I thought I knew exactly where Episode 17 was going.

Then I received a message from a listener that made me stop, rethink the episode I had planned, and consider where The KALM Before the Chaos needs to go next.

So instead of rushing an episode just because it was due, I’m choosing to pause.

In this short episode, I share why I’m taking a little more time, how your stories are beginning to shape this podcast, and why I’m realizing that some of the parts of my journey I’ve kept most private may be the very parts worth sharing.

I started this podcast hoping to offer a little light to someone walking through their own journey—like a candle in the darkness.

A flicker of hope. Maybe just enough light to see the next step.

We’ll return October 6, and I think we’re going a little deeper.

Until then, this is Lynnette. Keep practicing The KALM before the Chaos.

Music from #Uppbeat

Fifteen years ago today, my life changed forever.

Chad and I were married for fifteen years. And today, September 1, he has been gone for fifteen.

In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on what fifteen years of grief actually looks like—the memories that still feel like yesterday, the traditions that have changed, the moments that can still take my breath away, and the love that has never left.

I share what I’ve learned about moving forward without moving on, watching our children grow while carrying their dad with them, loving again, and finding gratitude alongside grief.

Fifteen years ago, I couldn’t imagine fifteen days without Chad.

And somehow, here we are.

Fifteen years of grief. Fifteen years of blessings. Fifteen years of life.

Because there is no expiration date on love.

Music from #Uppbeat

Episode 15: No Regrets — Before I Knew

Some seasons of the year carry more weight than others.

For Lynnette, August and September hold three significant dates: Chad’s birthday, their wedding anniversary, and the anniversary of his death. And this year, the milestones are especially profound—Chad would have turned 50, they would have celebrated 30 years of marriage, and September 1 marks 15 years since his death.

In this deeply personal episode, Lynnette looks back at the ordinary weeks before everything changed—family camping trips, plans for Christmas, projects around the house, a handwritten list she still keeps, and the words Chad repeated often that year:

No regrets.

What if you could go back to the person you were before loss and tell them what was coming? Would you?

For Lynnette, the answer is no.

Because sometimes the greatest gift is getting to love without fear, make plans for tomorrow, and let an ordinary day simply be ordinary.

Music from #Uppbeat

Episode 14: When Goodbye Hasn't Happened Yet | Understanding Anticipatory Grief

What do you do when someone you love is still here, but you know your time together has changed?

In this deeply personal episode of The KALM Before the Chaos, Lynnette shares her family's journey through anticipatory grief as her daughter Caitlin and son-in-law Cody love their Golden Retriever, Huxley, through a lymphoma diagnosis.

This isn't just a story about a beloved dog. It's a conversation about the grief that begins before goodbye, the beauty of choosing presence over fear, and the ordinary moments that become extraordinary when we realize just how precious they are.

Through Huxley's story, you'll discover that anticipatory grief isn't only about preparing to say goodbye—it's about learning to say thank you for today.

Whether you're walking alongside a loved one with a difficult diagnosis, caring for an aging parent, facing an uncertain future, or simply wanting to cherish the people in your life more intentionally, this episode is an invitation to slow down, embrace the present, and make today's moments count.

In this episode:

Question for reflection:

Music from #Uppbeat

Episode 13: What My Daughter Taught Me About Grief

As parents, we often believe we're the ones teaching our children. But sometimes, if we're paying attention, they become our greatest teachers.

In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on the lessons I've learned from watching my daughter, Caitlin, navigate the loss of her dad over the past fifteen years. From childhood milestones to her wedding day, I've witnessed grief evolve in ways I never expected—and in the process, she's shown me what resilience, love, and moving forward really look like.

I also share how our family is now walking through anticipatory grief as Caitlin and Cody love their golden retriever, Huxley, through his lymphoma diagnosis, reminding us that grief often begins long before goodbye.

If you've ever wondered how grief changes over time—or what we can learn from those we love most—this conversation is for you.

The KALM Before the Chaos is a podcast about grief, resilience, quiet faith, and finding peace before life gets loud.

Music from #Uppbeat

Episode 12 – Part 2: A Daughter's Perspective – Moving Forward

In Part 2 of this heartfelt conversation, Lynnette continues her discussion with her daughter, Caitlin, about growing up after losing her father at just 10 years old.

Together, they explore how grief evolves over time—from childhood into adulthood—and how it shows up during life's biggest milestones, including graduation, relationships, marriage, and the dreams of starting a family.

Caitlin shares the lessons she has learned through loss, what helped her move forward, the importance of family and friendships, and what it was like watching her mom navigate grief while raising two young children. She also offers encouragement for anyone grieving the loss of a parent or someone they deeply love.

This episode is an honest conversation about resilience, hope, healing, and choosing to keep living—even when life changes forever.

If you've ever wondered how children experience grief or how loss continues to shape us throughout life, this episode offers a perspective you won't soon forget.

Topics discussed:

If this episode resonates with you, please consider following the podcast, leaving a rating or review, and sharing it with someone who may need this conversation today.

Episode 12, Part 1: A Daughter's Perspective-Growing up with Loss

After a brief break to recover from pneumonia, I'm grateful to be back with what has become one of the most meaningful conversations on this podcast.

Over the past several episodes, you've heard my perspective on losing my husband, Chad, in 2011. But grief impacts every member of a family differently.

In this special two-part series, my daughter, Caitlin, joins me to share her story.

In Part One, Caitlin reflects on her memories of her dad, what it was like losing him as a child, and the challenges of growing up while navigating grief. Together, we discuss the early years after loss, the moments that shaped her journey, and the lasting impact of a father's love. We also revisit a deeply emotional milestone—opening a childhood time capsule that contained a letter her dad had written years before his death.

This conversation is honest, heartfelt, and a reminder that grief is not a single event—it is a journey that evolves as we grow.

Join us for Part One of this special mother-daughter conversation.

The KALM Before the Chaos is a podcast about grief, healing, resilience, and finding hope while carrying the people we love forward.

Episode 12: The Children in the Story

In this episode, I step back from my own story… and look at what it meant for my children to live through it.

Grief doesn’t look the same through a child’s eyes.

I share the moments that shaped my understanding as a parent—the differences between how I processed loss and how my children did, the quiet ways they held onto their dad, and the turning point that changed how I saw everything.

This episode is also for those walking through divorce, separation, or any life change that shifts a child’s world. Because no matter how you arrive there, the question is often the same:

How do we lead them through something we’re still trying to understand ourselves?

This is a reflection on parenting through the hardest seasons… and the quiet strength children carry within them.

Music from #Uppbeat

In this milestone 10th episode of The KALM Before the Chaos, Lynnette reflects on what it truly means to begin living again. After grief, after survival… what comes next?

This episode explores the quiet power of rituals—small, intentional moments that bring calm, create space, and help rebuild life one step at a time.

Through personal reflection and a glimpse into her daughter’s perspective, Lynnette shares how healing happens not all at once—but in the pauses, the breath, and the moments we choose to come back to ourselves.

You are not alone. This moment… right here… it counts.

Music from #Uppbeat

In Episode 9 of The KALM Before the Chaos, Lynnette shares what it looks like to begin living again after loss. This deeply personal episode explores the shift from survival to rebuilding, the weight of grief, and the quiet strength it takes to move forward. Through stories of perseverance, motherhood, faith, and trust, she reflects on how life can grow in unexpected ways—even when it doesn’t look the way we planned.

Music from #Uppbeat