The Joyful Mourning - A Podcast for Women Who Have Experienced Pregnancy or Infant Loss

Listen in as I read a Letter to the Grieving Mom Whose House is Quiet & Empty by Avery Swaringen.

I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.

A special series called Letters to a Grieving Mom.

Read the Letter: www.themorning.com/blog/letter-to-the-grieving-mom-whose-house-is-quiet-empty

For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.

THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF ELEANOR BLACK.

Eleanor was born on July 30, 2020.

A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church.

We love you, Eleanor! We are eagerly waiting with Eleanor's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family

A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode. We remember Eleanor with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

A special episode in honor of your motherhood. This entire month we are giving space for your unique story of motherhood, providing a little extra support and hope as you head into Mother's Day – a day that can be full of many complex emotions, often very painful.

But more important than our resources and articles on the blog and special episodes here on the podcast, mostly, I want you to know, we want you to know that Your motherhood is motherhood, too.

Even if it doesn't look like everyone else's, or like how you wish yours was.

Even in the journey you're facing, this day is for you, too.

In this special episode I am kicking off this month with a poem written by Meg Walker called This is Motherhood, Too. I pray it brings you comfort, hope and gives you space to honor your unique journey as a mother.

For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.

As we approach Mother's Day, maybe you are wondering will anyone recognize my motherhood? Will anyone remember? Will anyone see me as a mother?

Today I am talking about what it looks like to prepare for Mother's Day as a bereaved mother. I am sharing my best advice about how to tangibly prepare for this day, and the days leading up to it, as well as simple ideas for how you, as a bereaved mother, can celebrate your motherhood this Mother's Day.

For our best and most helpful resources for navigating Mother's Day, download our free Resource Bundle & Workbook: www.themorning.com/mothersday.

YOU ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL EVENT FOR BEREAVED MOTHERS | May 7 at 8p est. Click here for the details to Register

JOIN THE COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode159

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing Danielle Anderson – a birth & bereavement doula, speaker, teacher, a wellness coach and a mom who has experienced tragic loss. For the last 10 years, Danielle has been on a journey of healing and restoration, and has learned the importance of whole health - spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical – and during our time together she shares incredible insight and wisdom about all that she has learned. Insight that is going to offer you hope, help and freedom in your grief journey.

Danielle shares her motherhood journey with me and what surprised her about grief and the most challenging aspect of her grief journey and how she navigated that challenge. We talk about finding healing and what it means to be present with our emotions, how to have mental boundaries and take control over the narrative we are telling ourself about our loss; we talk about the importance of sleep and what to do if sleep feels impossible right now.

I appreciate this conversation so much and truly wish I had had these wise words when walking through the fresh days of grief – Danielle offers so much freedom in what it looks like to be a mother grieving the loss of a child. I am sure that this episode is going to bless you.

JOIN US FOR A LIVE EVENT | MAY 7 AT 8P EST.

Danielle will be joining us again for a special live event in honor of Bereaved Mother's Day on Sunday May 7 at 8p est. and we would love for you to join us. Danielle will be leading this special event as we honor your motherhood journey with rest, hope and healing – she will teach us about how grief and trauma impact you holistically and ways to practically find healing and hope even amidst your grief. There will be time to practice what she is teaching so you can implement these healing methods in your own life and we will end the event with a live Q&A so you can ask Danielle your questions about grief and finding healing. This is an incredible opportunity and I would love to see you there.

For all the details and to register head to themorning.com/takecare

THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF HADLEY JACKSON.

Hadley was born on February 23, 2017 and passed away on November 3, 2017

A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church:

"We love you, Hadley! We are eagerly waiting with Hadley's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family"

A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode.

We remember Hadley with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode201

Join me in listening to Mary Margaret Powitz as she reads a letter she wrote to you as we anticipate Mother's Day. In this bonus episode Mary says these words:

"your motherhood, no matter how it looks, is worth celebrating... However long you had with your child, they still lived, and you still loved them, and you are still a mother. Whether anyone else claims it to be true. And that means, Mother's Day doesn't have to be about what others do or don't do, but about how you choose to celebrate your own story and value as a mom."

We created a Mothers Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for you filled with helpful resources that will give you a practical, simple and tangible way to prepare your heart for a day that may feel very difficult to navigate. To download that workbook head to themorning.com/mothersday.

Mother's Day is Coming, written and read by Mary Margaret Powitz.

Mother's Day Resource Bundle & Workbook for a Bereaved Mother www.themorning.com/mothersday

Join us for a Special Event on Bereaved Mother's Day | May 7 at 8p est Click here to Register

200 EPISODES. What a special and incredible milestone and I'm so grateful you are here to celebrate that milestone with me. Whether this is your first time listening or you have listened to all 200+ episodes – I am so grateful you are here. Grateful that you have invited me into this journey. Honored to walk alongside you as you find joy in your mourning.

The Joyful Mourning Podcast exists to remind you that you are not alone in your grief through stories of women just like you navigating life after loss and to provide resources that will offer support as you navigate life after loss and this new normal as you move towards healing. Like I said, I am so grateful to be on this journey with you – providing the support and wisdom and encouragement that I know, as a fellow grieving mother, will bring you hope, even on the darkest days.

That's why I'm here and that's what this show is all about – finding hope and joy even in the mourning and reminding you that you matter. Your baby matters. Your story matters. And you are seen. And loved. And not alone.

This special milestone episode is your Joyful Mourning Starter Kit – 20 episodes that will immediately help you find joy, hope and practical help when navigating grief and life after loss. Our best and most helpful episodes because I know it can be hard and overwhelming to know where to start when there are 200 episodes. Consider this your index of most valuable episodes – giving insight, wisdom, and hope for some of the most challenging aspects of life after the loss of a baby.

While I truly believe that all of our episodes are incredibly meaningful and valuable, I have chosen 20 episodes to highlight with you here that will address those big challenges and help you get started here with us. And even if you have been listening for a while I think many of these episodes are worth revisiting or saving for the future to pass along to another grieving friend who may be facing that specific challenge.

For a quick access to the Starter Kit, where all the episodes will be listed and linked, head to themorning.com/200

Celebrate 200 episodes and enjoy 20% off our new classic tee collection. Shop Here > www.themorning.com/shop?category=Apparel Use coupon code: 200

THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF CALVIN JAX COTTER.

Tripper was born on born on June 19, 2021.

A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church:

"We love you, Calvin! We are eagerly waiting with Calvin's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family"

A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode.

We remember Calvin Jax Cotter with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode198

Listen in to hear an honest and very practical, tangibly helpful conversation about navigating many different aspects of a life-limiting diagnosis and life after loss with KC Tregoning. During our time together KC shares about her son Alan and what it was like to receive a life-limiting diagnosis for him – how she navigated the medical system, what she learned about how to best naviagate a very rare diagnosis, questions to ask your team and even how she kept all the information from the plethora of appointments organized in a way that made it all just a little easier. We talk about finding purpose after experiencing loss and what it looked like for her to build community. KC shares what her faith looked like in this season and many of the ways God showed up to remind her of His great love for her even amidst the unthinkable. Lastly, we spend some time talking about how to love a grieving mom and dad.

I am so grateful for KC's wisdom and very practical advice throughout our time together – I am sure that no matter your story, this episode is going to bless you.

THIS EPISODE IS IN LOVING MEMORY OF TRIPPER CHARLES.

Tripper was born on March 17, 2018.

A message from the sponsor, Citizens Church: "We love you, Tripper! We are eagerly waiting with Tripper's family for Jesus to return, for all that is wrong to be made right, for death to die, and for the greatest reunion we will ever know. One day closer. Love, your Citizens Church family"

A special thank you to Citizens Church for sponsoring this episode.

We remember Tripper Charles with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode198

Listen in to hear an honest conversation about infertility, loss, and lament from MaryEsther Caldwell. During our time together MaryEsther shares honestly about what it was like to navigate infertility, and then to experience a miraculous pregnancy only to unexpectedly lose her daughter Magnolia Jubilee at 22 weeks.

We talk about the challenges of grief and what surprised her and what she wished others understood about infertility and loss and the grief of both. About this she says: "I am just aware on a really deep level that I may never be pregnant again. I have to really deal with the question of, is God good if I never have any more children? If I never get to raise and mother a child here, is God still good? And I think the harder question for me actually is, will my life still be meaningful? Will I still have any joy in my life if this doesn't happen?"

Then we spend some time talking about what it means to lament, what is lament, what she means by 'grief visibility' in the church and how we can do better serving those who are grieving within the space of corporate worship.

Lastly, we talk about friendships after loss and what it looked like for her to navigate friendship and wisdom she has for those who are newly grieving navigating that aspect of life after loss. About this she says: "friendship has always been really important to me. I think through this, especially in the beginning and even a little now, it's been really hard for me to go from being the person who was always there for other people, to a person who desperately needed to rely on others."

Resources for Lament MaryEsther had a few really helpful resource recommendations for us on this topic of lament in our grief and we have included links to all those in the show notes -- find those here: Show Notes

THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF ELIANA GRACE.

This episode is sponsored in honor of Eliana Grace. A message from Eliana's mom:

"Eliana, you are so loved. We miss you dearly and will always remember you. Love, Mom, Dad, Everly and Lou."

A special thank you to Kelsey Rebedew and Eliana's family for sponsoring this episode.

We remember Eliana with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode198

"When God doesn't give a miracle..."

Monica Harris joins me for this episode to share her motherhood journey and her experience receiving a life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance as well as the news that she and her husband were carriers for a genetic condition that could result in a similar diagnosis in future children.

At the time of our recording Monica was 37 weeks pregnant with a daughter who was also given a difficult diagnosis – prayerfully not a diagnosis that would limit life but difficult and complex nonetheless. Knowing this makes my time with Monica and her words that much more powerful – when she talks about what it looked like to pray for a miracle and for God to not give that miracle– about this she says: "He's good God, but He's not always going to say yes." and we talked about her pregnancy right now, she said this: "I like to be in control, but this time I have no control. Just praying and believing that God will take us through whatever comes."

We spend some time talking about:

• what it was like to receive that life-limiting diagnosis for her son Vance
• how to navigate when the plan you have for your family doesn't turn out the way you had ever imagined
• navigating a pregnancy after loss
• navigating the medical aspect to a life-limiting diagnosis and high risk pregnancy after loss
• friendships after loss
• what she wishes others knew about grief and how to help a mom who is grieving.

This is a beautifully tender and honest interview with a mom who is still in a season of waiting, of anticipating, of navigating the unknown but her faith will encourage you – I know it encouraged me.

FREE DEVOTIONAL A free 7 day devotional for those who have eperienced the loss of a baby. Download here: www.themorning.com/hope

FREE RESOURCES FOR PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS:

1. Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it's a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal

2. Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal

3. All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal

THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF MALACHI GRECO.

This episode is sponsored in honor of Malachi Greco.

A message from ​​Adriana Gruntz:

"God used and continues to use Malachi to break our hearts to show us His tender mercies. God is using Malachi to teach me and the whole family how to intensionally be there for each other and for the people around us. Malachi is our eternal gift and though the pain will never leave, God will teach us a new kind of Joy. Malachi we will forever carry you in our minds and hearts. We love you so much. I also wanted to hug, through this message, my sister Paoli and her wonderful husband Todd. We love you so much!"

A special thank you to Adriana for sponsoring this episode. We celebrate Malachi and we remember him with you.

We remember Malachi with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode197

In this episode I have the joy of hearing from Lauren Hendricks, a precious mama who shares her motherhood journey with me and her experience with two first trimester losses.

Lauren shares what she wished others understood about a first trimester loss and we both get really honest about the most challenging aspect of this journey, the envy, jealousy and anger that can often follow loss; especially when it involves others getting pregnant and having babies. We talk honestly about what that looked like in each of our lives and if that is something that feels hard for you right now, I think this part of the conversation will encourage you.

Lauren also shares what she learned about navigating the medical aspect of loss after experiencing consecutive losses, and about the importance of having a medical provider you can trust. About this she says: "I just wish other women knew that it's okay to find a doctor that's good for you. The one who takes care of you and your unborn child is no small thing."

We also spend sometime talking about what it was like for her to try to conceive again after two losses and what her 3rd pregnancy was like.

Throughout our time together Lauren weaves her experience with faith into the conversation and about this she says this: "I just couldn't grasp what the Lord was doing."

This conversation is tender and honest and I am sure that Lauren's wisdom and encouragement will bring you hope today.

HELPFUL PREGNANCY AFTER LOSS / GROWING YOUR FAMILY AFTER LOSS RESOURCES:

1. Free Pregnancy After Loss Community – it's a private group and conversation within our main community where you can feel the freedom to have honest conversations about the unique journey that is pregnancy after loss. themorning.com/pal

2. Free Download: 40 Verses for 40 Weeks - this download includes 1 verse to meditate on, pray, or memorize for every week of your pregnancy. themorning.com/pal

3. All of our best and most helpful blog articles and podcast episodes about growing your family after loss into one place. themorning.com/pal

THIS EPISODE IS IN MEMORY OF PHOEBE JOY LU.

This episode is sponsored in honor of Phoebe Joy Lu.

A message from ​​Amber Lu, Phoebe's mom: "Honoring our sweet heart warrior Phoebe Joy Lu. A radiant, joyful, and brave girl. We love and miss you as we honor your first anniversary home in heaven. Love, Mom and Dad"

A special thank you to Amber Lu and family for sponsoring this episode.

We remember Phoebe with you.

If you love this podcast and are interested in sponsoring an episode in honor of your baby, head to themorning.com/sponsor for all the details.

FREE ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITYA place away from social media where you can find support and care from women who are just like you. Women navigating the day to day ups and downs of grief. A place where you can feel not alone in this. Come join us: themorning.com/community

FREE GRIEF RESOURCE BUNDLEOur best and most helpful resources for navigating grief and life after loss all in one place. Plus a list of our favorite books for children about grief and loss. Download Here.

FREE GUIDE: IF YOU LOVE A GRIEVING MOMAnd if you love a grieving mom, we have something for you too, a free guide with simple tips for how to love a grieving friend: themorning.com/friendsandfamily.

RATE, REVIEW & FOLLOW ON APPLE PODCASTSIf you love The Joyful Mourning Podcast, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps moms who are grieving to find us a little easier and get that support they need. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know how this episode helped you.

SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode196