All Episodes

When our child dies, it can take us to a very dark place, even if you have had a life-long close relationship with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. In our place of deep grief, we become a target for the enemy, making it even more difficult to find God through the suffocating darkness.

How do we keep going when God seems so far away when we need Him the most? In the last episode Laura talked about when God seems silent. This episode she talks about finding God in that place of darkness.

Add your son or daughter on the Hope Mobile in an In Loving Memory Heart.

Join over 2000 other pareavors and receive a weekly Word of Hope.

Mitchell Herrmann was born on August 1 and left us at age 24.

Christopher Thomas Boseman was born on August 2 and left us at age 32.

Eric Lopez was born on August 2 and left us at age 36.

Jacob Gary was born on August 6 and left us at age 21.

Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.

Often when our child dies, we search for God in our darkness and pain, but we feel like He either isn’t listening or doesn’t seem to care. Why is that?

Laura talks about some of the possibilities in today’s episode.

Find out more about Laura’s books:

When Tragedy Strikes.

My Grief Journey

My Grief Journey for Kids

Go to the GPS Hope store to order the Pareavor Pack for only $15 through the month of July.

Join over 2000 other pareavors and receive a weekly Word of Hope.

Click here to write a review on Amazon for When Tragedy Strikes.

Oscar Lopez was born on July 26 and left us at age 23.

Claire Rebecca was born on July 27 and left us at age 5.

Daniel Krawiec was born on July 28 and left us at age 32.

Easton Holden was born on July 28 and left us at age 5.

Dayne Sturm was born on July 29 and left us at age 21.

Whitney Leanne Garkow Seehusen was born on July 30 and left us at age 31.

Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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, many of us believe God failed us by walking out on us. We struggle in our relationship with Him. We question ourselves with things like, Is God really who I thought He was?

In today’s episode, Laura does her best to answer one of those questions, Where is God in my pain and darkness as I grieve the death of my child?

Click here to have Laura send you the list of scriptures she read. (This will also sign you up to receive the Weekly Word of Hope emails, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.)

I would like to give a financial gift of support as a way of saying thank you and to help GPS Hope continue to offer support to resources to more bereaved parents.

Lilyana Angel Robles was born on July 17 and left us at age 14 months.

Jimmy LaPlante was born on July 19 and left us at age 39.

Robert William Corbett was born on July 20 and left us at age 21.

Brayden King was born on July 22 and left us at age 17.

Jessica Clinkert was born on July 22 and left us at age 27.

Joey Figueroa was born on July 23 and left us at age 39.

Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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 week Laura started reading a chapter about learning how to rest in God during the deep grief of the early years of child loss from her book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death Of Your Child.

In today’s episode she finishes out the chapter and then goes back to share some extra thoughts and insights she has received on this topic since the book came out six years ago.

Find out more about Laura’s books:

When Tragedy Strikes.

My Grief Journey

My Grief Journey for Kids

Go to the GPS Hope store to order the Pareavor Pack for only $15 through the month of July.

Click here to write a review on Amazon for When Tragedy Strikes.

Stephanie Waters was born on July 10 and left us at age 21.

Ethan Barclay-Weberpal was born on July 10 and left us at age 18.

Charlie Rhodes was born on July 10 and left us at age 9.

Everardo Martinez  was born on July 11 and left us at age 19.

Clifford Patrick Keenan Jr. was born on July 11 and left us at age 24.

Norma Gomez was born on July 11 and left us at age 12.

Eric Breslau was born on July 11 and left us at age 25.

Hagan Jones was born on July 12 and left us at age 20.

Abby Sherwood was born on July 15 and left us at age 18.

Evelyn Grace MacQuarrie was born on July 16 and left us as a newborn.

Madeline Youngdahl was born on July 16 and left us at age 14.

Jack Crean was born on July 16 and left us at age 18.

Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.

Resting in God’s love for us can be a huge struggle when we know He could have stopped the death of our child.

How do we stop struggling and start resting in the very love we are questioning?

Laura addresses this as she reads from a chapter in her book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing after the Death of Your Child.

I want to know more about joining Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise.

Find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes.

Click here to write a review on Amazon for When Tragedy Strikes.

Antonio Moir Catania was born on July 3 and is forever 29.

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

Jessica Lynn Szerlong was born on July 9 and is forever 30.

Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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 might seem like an unusual topic, but it seems to come up enough that Laura decided to do an episode on pets after child loss.

Many of our children who are no longer here had a pet when they died, and quite often it becomes the pet of the parents. When that happens, that animal is more than just a pet, as it gives us a comforting feeling of still being somewhat attached to our child.

There are other pareavors who decide that getting a dog or a cat feels needed in our lives. It gives us something to care for that needs us and gives us a reason for getting up each day.

Quite often either of those pets have become literal emotional support animals as we walk this unwanted journey.

Part of today’s episode includes responses from those who shared these pets with Laura on the GPS Hope Facebook page.

Find out more about joining Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise.

Click here to leave a comment on this episode topic.

GPS Hope public Facebook page.

GPS Hope private Facebook page. 

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

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

Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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 from last week with two dad pareavors, Dave Diehl and Steve Martindale.

Today’s discussion includes Dave and Steve sharing what they wish they had done differently in the early months of their grief. They also answered Laura’s question if the death of their daughters changed their theology or what they believed about God.

Steve closes by praying a precious prayer over all the listeners.

Dave Diehl is retired from a career of over thirty years in IT. He is the cofounder of GPS Hope, and is much of the “behind-the-scenes” support, including technical support for the ministry, and driving the Hope Mobile. Dave wrote a chapter in Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes, and ministers directly to grieving fathers around the nation at the GPS Hope & Healing retreats.

Steve Martindale has been a minister for over thirty years. For several of those years, he and his wife, Denee, held meetings for the body of Christ in a barn. Many powerful men and women of God came to minister at “The Barn”, and people would come from all over to receive a touch from God. After the death of his daughter, and then a son, Steve is now in a new season of life. One of the things he enjoys is being the chaplain for a large local business.

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

Check out the GPS Hope & Healing Virtual Summit here.

Find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.

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

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

Blake Manning was born on June 25 and is forever 38.

Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.

Most of you do not need to be reminded that Father’s Day is this coming weekend. For many dads, it is the hardest day of the year with the pain of missing their child.

Today and next week, we are going to hear from Laura’s husband, Dave, and their friend, Steve Martindale, who also lost a daughter. These two men not only share encouragement for the dads, but for the wives/moms.

May Father’s Day not only be a day of pain, but a reflection of the joy and blessing of being a dad to your special child who is no longer here with you.

Dave Diehl is retired from a career of over thirty years in IT. He is the cofounder of GPS Hope, and is much of the “behind-the-scenes” support, including technical support for the ministry, and driving the Hope Mobile. Dave wrote a chapter in Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes, and ministers directly to grieving fathers around the nation at the GPS Hope & Healing retreats.

Steve Martindale has been a minister for over thirty years. For several of those years, he and his wife, Denee, held meetings for the body of Christ in a barn. Many powerful men and women of God came to minister at “The Barn”, and people would come from all over to receive a touch from God. After the death of his daughter, and then a son, Steve is now in a new season of life. One of the things he enjoys is being the chaplain for a large local business.

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

Check out the GPS Hope & Healing Virtual Summit here.

Find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.

Conor Combs was born on June 16 and is forever 25.

Calvin Joseph Kendricks Jr. was born on June 17 and is forever 28.

Joe Luzzo was born on June 18 and is forever 17.

Tony Posatiere was born on June 18 and is forever 38.

Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.

If you have been frustrated because you are not following the “five stages of grief”, you are not alone. What most people do not realize is that these five stages are to be applied to those who have received the news they have a terminal illness. They are NOT for someone who is grieving the death of a loved one.

Laura’s guest, Mitch Carmody, is a seasoned griever with over thirty years of experience after the death of his twin sister and her two children, as well as his young son shortly after. In part two of The Seasons of the Heart after Child Loss, we will hear about the last three seasons, as well as learn about the acronym S.T.A.I.R.S, which is a much truer representation of what our grief is like.

Mitch lost his 9-year-old son over thirty years ago. Since that time, he has done more than most to help others who are grieving deep loss, including speaking around the nation, being a grief artist, interpretive sign language, writing a book, and more. Mitch moved with his wife from Minnesota to Wisconsin as part of his recent retirement.

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

Connect with Mitch: heartlightstudios.net.

Find out more about joining Dave and Laura on The Grief Cruise.

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

Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.

The five stages of grief were not to be applied to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, but for those who have received the news they have a terminal illness.

If you have been frustrated because you are not following those five steps, you will be relieved to hear about the seasons of grief which today’s guest, Mitch Carmody, shares. Mitch is a “seasoned” griever with over thirty years of experience after the death of his twin sister and her two children, as well as his young son shortly after.

In today’s episode, Laura and Mitch begin by talking about having hope, and then share about two of the five seasons. Next week they will continue with the other three seasons.

Mitch lost his 9-year-old son over thirty years ago. Since that time, he has done more than most to help others who are grieving deep loss, including speaking around the nation, being a grief artist, interpretive sign language, writing a book, and more. Mitch moved with his wife from Minnesota to Wisconsin as part of his recent retirement.

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

Today’s episode is sponsored by Michelle & Craig Enanoria, in loving memory of their son, Kyle Enanoria.

Connect with Mitch: heartlightstudios.net.

Sponsor an episode in honor of your child.

Find out more about joining Dave and Laura on The Grief Cruise.

Alayna Lisboa was born on May 29 and is forever 7 weeks.

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

Shawn Klein was born on June 1 and is forever 33.

Kyron was born on June 2 and is forever 18.

Riley Whitehead was born on June 3 and is forever 19.

Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.

The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.