According to The Grief Recovery Handbook, grief is defined as: 1. a normal, natural reaction to any loss. 2. conflicting feelings when something familiar changes or ends. While studying this evidence-based method, proven to lessen the pain of any loss, we learn that grief is much broader than previously supposed. Even positive life changes -- […]
Following our divorces, we had a rough time and experienced many subsequent losses (financial, health, other relationships, etc.). On top of those accumulated losses, we each struggled with depression for many years. Oddly enough, losing everything we felt mattered taught us that gratitude is the most important key to happiness. We learned how to start […]
As we officially move into autumn, the world is changing. The kids have gone back to school. Summer vacations and adventures are over. The air is starting to cool. Halloween and Thanksgiving are around the corner. Autumn is a time of reflection. We think of the past with a certain amount of nostalgia. When Jeff […]
We were asked to give the keynote address for the Twin Falls Singles Conference last weekend (7/22/23). The theme for that conference was "Victory in Christ" so that has been on our mind for the past few months. It was wonderful to associate with and get to know the many single adults ages 30+ who […]
In 2 Nephi 2:25 the prophet Lehi teaches, "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have JOY." This short verse flies in the face of one of the most elemental teachings of mainstream Christianity, namely, that Adam's fall took away our joy and condemned us all to live in a […]
In the movie "Mr. Wrong," the main character, played by Ellen DeGeneres calls Valentine's Day "the lamest day on a single girl's calendar." For many, it is a solemn reminder of what they don't have. It is sometimes an excuse for well-meaning parents to pressure their single adult children to hurry up and get married. […]
Every January, social media is full of posts where people announce their choice for a word as their theme for the year. In 2022, I also decided to choose a word. As I thought about what word to choose, what kept coming to me was the word “sanctify.” Little did I know at the time […]
We have experienced a fair amount of both death and divorce in our lives. "The Death of Marriage" (this week's podcast) can be every bit as painful and devastating as losing a loved one to death. Yet divorces don't have funerals. Why is that? Such rituals can be very helpful to those mourning a deep […]
As some of you know, I (Jeff) recently lost my 24 year-old son Henry in a climbing accident. A few weeks earlier, I commented to my wife (Cathy) that it felt like life was just about perfect. Then some severe work stress intervened, followed by receiving heartbreaking news that is every parents' worst nightmare. In […]
