All Episodes

Here in the United States, the last Monday in May is Memorial Day, which is a day to honor those who have given their lives for our country. In this episode, Laura focuses on pareavors who have lost their children because of being in the military. Their child chose to go into the armed forces, knowing their life might be sacrificed, which can have so many mixed emotions for their families because it became a very heavy and personal sacrifice for themselves.

Three guests join Laura today. Bev Shoemaker is a previous guest whose oldest son has had several military tours as special forces, but it was her younger son who died in an accident killed by a drunk driver. Three years later her husband died by suicide. Through dealing with these two painful losses, God directed her on a path that has resulted in ministering to Gold Star Moms.

The other two guests are Gold Star Moms, which are mothers whose children served in the military and lost their lives as a result of their service. Lori Southerland’s son, Michael, was killed while serving in Iraq. Amy Drake lost her son, Benjamin, from PTSD after serving during wartime in the Middle East.

As pareavors, we all know the pain and solemness of losing a child. Let’s be sure to take some time on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who gave their lives willingly for our freedoms, and also send up a prayer for these families who personally bear the pain of that sacrifice.

Having faced serious trauma in her own life, Beverly is no stranger to adversity. After losing a husband to suicide and her son in a drunk driving crash, she wanted to give up. She battled depression and discouragement, loneliness and pain, yet she persevered and ultimately found hope. Now Beverly seeks to share that hope with others. She speaks to churches, schools, businesses, and military events, showing strength and courage in a way that offers hope to those listening. She makes it her mission to help others rediscover their identity and purpose after loss and trauma.

Lorie Southerland, a native Texan, served in the Airforce as an Aircrew Life Support Equipment Specialist.  She is the wife of a military husband, the mother of Spc Michael Rodriguez, as well as three other children, and is the grandmother of four beautiful grandchildren. Lorie started both the Dogwood Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers in Sanford, North Carolina, and Wreaths Across America at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake. She was also instrumental in naming part of NC Hwy 24 “Gold Star Memorial Highway”. Lorie has also volunteered with and managed the Fort Bragg Fisher House and has worked closely with the Warrior Transition Battalion for wounded soldiers at Fort Bragg. She spends her time helping local veteran groups and is very active in her church.

Amy Drake is a mom of ten and grandma to twenty-one grandchildren so far. She was a stay-at-home while mom raising her family. Church was first in the lives of her children and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ was most important. After the death of her son, due to military PTSD, Amy started making and selling aprons to raise awareness of PTSD (which can be found on Facebook as Aprons for PTSD Awareness) and to get resources for military veterans. When her husband retires later this year, they plan to travel around the country to visit their children and grandchildren who are scattered around the US.

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

Listen to previous episodes with Bev: Passing It On  and Finding Meaning and Purpose Again

Connect with Bev on her website: theresilientheartpodcast.com or beverlyshoemaker.com

Email Lori at [email protected]

Find Amy and her Aprons for PTSD Awareness here.

Join over 1,000 other pareavors who recieve a Weekly Word of Hope from Laura.

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

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

Andrew LaPlante was born on May 27 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.

Those of us who have lost a child have been through a trauma. We are dealing with traumatic grief. Many parents also have PTSD. How do we get through the suffocating darkness and things like night terrors? Some go to their physician who will write them prescriptions for anxiety or to help them sleep.

It is very easy to get hooked on these prescriptions, needing higher and higher doses to work. Quite often, alcohol gets added to the mix of trying to numb the pain.

What happens when your spouse turns to these things? Today’s episode is talking to two dads who both lost their sons, and whose wives turned to these harmful ways of coping with the pain of child loss for several years. (You can hear both of these moms/wives share their stories in episode 154.)

Being a believer in Christ does not automatically keep you from experiencing heartache and tragedy in this world. It also does not mean you will run to Him immediately for comfort, especially when we know He could have prevented the tragedy. Things like prescription drug abuse and alcohol abuse are more common among Christians after child loss than we might think and is important to talk about.

There is no judgment in this, only care, compassion and extending hope for a way out, along with encouragement for those who have a spouse who is making harmful choices in their deep grief.

Jeff Snider is the father of three adult children, Brenton forever 24, Charlie and Cheyenne. He also has two grandsons and twin granddaughters born at only 28 weeks in April. Jeff and his wife, Stacie, recently moved to their dream home in north-central Texas with lots of acreage and a barn for animals. He retired from the trucking industry at the beginning of this year to take care of their little farm and spend time with his family. 

Curtis Stovall lives in Greer, South Carolina, is the father to seven children and a Papa to one. Two red-headed young ones still live at home, keeping he and his wife, Courtney, very busy.  Curtis works as a receiving associate at Mitsubishi Chemical. Along with juggling work and home, Curtis is also pursuing his Biblical Studies degree, which he will receive from Liberty University in 2 more semesters. As a pareavor who is four years into this journey, Curtis enjoys nothing more than spending every available moment with his family.

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

Email Jeff: [email protected]

Email Curtis:[email protected]

Join over 1,000 parents receiving a Weekly Word of Hope here.

Colby Brown was born on May 17 and is forever 19.

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

Christopher Rueben was born on May 19 and is forever 16.

Ryan Drew was born on May 19 and is forever 31.

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.

Attaining the Triple Crown is a rare accomplishment, whether in horse racing or in baseball.  Unfortunately, it is also a rare accomplishment in our life as a Christian and can be especially difficult after the death of our child.

What is the Triple Crown for a follower of Christ?

Laura believes it is learning:

1) how to clarify God’s vision for our lives, including being released from our paralyzing grief that keeps us from going forward.

2) how to live from a place of being in Christ.

3) how to live from a deeper revelation of the identity of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Join Laura for this interesting discussion, which is a continuation of last week’s episode, along with some thoughts about this past week’s highly unusual Kentucky Derby horse race, which is the first of the three races for the Triple Crown.

See the crown… Wear the crown… Be the crown…

Take a look at the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts.

Episode 157: Our Crown as a Believer

Michael Slater was born on May 8 and is forever 26.

Ashley Pekarek was born on May 10 and is forever 24.

Sarah Wilber was born on May 10 and is forever 34.

Sydney Seisay was born sleeping on May 11.

Jack Randall Whitaker was born on May 12 and is forever 37.

Adan Razo was born on May 13 and is forever 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.

Attaining the Triple Crown is a rare accomplishment, whether in horse racing or in baseball.  Unfortunately, it is also a rare accomplishment in our life as a Christian and can be especially difficult after the death of our child.

What is the Triple Crown for a follower of Christ?

Laura believes it is learning:

See the crown.. Wear the crown… Be the crown…

Join Laura for the beginnig of this interesting discussion which continues next week.

Take a look at the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts.

Nikolas Barrett Graves was born on May 3 and is forever 23.

Shannon Olsen was born on May 3 and is forever 19.

Alexandre Simoes was born on May 3 and is forever 9 months.

Rosalie Marstall was born on May 4 and is forever 4.

Herman Joubert was born on May 5 and is forever 21.

Adam Walker was born on May 6 and is forever 28.

John Patrick Keck was born on May 7 and is forever 23.

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.

Did you know the first Sunday of May is International Bereaved Mother’s Day? Yes, it is a real thing. A day just for us. Today’s episode talks about this special day.

Laura also shares some real and honest thoughts and feelings about the following week, which is Mother’s Day. It is one of the hardest days we have to face each year after child loss, and there is no reason to not admit it or try to sugar coat it.

Be sure to share this episode so that others can become aware of this special day that allows us to acknowledge being the mom of a child who is no longer here with us.

Blog about International Bereaved Mother’s Day

A Letter to My Child on Bereaved Mother’s Day 

GPS Hope Facebook Page

Information about joining GPS Hope on a cruise.

GPS Hope & Healing Retreats

Shannon Chevalier was born on April 21 and is forever 27.

Abigail Jane (Abi) was born on April 25 and is forever 18 months.

Michael Roach was born on April 26 and is forever 28.

Christi was born on April 29 and is forever 49.

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.

“There is no magical age when the death of our child doesn’t affect us in a very deep and profound way. Whether the child died in the womb or was in their sixties, the wrongness of their death causes trauma, and we are never the same.” (Laura Diehl – When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life With Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child)

We bristle when someone who has never lost a child starts a sentence with, “At least….” And yet most of us can’t help but compare the loss of our child with someone else’s loss of their child, convinced that our loss is worse because…

How can we get past that and not allow a root of bitterness add to the intense pain and darkness we have found ourselves hurled into? This is the topic of today’s discussion between Laura and her guest, Sara Nelson, who lost her only child, taking with it any possibility of having grandchildren.

Sara Faith Nelson taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of her writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God’s goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.

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

Connect with Sara Nelson: [email protected]

Sara’s book on Amazon: Footsteps of Hope

Join almost 2,000 other pareavors who are receiving a Weekly Word of Hope from Laura.

Please remember to give a rating and a review on your podcast app.

Christopher Schofer was born on April 21 and is forever 25.

Adam Sharp was born on April 21 and is forever 19.

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.

Those of us who have lost a child have been through a trauma. We are dealing with traumatic grief. Many parents also have PTSD. How do we get through the suffocating darkness and things like night terrors? Some go to their physician who will write them prescriptions for anxiety or to help them sleep.

It is very easy to get hooked on these prescriptions, needing higher and higher doses to work. Quite often, alcohol gets added to the mix of trying to numb the pain.

Today’s episode is talking to two moms who are very open and vulnerable about their experience with prescription drugs and alcoholism after the death of their sons.

There is no judgment in this; only care, compassion and extending hope for a way out, from those who have been there.

Stacie Snider is a mom of three and GiGi of four. She has been an accountant in the healthcare field for many years. Stacie and her husband just purchased their forever home in Texas on 13 acres and raise goats, chickens, geese, donkeys and have four dogs. “Our lives never slow down but we wouldn’t change it for the world.” Stacie has been on this journey of child loss for six years and is also the administrator for the public GPS Hope Facebook page.

Courtney Stovall lives in Greer, South Carolina and is a mother to seven children, one fur baby and a Gigi to one. Before losing her son, she was an executive assistant. Courtney did not go back to work for almost four years and now works for her mother-in-law.  She and her husband have two “surprise babies” still living at home who are five and six, both red headed and keep them very busy.  As a pareavor who is four years into this journey, Courtney enjoys keeping in touch with other pareavors, helping them through the struggles she has walked through.

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

Sponsor an episode in honor of your child.

Email Stacie:[email protected]

Email Courtney: [email protected] 

Info page on Pearls of Hope.  (Unfortunately, we can only ship to the USA.)

Go directly to the Pearls of Hope online store

Be sure to use the promo code BECCA40 when placing your order. 

Watch the pearl opening on the public GPS Hope Facebook page Wednesday, April 13 @ 8:00PM Eastern time.

(Ask to join our private GPS Hope Facebook page here.)

Malish (Caspian) Aurova was born on April 11 and is forever 9 weeks.

Megan Small was born on April 11 and is forever 21.

Michael Rhodes was born on April 11 and is forever 18.

Carter Braun was born on April 13 and is forever 15.

Rachel Pilcher was born on April 13 and is forever 41.

Rebecca Diehl Howard was born on April 13 and is forever 29.

Brandon Matos was born on April 14 and is forever 23.

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.

When we find ourselves thrown into the dark world of child loss, some of us know we need help right away and find ways to connect with other bereaved parents almost immediately.

Some of us take longer to realize how important it is to be around others who “get it”. Other parents who are further along on this unwanted journey can let us know our thoughts and actions are not abnormal for grieving the loss of our child from this earth such as:

Being around other pareavors can give us the hope we desperately need that somehow, I can get through this; not just barely surviving but learn how to live a life of meaning and purpose again that seems impossible.

When we do finally get to the place where we start having some good days and our thoughts are not consumed with the pain of our loss, we can begin feeling like being around other pareavors pulls us back down into that darkness, and we no longer want to be around them.

We all have different needs at different points in this grief journey. These are the things Laura discusses in today’s episode, with her husband, Dave.

Unfortunately, we can only ship to the USA.

Info page on Pearls of Hope

Go directly to the Pearls of Hope online store

Be sure to use the promo code BECCA40 when placing your order. 

Watch the pearl opening on the public GPS Hope Facebook page Wednesday, April 13 @ 8:00PM Eastern time.

(Ask to join our private GPS Hope Facebook page here.)

Find our more about GPS Hope Share & Care support groups

Join over 2,000 parents recieving the Weekly Word of Hope here.

William Judah was born on April 3 and is forever 40.

Cory Spires was born on April 4 and is forever 28.

Greg London was born on April 8 and is forever 34.

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.

There are times when Laura is sent something written by a pareavor that seems to capture the essence of who we are and how we feel after the death of our child, as well as what it is like to travel on this unwanted journey.

On this episode, Laura reads three of these.

Laura also reads something she wrote back in 2017 called Forever.

Because these hit the heart of our journey, listeners may find themselves feeling a bit more emotionally tender than most episodes, but they are worth hearing and absorbing.

This Mom’s Grief by Val Breslau

It’s Been Two Years by Fran Rhodes

One Day by Vickie Hickox

Find out more about Laura’s Books

Go directly to the GPS Hope store.

Send something you have written to Laura: [email protected]

Dakota Crandall was born on March 27 and is forever 25.

Tommy Simmons was born on March 29 and is forever 59.

Miles DiGiannantonio was born on March 30 and is forever 20 months.

Jonda Steinkamp was born on April 2 and is forever 5 months.

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.

Those of us who have lost a child will talk among ourselves about how hurtful it is that our family and friends seem to abandon us after the first few weeks or months. Not only that, but many of these people also seem to expect us to snap out of our grief after a certain amount of time.

We all know what helps and what hurts, but do those around us know? How could they, if they have never experienced the suffocating darkness of the death of their own child.

In this episode, Laura pulls back the curtain and shares some of these things with anyone who wants to know.

If you are a bereaved parent, this episode will help you know that you are not alone in the thoughts and feelings you have in this area. It also gives you something to share with those around you who want or need a better understanding of what you are going through as a bereaved parent.

NOTE: Laura will be on the Wisdom app this Thursday, March 24 at 7:30PM EASTERN if you would like to join her and get in on a discussion on this topic. (Right now the Wisdom app is only available for iPhones.)

PDF: Eight Things Not to Say to a Bereaved Parent

Blog: The Best Bible Verses to Help a Grieving Parent

Find out more about Laura’s Books

Check out the GPS Hope website for the mentioned various resources: gpshope.org

Kyle Moroney was born on March 20 and is forever 23.

Aaron Wright was born on March 20 and is forever 32.

Joshua Aaron Smith was born on March 21 and is forever 21.

Kaleb Wickersham was born on March 23 and is forever 25.

Jacquelyn Landry was born on March 24 and is forever 18.

Waylyn McRae was born on March 25 and is forever 17.

Michael Young was born on March 26 and is forever 22.

Jacob Vidaurri was born on March 26 and is forever 20.

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.