn to make the most out of every day.  And that's what Joey and Donna Sorters did as they walked their son Jarren through his cancer journey ... They made a conscious decision to dance in the rain.    If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to listen to hear the story of their son Jarren’s courageous battle against...

I’m pleased today to introduce you to my friends Joey and Donna Sorters.  Our paths crossed several years ago when we worked in the same school district together … but at the time, we never dreamed we would walk very similar journeys with our children seven years apart.  In the first half of this two-part episode, Joey and Donna share the story of their remarkable son Jarren, who went to Heaven at...

Welcome to episode #168, which is a continuation of my conversation with my friend Jackie Carson.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her son Jonathan’s battle with drugs and alcohol, including how God redeemed his story to help others caught in the snare of addiction.  Today, we discuss a wide variety of issues faced by bereaved parents.  At...

I'm pleased today to introduce you to my new friend, Jackie Carson, who I met when she attended one of our While We're Waiting Weekends recently.  In the first half of this two-part episode, Jackie shares the story of her smart and funny son Jonathan, who went to Heaven just before Christmas in 2022.  Jonathan was introduced to marijuana at the age of 12, and it was a gateway drug for hi...

Donna Eller joins me on the podcast again this week.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her daughter, Julie … some of it in Julie’s own words from the journals she kept during her fierce battle with cancer. Today we extend our conversation to cover a wide range of very practical issues faced by bereaved parents, including giving grace to a sp...