As we step into August, the sun still warms our days, yet there’s a quiet whisper of change on the horizon. Summer’s brightness holds steady for now, and soon the air will cool, and a new season will begin to unfold.

Much like these shifting seasons, grief brings its own cycles of holding on, letting go, and slowly finding new rhythms of life after loss. Some days feel lighter, filled with warmth and memory, while others are heavy with longing and questions that seem to linger.

This month we prepare to honor National Grief Awareness Day on August 30th and Bereaved Father’s Day on August 31st, I invite you to pause and remember: your grief is valid, your love is eternal, and you are never walking this journey alone.

Imagine stepping away from the weight of daily life… into a peaceful, nurturing space where you can exhale fully for the first time in a long while.

Our 2nd Annual Emotional Freedom After Loss Retreat is coming this November 14–16, 2025, at the beautiful Toddhall Retreat Center in Columbia, IL. It’s a weekend designed to help you:

Early registration is now open, and space is limited. If your heart has been longing for a safe, faith-filled place to begin releasing some of the pain you’ve been carrying, this may be your invitation.

Do you have a Therapist? Do you have a Coach? Therapist often meet you in those moments of crisis. Coaching is different. It’s about walking with you during and after the storm, helping you find clarity, meaning, and a way to take small, hope-filled steps forward into the future of living again with your grief.

A coach won’t rush you or push you to “move on.” Instead, I’ll gently guide you toward a life where grief and love can coexist, a life that feels possible again.

Grief wears many faces and touches every life in different ways. For some, it’s the heartbreaking loss of a loved one. For others, it’s the quiet ache of infertility, the end of a cherished relationship, the loss of health, or even a dream that never had the chance to grow. Whatever your grief may look like today, it matters. Your loss is real. Your pain is valid.

If you feel comfortable, I invite you to pause for a moment and name what your heart is grieving right now…whisper it in prayer, write it down, or simply hold it before God. Sometimes, giving words to our grief is the first step toward healing.

Here is a self-reflection tool to notice how grief and stress may be showing up in your life.

Take a quiet moment to check in with yourself. If you answer “yes” to three or more, it may be time to lean into extra support, like grief coaching to help you begin finding hope and clarity again.

☐ I often feel overwhelmed, confused, or uncertain about even small decisions or where my life is going.
☐ My thoughts feel foggy, and I have trouble focusing or remembering things.
☐ I experience moments of anger, irritability, or frustration that surprise me or feel hard to control.
☐ I feel emotionally numb, disconnected, or unable to express what I truly feel.
☐ I notice physical symptoms of stress such as headaches, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain or loss or a heavy feeling in my chest.
☐ I feel isolated or alone, even when surrounded by people who care about me.
☐ I’ve lost interest or joy in things that once brought comfort or meaning to my life.
☐ I find myself avoiding conversations or situations that feel too emotionally heavy.
☐ At times, I feel hopeless or uncertain about how to keep living after my loss.
☐ I long for gentle guidance and tools to help me take small, intentional steps toward healing while honoring my loved one’s memory.

If you recognize yourself in several of these, please know you’re not broken and you don’t have to carry this weight alone. Grief coaching is a compassionate space to help you process, heal, and begin to rebuild life with faith, hope, and meaning.

Click Here to Play the Song

We Remember Together All Bereaved Fathers and Father Figures

As we approach these meaningful days, I encourage you to take a quiet moment to honor your grief and your loved one.

Light a candle in remembrance.
Say their name aloud, letting it fill the room.
Offer a silent prayer for every grieving heart including fathers who often carry their sorrow silently.

You are not walking this journey alone. There is hope. There is healing. And together, we can step into it, one gentle breath at a time.

As I honor Bereaved Father’s Day this month, I will be lighting a candle and lifting up prayers for every father carrying the weight of loss. If you’d like your loved one’s name to be included in this prayer time, simply reply to this email, I would be honored to remember them with you.

Support Opportunities

Are you ready to embrace emotional release, renewed hope, and a sense of inner peace?

The Grief Resilience (4-week workshop): Mondays Aug 4-Aug 25 from 6-7 PM at The Collinsville Library-Blum House. This series offers a compassionate, empowering path forward, one step, one tear, one breath at a time.
The Grief Reset: A 4-Week virtual Faith-Fueled Journey from Sorrow to Strength. This holistic approach addresses grief on the spiritual, emotional, and physical levels. Is your body holding on to grief and your not sure how to get to your health back?

📩 If something stirred within you while reading about these events, reply to this email, I’d love to share more about the ways I can support you on your healing journey.

Every step you take is a testament to your courage. May you continue to discover soft places to land, kind hands to hold, and moments that remind you—you are not walking this path alone.

You are held. You are worthy. And your tomorrow can be brighter than today.

“My mission is to work with compassionate grieving women to navigate their path of grief, fostering resilience and finding clarity and understanding in their journey. My role as a Grief Specialist is to support them in reclaiming their freedom to live fully and to cultivate a deeper sense of trust in themselves as they move through the healing process."

When you are ready, here are a few more ways I can empower you on your grief journey:

Sometimes, the bravest step we take in grief is reaching out for support. If you’re wondering whether grief coaching might help you, let’s talk. I offer free discovery calls to walk beside you as you explore what’s next.

You can check out my podcast: Female Voice: Life & Loss. Our podcast is dedicated to women from all walks of life, providing a supportive and encouraging platform that addresses the various challenges they face. We aim to offer compassionate guidance, share diverse stories, and equip listeners with practical advice and resources to help them grow, heal, and thrive through every stage of their journey.