38 results for tag: Hope Mommies Retreat


Get to Know Her: 2017 Retreat Worship Leader

I feel so humbled and honored to be leading worship for the Hope Mommies retreat this spring. I know this will be a sacred time and a sacred space. To be invited into your suffering and loss, and to worship with you in the midst of that loss, is a privilege I do not take lightly. The Hope Mommies leadership asked me to introduce myself to you, so I wanted to share with you a bit of my story. And I am looking forward to getting to know each of you too. If you look me up on Instagram, you’ll see this line in my profile: “Mom. Wife. Song writer. Song singer. Telling the Story.” And I think that’s a pretty good description of what ...

Testimony Tuesday {Jacquelyn’s Retreat Experience}

My name is Jacquelyn Hayden, Hope Mom to Beanie (7 week loss), Nole (7 weeks 3 day loss), and Case (28 week preemie who passed away at 10 days old).  All of my losses happened between November 2012 and November 2013.  I found out about Hope Mommies after Case passed away, because a coworker of my sister-in-law sent me a Hope Box.  It meant the world to me to receive something during that time, especially something from a stranger that was filled with so much love, hope, and care.  A few months later, I found the Hope Mommies Facebook group, learned more about the organization, and also found out about the annual retreats.  I did not feel I was ...

Testimony Tuesday {Crystal’s Retreat Experience}

When I lost my first son, Wyatt on June 18, 2013, I was completely heartbroken. I was young and it was my first pregnancy. I shouldn’t be leaving the hospital without a baby, but I was. I remember thinking “Does this really happen? Am I the only one going through this? Why me? What did I do wrong?” A few weeks after Wyatt was born I felt myself start really wondering how many other moms also had to go through this pain. I then got a Hope Box from a good friend of mine and started looking into Hope Mommies more. That was the first time I had ever heard of Hope Mommies and I was blown away the more I read about it!  I found out that they had a ...

Testimony Tuesday {Sarah’s Retreat Experience}

March 23, 2015: My daughter, Eisley Hope, was born at 31 weeks. I went into preterm labor and much to our surprise, she was delivered with a chromosome abnormality and fatal diagnosis. After 12 sweet days, I held my girl for the 4th and final time while “Oceans” by Hillsong played on repeat in the background. To say my faith was shaken is an understatement. The first 15 years of my life, I was a part of a reformed church, and I understood that having a "crisis of faith" supposedly meant that I wasn't saved. I should be blessed to have such affliction and burden to carry—or joyful and thankful that my daughter was dancing with ...

Testimony Tuesday {Julie’s Retreat Experience}

I came to the Hope Mommies retreat in 2015 as a mom who was grieving “well.” I was surrounded by a supportive community who had been caring for my family faithfully for the past 10 months. I had allowed my suffering to push me closer to the Lord and though I wrestled with Him, I trusted Him. My husband and I spent many evenings talking, processing and encouraging one another in the Lord. I had read many devotionals, commentaries and books on suffering as I sought after Jesus. I was truly in a good place with my grief. Don’t get me wrong, I missed my daughter terribly and my heart ached beyond belief. So when I learned of the Hope Mommies retreat ...

Testimony {Rhiannon’s Retreat Experience}

When I first heard about the Hope Mommies retreat, I felt in my heart that I had to go.  I wanted to connect with other moms like me, to hear that I wasn’t alone in my grief.  But I will admit, as the time got closer, and especially in the week leading up to the retreat, I was a bit afraid of how much it would hurt being there. I was only 5 months out from losing our daughter at 35 weeks after 2 years of trying and 2 previous miscarriages, and I had just found out that I would be walking through secondary infertility. I wasn’t sure if it would be too painful to dredge all that up for an entire weekend; I worried I would leave just feeling sad ...

Beautiful Inheritance {Hope Mommies 2017 Retreat Theme}

Please tell me I am not the only one that has ever skimmed over a word they didn’t know the meaning of in the Bible?  Miktam.  That was my word.  Read it.  Didn’t understand it.  Moved on.  But one day, several years ago, I sat in church as my pastor read Psalm 16 aloud.  “Psalm 16.  You Will Not Abandon My Soul.  A Miktam of David.”  But then he paused and looked up.  He asked if anyone knew what the word Miktam meant.  I sat in my chair hoping that no one else knew the meaning either so that I would finally be able to learn about this mysterious word.  No one in the ...

Retreat Testimony {Nelly’s Experience}

As we approach the 2016 Hope Mommies Retreat, we want to share testimonies with you of other Hope Moms’ experiences of past retreats.  We truly believe that this weekend can be an incredible catalyst for healing and renewed hope as you navigate the heartbreaking sorrow of losing a child.  I pray that these words will provide encouragement and insight as you consider attending the upcoming retreat.   Registration for the 2016 Hope Mommies retreat is NOW OPEN! The retreat is February 5-7 in Giddings, Texas. The registration fee is $315 Check out this link for all of the answers to your frequently asked questions and register today! Also, the ...

Hope Mommies 2016 Retreat Prayer Team

I come to you asking for help as we move into the Hope Mommies annual retreat. The task at hand is not one to be taken lightly. Please don’t let my honesty scare you, because we desperately need you. You didn’t leave! Which means you are somewhat intrigued & that heart of yours is being stirred. Good for you! I am so happy to be talking with you about something that is so very dear to my heart. I don’t want to assume you know what the title “Hope Mom” means. Bear with me as I expound before we move further along. “Hope Mom” is a title given to mothers whose babies go to Heaven before they do. Hope Mom is a woman who carried a ...

Retreat Testimony {Sam’s Experience}

As we approach the 2016 Hope Mommies Retreat, we want to share testimonies with you of other Hope Moms’ experiences of past retreats.  We truly believe that this weekend can be an incredible catalyst for healing and renewed hope as you navigate the heartbreaking sorrow of losing a child.  I pray that these words from Hope Mom, Calli Williams, will provide encouragement and insight as you consider attending the upcoming retreat.   Registration for the 2016 Hope Mommies retreat is NOW OPEN! The retreat is February 5-7 in Giddings, Texas. The registration fee is $315 Check out this link for all of the answers to your frequently asked questions and ...