My friend, Austin DeArmond, returns to the podcast today to explore some of the most common myths and misconceptions people have about Heaven. As a bereaved Dad, Bible translation consultant, and faithful follower of Christ, Austin brings both personal insight and biblical depth to this important discussion.

We talk about questions many of us have wrestled with: Will Heaven be boring? Do we become angels? Will we recognize our loved ones? Is there time in Heaven? What happens to us when we die? With wisdom and grace, Austin walks us through what scripture really says—and doesn't say—about our eternal home, helping us ground our hope in truth rather than cultural myths.

Whether you’re a bereaved parent or simply someone simply curious about what comes after this life, I believe our conversation will bring comfort and encouragement.

Click HERE and HERE to listen to my conversation with Austin and Valerie DeArmond in which they share the full story of their son Gabriel.  

Click HERE and HERE to listen to my conversation with Austin regarding myths and cliches about grief.  

Click HERE to connect with Austin's blog.  

Click HERE to get a copy of Heaven by Randy Alcorn.  Also available on Amazon.

Don't Miss Next Week:
Be sure to join us again next week as we continue this discussion with Austin. In Part Two, we’ll tackle more cultural myths about heaven and dig deeper into what the Bible reveals about our future hope.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

As we continue our conversation from the previous episode, Josh and Nicole Kingsbury open up about how they’ve walked through grief as a couple after the loss of their daughter, Amber, to suicide in 2021. They share the early commitment they made to protect their marriage amidst the pain and the ways they’ve learned to communicate through their differing grief styles.

We also discuss the "before and after" of child loss, hear some of their favorite scriptures, talk about the importance of lament in the grief journey, and hear how doing ministry together has been a big part of their healing process.  I believe you'll be blessed by listening in!  

Missed the first half of our conversation?  Listen HERE.  

To learn more about Operation Christmas Child or to get involved, click HERE.  

To visit The Corner Room website (scripture set to music), click HERE.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Josh and Nicole Kingsbury as they shared the beautiful and heartbreaking story of their daughter Amber. A vibrant, creative, and compassionate young girl who loved Jesus, Amber touched the lives of everyone around her. Josh and Nicole reflect on her love for art, her deep bond with her brother, and her passion for helping others.

They also discuss the subtle changes they noticed as Amber entered her teenage years — changes that were very typical for an adolescent girl. In a moment that would forever alter their lives, Amber made a choice that left her parents grappling with shock, grief, and countless unanswered questions.

Josh and Nicole reflect on the unexpectedness of Amber’s death, the unanswerable questions they've had to lay at the feet of Jesus, and how they are learning to wrestle in the waiting.

Be sure to come back for part two next week, where Josh and Nicole delve deeper into their grief journey, how they are navigating life after loss, and the ways they are finding hope amidst the heartache.

Click HERE to learn more about our FREE While We're Waiting Weekends for Parents Touched by Suicide, currently available in Arkansas, Maryland, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode #254, which is a continuation of my conversation with Michael and Peggy Mages. In our last episode, we were introduced to their son Mason—a bold, kindhearted, and faith-filled young man—and the tragic day they lost him in a drowning incident.

In this second half, Michael and Peggy open up about life in the aftermath of loss. They share advice for newly bereaved parents, reflect on how grief has changed their marriage, their parenting, and their walk with the Lord, and offer insight into what it means to persevere in faith when the pain doesn’t go away. From grief brain and “Mason Days” to sacred circles and heavenly hope, their words are honest, practical, and rooted in Scripture.

Whether you are fresh on the road of grief or walking beside someone who is, this episode is full of grace and truth for the journey.  We’ll pick up right where we left off last week.  

Missed the first half of our conversation?  Click HERE to listen!  

To register for our FREE While We're Waiting Weekend for Bereaved Parents scheduled for October 3-5, 2025, in Hesston Kansas, led by Michael and Peggy Mages, click HERE.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

Today, I’m honored to welcome Michael and Peggy Mages to the podcast to share the story of their son, Mason—a deeply thoughtful young man often referred to as an "old soul", who loved everything John Deere and Star Wars, was always prepared with a pair of pliers, and displayed confidence in exactly who God created him to be.

In this first half of our conversation, you’ll hear about Mason’s unique personality, the impact he had on those around him, and the day that changed everything—the drowning incident that placed Mason into the arms of Jesus.

Michael and Peggy share their story with honesty and faith, reminding us of the hope we have in Christ, even in our deepest sorrow.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

In Part Two of this powerful conversation, Brad and Karen Nadolson continue sharing the story of their daughter Bethany—this time focusing on how life has unfolded in the wake of her homegoing.

With honesty and grace, they talk about walking through the earliest days of grief, how their relationship with God has deepened, and the ways they've learned to honor Bethany’s life while continuing to live with purpose and hope. They speak about how grief affects marriage, how they’ve navigated holidays, and what it means to truly see the good even when your heart is broken.

This episode offers tender encouragement for any parent learning how to carry their child’s memory forward while holding tightly to the promises of God.

Click HERE to listen to the first half of my conversation with the Nadolsons.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Brad and Karen Nadolson share the story of their daughter Bethany—a vibrant, faith-filled young woman whose life was defined by compassion, courage, and an unwavering desire to serve others.

Listeners will get to know Bethany through her parents’ eyes—from her love of travel and missions, to her selfless work with children in Haiti, to her brave fight with cancer. Through every chapter of her life, Bethany chose to see the good, a motto that shaped how she lived and how she faced unimaginable challenges.

Brad and Karen reflect on the early days of her diagnosis, the van project that became a treasured father-daughter experience, and the faith that sustained their family through deep grief. This episode offers a powerful testimony for any bereaved parent walking the road of loss with hope in Christ.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode #250, which is a continuation of my conversation with Brian and Danna Mayhall.  Their daughter Amelia went to Heaven in July of 2013 after sustaining a devastating brain injury due to a woman’s deliberate decision to drive the wrong way down the freeway. In last week’s episode, we came to know Amelia’s beautiful and compassionate spirit and the painful circumstances surrounding her death.  

Today, we continue that conversation by stepping into some of the most tender parts of the Mayhall's grief journey—walking through forgiveness, learning how grief evolves over time, and discovering how hope can rise even in the darkest places. You’ll hear how they’ve kept Amelia’s memory alive in meaningful ways, how their faith has been refined through suffering, and how God continues to use their story to comfort and support other grieving parents.

This episode is for every parent who has known deep sorrow—and who is holding on to the hope of eternity. Let’s listen in.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

I was honored to sit down with Brian and Danna Mayhall recently, who joined me to share the story of their daughter, Amelia—a young woman whose life was characterized by kindness and compassion.   

Amelia sustained a devastating injury after a woman made a deliberate choice to drive the wrong way down the freeway and crashed into her car.  In today’s episode, you’ll hear about the months Amelia lived beyond the crash, the tender loving care given by her parents, and her ultimate homegoing in July of 2013.  

You’ll also hear how the Mayhalls have walked through the legal system after the driver was charged with felony homicide, including the victim’s impact statement Danna gave to the judge.  This is a conversation about loss—but more than that, it’s a conversation about love, grace, and the presence of God in our deepest valleys.  

This is part one of a two-part series that speaks directly to the hearts of grieving parents. We pray this conversation reminds you that you're not alone, and that God is near to the brokenhearted.

Topics Covered:

• Amelia’s life and legacy of kindness
• The tragic crash that took her life
• Caring for an adult child with traumatic brain injury
• God’s presence in grief and suffering
• The unique grief of losing a married adult child
• Faith, family, and the power of community support
• Finding meaning in moments of heartbreak

Stay Connected:
If this episode was meaningful to you, we’d love to hear from you. Subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode with someone who may need it today.

Resources:

Click HERE for more information about the Our Hearts Are Home conference. I would love to see you there!  

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

Last week I introduced you to my friend Jeannie Williams, and we heard the story of her precocious and compassionate 11-year-old son Jeffrey, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel room in 2013, an incident that left her with permanent after-effects as well.  

In today's episode, Jeannie shares how grief has impacted her relationships with others, the challenges of finding a new identity after child loss, and the advice she would offer to newly bereaved parents. We also discuss the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning—what she has learned from her own experience and the precautions she now takes to protect herself and others.  I believe Jeannie’s words will encourage you, wherever you are on your journey.

To listen to the first half of my conversation with Jeannie, click HERE. 

For more information about the Our Hearts Are Home conference for bereaved parents, click HERE!  I would love to see you there!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!

Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents

Click HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country.

Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click HERE to follow us on Instagram

Click HERE to follow us on Twitter

Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry

Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]