To the one who thought you’d be stronger by now — this is for you.   This past week held both tender tears and quiet celebration. The tender tears came as I walked through another anniversary of the day my sweet Melanie ran ahead to Heaven. And while time has moved forward, love has not diminished. Grief still whispers her name in the ordinary moments. And scars still speak. But the week was also marked in quiet celebration of the release of my new book, When Scars Become Sto

Feeling left behind after loss is one of the quiet pains many grievers don’t expect. In the early days, support often surrounds us—texts arrive, meals are delivered, and our sorrow is acknowledged. But as time passes, life resumes for others. Conversations shift. Invitations slow. And while the world seems to move forward, we may find ourselves standing still, wondering why our hearts haven’t caught up. You may notice fewer check-ins or sense that people assume you're “doing

Even though this journey has been the hardest thing I’ve ever walked through, there comes a time when we can choose joy and remember the love more than the loss. Choosing joy means finding moments of happiness in the midst of sorrow, whether it’s a shared memory, or a comforting word. Remembering the love more than the loss involves focusing on the positive impact Melanie had on my life and the lives of others, rather than the pain of her absence.