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Many of us struggle with our faith in God after He didn’t answer our prayers for our children.

We may have prayed daily for protection, but he or she was in an accident that took their life. We may have prayed for healing from an addiction, or a mental illness like being bi-polar or manic depressive, but our child is no longer here because they were not freed from their struggle and even died by their own doing.

Then there are those children who had a long-term illness, and hundreds of prayers went up by many people for their healing.

Today’s discussion is with one of those parents. Rhyl Venning’s daughter, Kari-Lee, was born with cystic fibrosis, giving her a short lifespan. Over the years, multitudes of people prayed for her healing. Some even “spoke” over her, declaring that God was going to heal Kari. Rhyl was a mom who walked in faith for that healing, whether it was miraculous, or through a medical breakthrough.

This is similar to Laura’s situation with her daughter, Becca, which made for a very interesting conversation in how they both overcame the hurt and disappointment when God did not step in with the healing miracle they both thought was coming for their daughters.

Rhyl Venning lives on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia, and had the privilege of being Kari-Lee’s mother. She is married to Peter and has one remaining daughter, Tiana. Rhyl currently works as a nanny, but before Kari-Lee went to Heaven, she worked as an Occupational Therapist, spending the last twenty years working with children who had moderate to severe disabilities.

She facilitates a support group for bereaved mums, is the Volunteer Care Coordinator for the local Make-A-Wish group, and is a puppy carer for Seeing Eye Dogs. Rhyl is also writing a memoir about Kari-Lee’s life and how she has managed to survive without her daughter. In her free time, she loves to walk on the beach, scrapbook, swim, grow veggies, read, and catch up with friends and family for a cuppa and chat.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

This podcast episode was sponsored by Dave and Kathi Crean in honor of their son, Jack.

Email Rhyl at: [email protected] 

Click here to take a look at the GPS Hope website where you will find a memory wall to have your child added, a free members library with resources to download, a store with Hold On Pain Eases shirts, books by Laura, and other helpful resources.

Sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Madeline Youngdahl was born on July 16 and is forever 14.

Jack Crean was born on July 16 and is forever 18.

Duy Leo Weigert was born on July 16 and is forever 8 months.

Jimmy LaPlante was born on July 19 and is forever 39.

James Nesrsta was born on July 19 and is forever 8.

Charlotte Gray Perry was born on July 20 and is forever 26 days.

Logan Bauer was born on July 20 and is forever 20.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Seven years ago this month, Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing was released with Morgan James Publishing. We are very excited to announce that the audio version has finally being released.

In today’s episode you will be listening to the audio of another chapter, which is Chapter 11, The Pillars of Thoughts and Words. And like last week, you will also hear one of the corresponding lessons from the Rebuilding Your Life Guidance Courses.

Click here to find out more about the book When Tragedy Strikes.

Click here to order the Audiobook on Audible.

Click here to find out more about the When Tragedy Strikes Guidance Courses.

Ask for the promo code after purchasing the audio When Tragedy Strikes, to get the third course for free by clicking here.

Laura’s song on YouTube: Together Forever

Find out more about Laura’s CD and listent to clips from each song.

Find out about Laura’s newly released book Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.

Kaleb Owens was born on July 9 and is forever 17 .

Stephanie Waters was born on July 10 and is forever  21.

Charlie Rhodes was born on July 10 and is forever 9.

Rachel Corn was born on July 10 and is forever 22.

Eric Breslau was born on July 11 and is forever 25.

Marina Fox was born on July  15 and is forever 26.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Seven years ago this week, Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing was released with Morgan James Publishing. We are very excited to announce that the audio version is finally being released this week.

In today’s episode you will be listening to Laura’s audio, reading one of the chapters from the book, which is Chapter 3, The Garage of Tears. You will also hear something that Laura recorded a while back which goes along with this chapter, also on the topic of our many triggers and our many tears.

Click here to find out more about the book When Tragedy Strikes.

Click here to order the Audiobook on Audible.

Click here to find out more about the When Tragedy Strikes Guidance Courses.

Ask for the promo code after purchasing the audio When Tragedy Strikes, to get the third course for free by clicking here.

Contact the office to let us know you would like us to come to your area: [email protected]

Find out about Laura’s newly released book Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.

Davis Heller was born on July 4 and is forever 22.

Andres Martinez was born on July 7 and is forever 21.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

When our child dies, we may have many reasons to “stick around” but none of them seem to matter. We cannot imagine being here for any length of time without our child here with us. Most of us are not suicidal, we just don’t want to be here anymore and would be fine with something happening that would take us out of here to go be with our child.

Laura has experienced this same thing, when her daughter, Becca, died and talks about what it was like both then and now, almost twelve years later.

Sign up to recieve the Weekly Word of Hope here.

Click here to find out about the last available opening for the GPS Hope & Healing retreat in Virginia.

Click here for information about the annual BP USA gathering.

Contact the office to let us know you would like us to come to your area: [email protected]

Find out about Laura’s newly released book Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.

Hunter Josiah Whitney was born on June 25 and is forever 18.

Courtney Kolb was born on June 26 and is forever 23.

Lukas Christofferson was born on June 28 and is forever 19.

Dominic Cardenas was born on June 28 and is forever 24.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

In this episode, Laura talks about something most parents who have lost a child think about. “I am not the same person I used to be. I will never be that person again. Who am I now? Why do we have a word for someone who has lost a spouse, or someone who has lost both parents, but there isn’t a word for me… someone who has lost a child?”

Of course, we all know the suffocating darkness we find ourselves hurled into cannot be described in words, no matter how hard we try. But is there at least a word that identifies us and draws us together to be able to strengthen and encourage each other?

Find out in today’s episode.

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GPS Hope webstore

Alyssa Tyner was born on June 19 and is forever 2 ½.

Kari-Lee Venning (Birrell) was born on June 19 and is forever 25.

Alan Proctor was born on June 22 and is forever 27.

Gregory Moore was born on June 23 and is forever 29.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Today’s episode is a continuation of Laura’s conversation with Melanie DeSimone on the topic of when people around us try to help, but end up hurting us.

In today’s chat, the two talk about:

Click here to listen to the first half of Laura and Melanie’s talk.

Melanie DeSimone has lived on a small homestead for twenty-five years, nestled in rural Bibb County, Alabama. Along with her husband, Hector, she raised four children, along with dozens of various farm animals. Since her son, Dominic, ran ahead to Heaven in 2014, she has spent a great deal of her time and energy writing about their family’s grief journey and ministering to the bereaved parent community through her blog, thelifeididntchoose.com, and in person through speaking. In her spare time, Melanie loves hugging and playing with her two grandsons, sewing small one-of-a-kind handcrafts, and reading lots of books from many different points of view.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

Connect with Melanie: website  or on Facebook

To ask us to bring the Hope Mobile and do an event near you email us at [email protected]

REMEMBER TO SAVE THE DATES OF AUGUST 1-3, 2024 TO JOIN US FOR THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE AND CELEBRATION EVENT FOR THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF GPS HOPE!

Click here to find out more about the Bereaved Parents USA gathering where Laura will be speaking July 21-23.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Avery Gingerich arrived on June 14th. He bloomed on earth to blossom in heaven.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope

When our child dies, it is more than just a moment in time for us. It is a continual, ongoing loss. However, most of the people around us see it as an event; as something we should be able to “get over,” and it can really hurt.

People we thought who would be there for us seem to go on with their lives, forgetting about our child and the huge gaping hole it leaves in our lives and in our hearts.

Today you will hear part of Laura’s discussion with guest, Melanie DeSimone, about the many thoughts and feelings we can have when we are hurt by those around us who don’t even seem to try and understand what it is like to lose our child from this earth.

Melanie DeSimone has lived on a small homestead for twenty-five years, nestled in rural Bibb County, Alabama. Along with her husband, Hector, she raised four children, along with dozens of various farm animals. Since her son, Dominic, ran ahead to Heaven in 2014, she has spent a great deal of her time and energy writing about their family’s grief journey and ministering to the bereaved parent community through her blog, thelifeididntchoose.com, and in person through speaking. In her spare time, Melanie loves hugging and playing with her two grandsons, sewing small one-of-a-kind handcrafts, and reading lots of books from many different points of view.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

This podcast episode was sponsored by Omnia Masoud in memory of her son, Ocean Yohannes Emru Campbell. 

Connect with Melanie: website  or on Facebook

The reduced cabin prices for joining GPS Hope on a cruise have been extened for two more weeks! Get more information!

Sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Richard Elia was born on June 5 and is forever 40.

Aaron Paige was born on June 6 and is forever 21.

Kayla Ramos was born on June 7 and is forever 25.

Ocean Yohannes Emru Campbell was born on June 7 and is forever 23.

Tasha Nicole Busick was born on June 10 and is forever 40.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Last Sunday, May 28 was Pentecost Sunday. This is when the Holy Spirit fell on those in the upper room with power and anointing, fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection.

As believers in Christ, we are familiar with who Jesus is and what He did for us. We hear a lot about who God is as well. But how much do we know about the third part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives in us when we receive the gift of salvation?

Why do we need the Holy Spirit, and how can He help us in our grief after the death of our child? This is what Laura talks about in today’s episode.

Click here to find out more about Laura’s health journey.

Click here to sign up to talk with Laura about having her as a health coach and have a health assessment.

Send Laura an email to let her know you would like to join other pareavors working toward better health in the GroupMe app.

Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise! Click here for more information.

Jordan Kok was born on May 28 and is forever 33.

Alayna Lisboa was born on May 28 and is forever 7 weeks.

Kyle Enanoria was born on May 30 and is forever 11.

Kyron was born on June 2 and is forever 18.

James Manning was born on June 3 and is forever 2.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Do you feel guilty for laughing after your child died? Are humorous things that used to make you laugh no longer funny? How do we get past that? What if we don’t want to ever laugh again?

Laura’s guest, Nancy Weil, is a certified laughter specialist, who combines it with being a certified grief worker. Laughter is something that is needed in our lives as soon as possible because of the physical, mental and emotional benefits it brings to the grieving process. Find out why and how in today’s discussion.

Nancy Weil is a leading authority on the relationship between humor and grief, and is known for her energetic, entertaining and content rich programs. She runs a national virtual grief support group through her work with the Order of the Golden Rule, an association for independent funeral homes. Nancy is Certified as a Funeral Celebrant, Grief Management Specialist, and Laughter Leader.  She is the founder of The Laugh Academy and the author of, If Stress Doesn’t Kill You, Your Family Might.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

This podcast episode was sponsored by Lester and Kathy Wilfong, in memory of their daughter, Jessi Wilfong.

Listen to previous episode with Nancy: Can Our Children Still Communicate With Us?

Connect with Nancy: website thelaughacademy.com or email [email protected]

It is the last week to get in on the reduced cabin prices! Get more information to join Laura and Nancy on The Grief Cruise!

Sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Isaiah Santell was born on May 22 and is forever 16.

Tyrin Carter was born on May 22 and is forever 19.

Andrew Ricken was born on May 22 and is forever 35.

Kyle Terry was born on May 24 and is forever 28.

Jessi Wilfong was born on May 26 and is forever 20.

Andrew LaPlante was born on May 27 and is forever 24.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope

As parents who have faced the loss of a child, our world comes to a screeching halt. It can feel devastating to see life going on as normal with those around us.

In today’s episode, Laura’s guest, Kim Peacock talks about this, along with dealing with the many triggering activities that go on this time of year, such as graduations and weddings.

Kim Peacock is the author of Victorious Heart, which details her handling of grief over the loss of her 17-year-old daughter. It also provides insightful advice for those seeking to support and help those who grieve. She has raised six children, residing with her husband, Larry in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Kim is the CFO of Peacock Engineering, a cemetery construction company that specializes in cemetery improvement and expansion. Through her blog, Wild Victorious Heart, and her book and speaking, Kim acts as a grief mentor to others in need. She enjoys spending time with her several grandchildren, gardening and playing with the animals on her mini farm.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

Click the link to connect with Kim: www.wildvictoriousheart.com

Click the link to order Kim’s book on Amazon.

Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.

Jordan Slusher was born on May 17 and is forever 21.

Jason Turner was born on May 20 and is forever 36.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.