Why Are We “Hope Mommies”?
In October of 2010 Blair and Erin Cushman, while in labor with their first child, lost the heartbeat of their daughter Gwendolyn and were rushed in for an emergency c-section. Gwendolyn was revived and lived in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 36 hours before passing away. While in the hospital and following Gwendolyn’s death, Erin and Blair were overwhelmed with love by a community of friends and strangers who were informed of their loss. Many were praying, sending emails, texts, and messages via Facebook, sent financial assistance, provided meals, cleaned the ...
He Will Never Leave You
God’s Word is filled with rich promises for His children. How do these “precious and very great promises” inform and direct your grief? How does keeping your eyes fixed on these truths anchor your hope in the Lord? In this series, we write about how God, through the promises in His Word, comforts and strengthens us in our sorrow.
There are a few parts of God’s character that I have grown to love more deeply since losing two babies back to back in the same year. We lost our oldest son, Jacob, seven hours after he was born. Ten months later, we said goodbye ...
Annalisa’s Story
“There is no amniotic fluid.” There I was, perplexed, shocked, and heartbroken. Two days earlier we had the first sonogram of our little boy where he proudly showed off that he was definitely a boy. There was plenty of fluid then. Is that what I was feeling the night before when I thought my back went into alignment?
My midwife said she could no longer be in charge of my care. I needed to be transferred into the care of an OBGYN and put in the hospital immediately. My husband, Tee Wei, was called when I was en route to the hospital, and upon our arrival we still ...
Zachary, Forever Held
I carried you every second of your LIFE
and will LOVE you every second of mine.
As mothers, we have a special bond with our babies when we carry them. They are part of us. We share blood, oxygen, and food. We are one. We know them.
And then they are gone. But we never stop loving them and thinking of them. How do we hold our babies forever when we can’t physically hold them? I knew I would always love my son, but how would I honor his life?
Twenty-three years ago, when my son was stillborn, there weren’t balloon releases or teddy bears the same weight as my ...
In the Word: God is My Shield
Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying Psalm 18:1-2 together. Psalm 18 was penned by David after God had delivered Him from the hands of his enemies, and is rich with metaphors describing the nature and character of God. In this series, we will be looking at how each of these attributes affords us a greater picture of God’s care for His children, and how knowing and believing these truths can bring comfort to our hearts in the midst of grief. As we study together, we encourage ...
He Gives Strength to the Weary
God’s Word is filled with rich promises for His children. How do these “precious and very great promises” inform and direct your grief? How does keeping your eyes fixed on these truths anchor your hope in the Lord? In this series, we write about how God, through the promises in His Word, comforts and strengthens us in our sorrow.
Confession time—the Bible I use is still my Student Bible from high school. I’m three years shy of forty, and I still haven’t graduated to the adult Bible. But don’t worry. It’s in great shape because of my nifty Bible ...
A Song for My Soul: Remember
Music has the ability to speak into the deepest recesses of our hearts. God often uses songs to speak hope and encouragement to our souls. In this series, Hope Moms share songs that have pointed them to the hope of Christ in the midst of their grief. Is there a song that has comforted you in your grief? We'd love to have you share your story here.
“Oh Lord, thank You for making me empty so that You can fill me with more of You. I never thought I would or could thank You for this emptiness, but I can feel you filling me up right now, and I know You have only begun! ...
Anna’s Story
“Do you have kids?”
The days when that was a “simple” question to answer seem so long ago. “No, no kids yet,” was the easy answer right after my husband, Brendan, and I got married. “Not yet, but hopefully soon,” was the anxious but hopeful answer while we were waiting for God to bless us with a child. “Our first is on the way,” was the answer full of excitement and dreams coming true once we finally found out that we were expecting. Now, that question holds more emotion than I ever knew possible. “Yes, I have one precious daughter… she was born ...
You Will Not Be Consumed
God’s Word is filled with rich promises for His children. How do these “precious and very great promises” inform and direct your grief? How does keeping your eyes fixed on these truths anchor your hope in the Lord? In this series, we write about how God, through the promises in His Word, comforts and strengthens us in our sorrow.
My eyes opened slowly as the nurse touched my arm to wake me. She smiled. “I’m so glad you slept well. I didn’t see the need to wake you,” she tenderly stated. I had slept solid all night, which was ...
In the Word: God is My Refuge
Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying Psalm 18:1-2 together. Psalm 18 was penned by David after God had delivered Him from the hands of his enemies, and is rich with metaphors describing the nature and character of God. In this series, we will be looking at how each of these attributes affords us a greater picture of God’s care for His children, and how knowing and believing these truths can bring comfort to our hearts in the midst of grief. As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a ...
