Can I Forgive?
We never know what the day may hold, do we? When I was 18 years old, getting ready to graduate from high school, anticipating my future life with excitement, a…
Grief upon Grief
Today, I just can’t... It’s one of those days where it all culminates and puts me into an almost paralyzed state. Compounded grief—ever heard of it? The definition of…
How Are You? – The Impossible Question
“How are you?” I never know how to answer that question anymore. It can seem like a very silly and careless question, when you are going through grief. Do you…
Letting Others In
I love to read. I thank my dear mother, who passed away in 2008, for instilling that adoration in me. She would go to the library and check out at…
Honoring a Loved One During COVID-19
My mother-in-law, Martha Schardein, passed away on November 24th of this year after a long battle with cancer. Thankfully, she did not experience a lot of pain in the final…
Calm Down, Move On, Get Over It?
Unexpectedly losing a loved one is hard to understand if you haven’t been through it yourself. It’s hard to describe but I’ll try using a scene from Jaws. I was…
Dating After Death: Part One
After years of suffering my spouse, my partner, my love finally died. My heart was shattered. I hardly knew where to look to start picking up the broken parts. I…
Post-Traumatic Growth
“Trauma doesn’t have to defeat you. It can be a perfect opportunity for growth. Don’t just make a comeback. Use it as a catalyst forward.” ~ Matt McWilliams A friend…
Honor Your Loved One During COVID-19
Burying a loved one is hard enough and now we cannot celebrate their life with family and friends? I remember the day that my son, Ben, passed away. We had…
Grieving Uncertainty
I’m not sure what I’m feeling. It’s very much like grief and has taken me back to the months that followed after my son, Ben Koier, passed away. It’s this…