From Loss to Light

Ep 27 - Exploring mixing families with Rod & Jolene as they both navigated their widowhood and found love again with each other

This story shows how death and widowhood can turn into an amazing beautiful family. Rod & Jolene each share with us how they navigated the widowed life with children. They go into how each navigated the losses of their spouses only to find each other on an online dating site. They didn't know their paths had crossed many years prior growing up in the same town. They have since found love together and have blended their families and have created a magical journey that many widows/widowers do not find.  They were both blessed to have been married to each of their former spouses. Jolenes late husband Ed, lost his battle with sarcoma and Rod at age 33, lost his late wife Becky due to an illness she had lived with.  Rod also shares the feelings of journeying through his loss and making many poor decisions in life and realizing giving his turmoils over to God and watching the transformation happening immediately. Jolene shares her journey of connecting with people who were the same as her with a likeness of losing a spouse.

Ep 26 - Claire Richmond share with us her journey with a chronic disability that has changed her entire life

In this episode we listen to Claire Richmond share her journey with a chronic illness that is very rare metabolic condition. She shares how she has found her light with the suffering and pain that she endures.  It took Claire 19 years to search for the answers and was diagnosed and knowingly living with it for 7 years. It is estimated that 1500 people in the US have this disease which is called "Acute Portferia". She shares with is how her life is lived by defining what she loves not by what she does; this is her main motto to live by in life.  Listen to this journey and all the knowledge that Claire shares with us with regards to this disease and other medical illnesses. Her favorite quote is "let go or get dragged" - anonymous Pictured with Claire is her rescue poodle "Lenny Bruce".  You can find Claire at www.daringlyclaire.com [%20https://www.DaringlyClaire.com] and you will see how she chooses joy and embraces her new normal.  Also find her on socials at Instagram: daringlyclaire [https://www.instagram.com/daringlyclaire]

Ep 25 - Kera Sanchez shares the unexpected loss of her mom and the dynasty she is building in the grief community.

Our guest on episode 25 is our "grief" friend Kera Sanchez.  She shares with us the loss of her mother and when she died and how it pushed her into a role of a grief journey she didn't understand.  Kera shares her creation of her journal called "Legacy Letters Journal" and how you can turn lemons into legacies.  She has since created a second journal "No Legacy Lost" that reflects what we all want to say and be remembered by.  Kera has gone on to create the first and VERY amazing "Get Griefy Magazine" that holds so much information and guidance for grievers. It's full of support, organizations, and foundations that anybody going through grief can relate to or lean into.  It's where stories meet and grievers unite.  Give Kera a follow at any of the below IG or FB locations and give her magazine a follow.  There are ways for you to support the work that is done in the magazine and offer to donate a coffee for the help of the magazine production.  She also offers ways for you to submit articles or blog posts, so please reach out to her if you have something to submit. Here is her song she shared that reminds her of her mother; it's by Andy Frasco "Dancing Around My Grave": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5i9sakXoI [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5i9sakXoI] Learn about and read the Magazine - https://www.getgriefymagazine.com/home [https://www.getgriefymagazine.com/home] Learn about Legacy letters: https://www.legacylettersjournal.com/ [https://www.legacylettersjournal.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getgriefymagazine/ [https://www.instagram.com/getgriefymagazine/] https://www.instagram.com/legacylettersjournal/ [https://www.instagram.com/legacylettersjournal/]   Purchase journals: https://a.co/d/5LfKeQH [https://a.co/d/5LfKeQH] Purchase get Griefy: https://amzn.to/4bQnjom [https://amzn.to/4bQnjom]

Ep 24 - Chris shares the life & death of her son Nate and how he has shown up to her in the afterlife and more

Our guest Christina shares the very deepest part of the illness that claimed the life of her child.  Her son Nate died at 18 years of age from a lifelong journey of seizures.  Christina has always been in the nursing field, so she understands the depth of what death can look like, but when it happened to her, she spiraled.  She had to learn to say "It's ok to not be ok" and also she really learned how to heal being a single mom to her then only living son Tyler.  She shares so many amazing points and insights in what a griever feels while going through the deepest and darkest days and gave herself time to grieve. Christina also shares the story of going to the psychic "Theresa Caputo" and the amazing things she recognized and felt from her son coming through.  Stories do matter and are so very important in life for a griever to help them through grief moments. Christina shares with us her light with us and it's the song "Radio Active" by Imagine Dragons and this is what reminds her of her son Nate. You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3viBe2Q0P8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3viBe2Q0P8] Christina also is a full-time entrepreneur whose mission is to empower the lives of women To have the life they’ve always wanted. You can check her out below!  https://www.dreamonesizebigger.com [https://www.dresmonesizebigger.com/] You can reach Christina at:  dreamonesizebigger2021@gmail.com [dreamonesizebigger2021@gmail.com] And follow her on:  https://www.facebook.com/dreamonesizebiggerwithchris [https://www.facebook.com/dreamonesizebiggerwithchris]

Ep 23 - Sandy Thomas shares her story of loss from a very young age, her journey with spirituality and her journey with her best friend's death

Our guest this week is Sandy Thomas; Sandy shares her families tragedy that happened in 1962 when her families vehicle was hit by a train.  Her sister Diane died on the scene and her sister Linda died on the way to the hospital.  She shares how her family navigated this devastating time and how Sandy learned about who her sisters were years after their deaths as their accident happened prior to her birth. Sandy goes into depth with her spirituality and how it has transformed her and guided her during losses.  She recently endured the loss of her best friend, Teri, due to suicide and Sandy shares the effects it has had on her and how she has journeyed through the process. (pictured above is Sandy on the left and her best friend Teri on the right). Sandy shares information about the book and movie "Heaven is for Real" and the famous, beautiful artist Akiane Kramarik who carries a very spiritual presence.  Here you can watch a video and the story behind Akiane and who she is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6HLg2XUFOg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6HLg2XUFOg] Teri's favorite quote that she shares with is from Dr. Seuss: "Don't cry when it's over, smile because it happened".