Grief – Heartfully Present

Well, we made it. Made it through October, I mean. I know the month's not officially over yet, but we[...]

I think most of us engage in a daily tug-of-war between suffering and gratitude. If someone had told me to[...]

I have a present for you! Well, presents, plural. PRESENCE, actually. 31 little gifts of presence for the Advent season.[...]

Today’s my little guy’s birthday. He’s got the fall sniffles, so he’s extra snuggly. Which is a special treat, since[...]

It takes time to tie the loose ends of grief. I am no stranger to this fact but I don't[...]

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me (or I told someone) everything happens for a reason…[...]

Mothers Day is messy for me, a different kind of wonderful-hard-precious-messy every year. We've all got issues and I know[...]

Today I was supposed to be sharing a message with a community group for the National Day of Prayer. I[...]

I am no stranger to ashes. I whisper a love song to the ashes of the bone of my bone[...]

It’s been five days since the book launch and I think I have some organized words now. Or at least[...]

Surviving the holidays seems impossible when your life is falling apart. (Spoiler alert: you can do it. Keep reading and[...]

My original working title for the book was Blue October until someone told me I have been living under a[...]

This is a big week in our house. Marriage stuff (ouchy stuff) and the anniversary of LJ’s death are JUST[...]

I’ve been walking around all day with a lump in my throat that’ll undoubtedly burst at the first “how are[...]

I ran across one of the most accurate graphics this week that I've ever seen. This is exactly true for[...]

I don’t panic much anymore – life experience has taught me that it’s not much use. But I panicked this[...]

Holy week is my favorite week of the year. I've spent nearly a lifetime in ministry and service of some[...]

How's this for a little pep talk for your morning?! Yep, we're gonna talk about it - fear. Specifically our[...]

This post originally appeared as "Nine Years of Grace" on Heartfully Present in January 2019. I promised I would be[...]

The truth about dealing with pain is that, despite our best efforts to hide it, we are all doing it.[...]

For every woman who swallows the lump in her throat on Mothers Day and for every daughter missing her mom,[...]

It was the crisp cool morning of a South Texas November. Quiet, slow footsteps collected on the cobblestone path as[...]

If you met your 10-years-ago self on the street, would you recognize her? If I ran into 10-years-ago me, I[...]

When a friend or loved one is in the throws of grief, we feel helpless. This is normal. We're compelled[...]

Jessica's note: Breaking Plates was written in 2017 as a part of grief healing, prior to launching Heartfully Present. I[...]