All Episodes

In this episode of the GPS Hope podcast, Grieving Parents Sharing Hope, Laura shares a powerful and comforting perspective on the story of Jesus walking on water through the lens of child loss and deep grief. When life feels like a violent storm and faith feels fragile, it can be easy to wonder where Jesus is in the middle of our pain. But what if the storm is not proof He has abandoned us? What if He is already walking toward us in the middle of it?

Using the story of Peter stepping out onto the waves, Laura gently reminds grieving parents that our hope is not found in having perfect faith or somehow “holding it all together.” Our hope is found in Jesus Himself; the One who stands above the storm and reaches for us when we feel like we are sinking. If you have been struggling with fear, exhaustion, questions, or simply trying to trust God again after the death of your child, this episode offers compassionate encouragement that you are not alone, not forgotten, and still firmly held by the Savior whose grip never fails.

If you are grieving the loss of a child, Reflections of Hope — June Edition and Full Year Edition offer daily encouragement, Scripture, and hope to walk with you one day at a time.

Click here for information on the GPS Hope & Healing Cruise.

Click here to find out more about the word pareavor.

Click here to support the podcast and join Laura on Patreon for extra content

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

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

Elaiah Steffen was born on May 27 and is forever 7.

Nathan Lee was born on May 28 and is forever 20.

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

Mark (Markie) Sweitzer was born on May 30 and is forever 29.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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.

After the death of our child, fear can quietly move into every corner of our lives. Fear of losing someone else. Fear of moving forward. Fear that if we laugh again, love again, or begin to live again, it somehow means we are leaving our child behind. The torment of those fears can feel overwhelming, especially when grief has already taken so much from us.

In this deeply personal episode, Laura shares from her own journey after the death of her daughter Becca, speaking honestly about the fears grieving parents carry and the faith it takes to keep breathing through them. If your heart feels exhausted from the weight of “what if” and the pain of the unknown, this episode will gently remind you that fear does not get to have the final word.

Today’s episode was sponsored by Shannon McKeon, in honor of her son, Joseph’s birthday.

Want to honor your child by sponsoring a podcast episode?  Click here

Click hereto give an Amazon review of When Tragedy Strikes to help other pareavors know how much it helped you.

Click here to find out more about the word pareavor.

Click here to support the podcast and join Laura on Patreon for extra content

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

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

Andre Smith was born on May 18 and is forever 35.

Joseph LaFave was born on May 21 and is forever 35.

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

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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 shares how to handle milestones after child loss, gently walking grieving parents through the moments that can feel the hardest to face. From birthdays and holidays to unexpected reminders that take your breath away, these “milestones” are not celebrations, but the tender and often painful markers of grief. With compassion and understanding, Laura reframes what milestones mean, reminding listeners that while we never get over them, we do get through them, and over time, they become part of how we learn to live again.

Drawing from personal experience and the shared journey of other bereaved parents, this episode offers practical and heartfelt encouragement for coping with grief milestones after losing a child. With a faith-centered perspective, she reminds listeners that they are not alone, and that even in the most difficult moments, there is growth, grace, and the steady presence of God walking with them.

Click here to get Footsteps of Hope by Sara Nelson. (Affiliate link: GPS Hope may earn a small commission from your purchase.)

Click here for information on the GPS Hope & Healing Cruise.

Click here to find out more about the word pareavor.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Leah Van Emmerik was born on May 13 and is forever 39.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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.

Mother’s Day can be one of the most painful and complicated days of the year for a grieving mom. In this episode, Laura speaks honestly about how to handle Mother’s Day after losing a child, acknowledging the mix of love, grief, pressure, and longing that so many bereaved mothers carry. With gentle encouragement and real-life understanding, she reminds you that there is no right or wrong way to walk through this day, and that your motherhood has not ended.

If Mother’s Day feels heavy, this episode offers compassionate support and permission to do what your heart needs. Through personal reflection and a heartfelt letter to her child, Laura helps you find a way to navigate Mother’s Day after child loss with honesty, grace, and hope, acknowledging that your love continues and your child is always part of who you are.

Click here to start Reflections of Hope – a full year of daily encouragement.

Click here for information on the GPS Hope & Healing Cruise.

Click here to sponsor an episode for your child.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Milo Kostrna bloomed on earth to blossom in heaven on May 3.

Lisa Nana Yaa Aning (Monica) was born on May 4 and is forever 2.

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

Kaz Mcclure was born on May 8 and is forever 30.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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.

As we continue exploring what it means to be trying to trust God after the death of your child, this episode shifts into what God is doing within us through our suffering. While the pain never feels “good,” Scripture shows us that God is still at work bringing maturity, strength, and a deeper foundation in Him.

Based on 1 Peter 5:10–11, we talk about how God gently rebuilds us by perfecting, establishing, strengthening, and settling us, even when part of us feels forever missing. If you are wondering how to keep going or what healing can even look like now, this episode offers quiet hope and truth for the road ahead.

Click here to see if the GPS Hope Grief Cruise will be sailing and join us on this journey of hope.

Click here to support the podcast and join Laura on Patreon for extra content

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Michael Patnaude was born on April 27 and is forever 21.

Christi Gayheart was born on April 29 and is forever 49.

Eric Merciers was born on May 1 and is forever 38.

Aaron Opoku was born on May 1 and is forever 27.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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 you are trying to trust God after the death of your child, it can feel like everything you believed has been shaken to the core. In this deeply personal episode, Laura shares part of her own story and the questions that rise when suffering doesn’t make sense. Together, we gently look at what Scripture says about pain and how God’s grace and glory are still present, even in the darkest places.

This episode is rooted in 1 Peter 5:10–11, reminding us that even after we have suffered for a while, God’s heart toward us has not changed. If your faith feels fragile or uncertain right now, you are not alone, and this conversation is for you.

Click here to get your copy of Reflections of Hope: May Edition.

Click here to start Reflections of Hope – a full year of daily encouragement, one day at a time

Click here to get the details for the Bereaved Mother’s Day Luncheon.

Click here to register for the Bereaved Mother’s Day Luncheon.

Click here to support the podcast and join Laura on Patreon for extra content

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.

How to cope with your child’s birthday after child loss is something every grieving parent eventually faces, yet nothing can fully prepare your heart for that day. In this episode, Laura gently walks with you through the emotions that can rise as your child’s birthday approaches—the memories, the longing, and the questions about whether or how to acknowledge the day. With compassionate, faith-centered encouragement, she reminds you that your child’s life still matters and that remembering them is meaningful.

As you consider how to cope with your child’s birthday after child loss, you’ll also hear simple, heartfelt ideas from other bereaved parents for honoring your child in ways that feel right for you. Whether the day is filled with tears, quiet reflection, or small acts of remembrance, you are not alone. This episode offers gentle reassurance that there is no “right” way, only your way of continuing to love your child.

Click here to start Reflections of Hope – a full year of daily encouragement, one day at a time

Click here to sponsor an episode for your child, such a meaningful way to share hope and encouragement with others.

Click here to read about Becca’s journey as shared by Laura from childhood cancer to her heart issues leading to her passing.

Click here to find out why Laura keeps using the word “pareavor?

Click here to support the podcast and join Laura on Patreon for extra content

Click here to listen to I Remember Well, since I will be playing the song

If this episode spoke to you, please follow the podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others find hope

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Colby Lewis was born on April 12 and is forever 20.

Becca Diehl Howard was born13 on April  and is forever 29.

Jodie Fuller was born on April 14 and is forever 37.

Briana Martinez was born on April 17 and is forever 17.

Sawyer Dirmeier was born on April 17 and is forever 18.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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.

After the death of a child, many grieving parents struggle with something they don’t expect, which is extreme brain fog. In this episode, Laura gently talks about foggy brain after child loss, including the forgetfulness, confusion, and mental exhaustion that can linger for years. If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t think clearly or feel like your mind just isn’t working the way it used to, you are not alone.

With honesty, personal experience, and biblical encouragement, this episode explores why grief affects your mind and memory, while offering hope for the healing process. You’ll be reminded to give yourself grace, take one small step at a time, and speak truth over your thoughts as God slowly begins to lift the fog.

Click here to start Reflections of Hope – a full year of daily encouragement, one day at a time

Click here to explore Hope merchandise – including t-shirts, hoodies, and more

Click here to support the podcast and join Laura on Patreon for extra content

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Amie Bichard was born on April 5 and is forever 45.

Eric Scott was born on April 6 and is forever 30.

David J Spinnanger was born on April 9 and is forever 19.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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 powerful and deeply moving episode, Turning Pain into Peace, Laura sits down with Angela Alexander to share a story marked by unimaginable loss and remarkable faith. After enduring multiple tragedies, including the devastating loss of her two young sons in a car accident, Angela opens her heart to reveal how God met her in the depths of grief and began a journey of healing. Her story is not one of avoiding pain, but of walking through it and discovering that even in the darkest places, peace is possible.

As they talk, the conversation gently unfolds into what it means to begin turning pain into peace; not through quick answers, but through surrender, forgiveness, and a deep, personal relationship with God. Angela shares practical and spiritual insights that helped her move from overwhelming grief into a place of purpose, offering hope to bereaved parents who may feel stuck in that suffocating darkness. This episode is a reminder that while the pain of child loss never fully disappears, God can meet us there and lead us into a life that holds both sorrow and peace.

A sister, an Air Force Reserve retiree, a wife, a mother, an inspirational speaker, and now an author and executive producer of her own documentary film. She is the narrator of her autobiography, Miracles in Action: Turning Pain into Power and Grief into Peace. Rather than succumbing to darkness and despair after facing continuous hardship and loss, she chose to find strength and inspire others facing similar challenges, guided by God himself. Angela has been actively speaking at ceremonies in churches, retreats, and conferences to inspire and encourage people to stay hopeful and never give up.

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

To connect with Angela Alexander: miraclesinaction.com

Click here to get The Bible’s Grieving Parents

Click here to get The Bible’s Grieving Parents and Companion Journal

Click here to get My Grief Journey Coloring Book and Journal for Kids

To support this podcast and, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content, visit us on Patreon.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Jonda Steinkamp was born on April 2 and is forever 4.5 months. 

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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.

For grieving parents, heaven is no longer just something we believe in—it becomes deeply personal. When your child is there, heaven feels closer in a way you never expected, yet the pain of missing them here remains just as real. In this episode, Laura gently shares five heartfelt truths about heaven that can bring comfort, even in the middle of deep sorrow.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about where your child is, longed more to see them than anything else, or wondered how to hold onto hope while living with their absence, this conversation will meet you right where you are. As we shift our focus from where our children are not to where they are, we begin to see that while our pain is deep, the glory they are experiencing is beyond comparison—and that can bring a quiet sense of peace to our hearts.

Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents

Click here to register for the Bereaved Mother’s Day Luncheon.

Click here to get your copy of The Bible’s Grieving Parents and Companion Journal.

Click here to get your copy of Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents

To support this podcast and, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content, visit us on Patreon.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Jeremy Capots was born on March 26 and is forever 47.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

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.