Posted in Grief Resources, tagged grief, grief and loss, Grieving, widowed parents, widowers, widowhood, widows on August 22, 2020| Leave a Comment »
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Widowed Parent Podcast – was created by Jenny Lisk as a way to help people find the information and advice she wishes she had when her husband died. With more than 75 episodes, she and special guests have covered topics on building resilience in kids after loss, autism and grief, step-parenting grieving children, being a widowed dad, and much more. In addition to the podcast, her website has other helpful links and resources. Podcast link
Posted in Grief Resources, tagged death, faith, grief, grief journey, prayer, widowed parents, widowhood, widows on August 21, 2018| Leave a Comment »
The Kindle Edition to my book, “A Widow’s Pursuit” is now available on Amazon. Purchase it, if not for yourself, maybe for someone going through grief who needs to know it’s OK to feel crazy for awhile!!!
As a “Thank you”, if you read my book, and feel it’s a good read for others, please write a review on Amazon. Once it appears, let me know and until the end of September, 2018, I will be happy to send you a signed hard copy to share with others!
Email me at: cindyspursuits@yahoo.com
Posted in Answer to Prayers, tagged coping with death, faith, grief, prayer, widowed parents, widowhood, widows on July 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember just how painful life was when I first became a widow. In my book, “A Widow’s Pursuit: Finding Out There’s More to Life than Grief”, I spent a substantial amount of time grieving. I had to! There’s a time in life for everything.
Fortunately, I made sure that God led me through. I made it a habit to pray for every decision I had to make. When I felt his peace, I took that as a sign I was on the right path. When I didn’t feel his peace, I took that as a sign it was not his will and changed my path.
As my grief subsided, and my new life unfolded, God promised me joy and the blessings are still coming, 23 years later!!!
My 2 daughters, who were 6 and 7 at the time their Daddy passed, have grown into the 2 most beautiful women a mother and father could only imagine!
Jessica (the oldest) became a nurse and married Brandon, who have 2 children of their own, Caleb and Isabelle, with another on the way!!! (For anyone that knew Jessica or has read my book of all the challenges of raising her as a single parent, only God can take credit for the transformation in her life!)
Nicole (the youngest) obtained a communication degree and married Teigan, who have a daughter, Mila. Even though they live cross country, I know that God continues to watch over her and her family. That gives me comfort!
In 2009, I found love again and married Joseph. At one time, I didn’t think this would be possible, to love again. I have been blessed beyond belief.
And now Joseph’s daughter, Emily (my step-daughter), will be getting married this year to Randy. God is good and answers prayers!
There IS a time for GRIEF, however, there IS a time for CELEBRATION and JOY as well!!!
Posted in Grief Resources, tagged financial guide for widows, widow, widow financial help, widowed parents on April 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »
An article written by Tamara Holmes helps widows find a way to build their credit.
A couple things included are:
A downloadable widow’s financial checklist
Financial resources for military, elderly, and widows with young children
Losing a spouse is one of the most traumatic experiences one can endure. If you are a widow, the emotional toll can be compounded by financial challenges. However, credit can be used strategically to help you get through the tough times and rebuild your life.
Each year, more than 700,000 women in the United States become widows, according to Widows Well, a service that strives to help widows make sound financial choices. For these women, the financial impact can be devastating. Read more….
This article also includes being aware of scams that target widows. Unfortunately, widows are a target for being taken advantage of financially. As if widows don’t have enough to be aware of already! Share resource with others to spread the word!
Posted in Grief Resources, tagged childrens' grief resources, death, grief, grief camps, healing, hope, loss, prayer, suicide, widowed parents on April 15, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Grief Resources, tagged death, fatherless children, grief, grief resources, grief support groups, Grieving, healing, hope, loss of loved one, widow, widowed parents, widowhood on September 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Do you know a child who is grieving due to a recent loss? We still have openings for our Kid’s Camp sponsored by Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation! Our camp is overseen by credentialed and licensed Clinical and Master’s level Social Worker and Psychology staff. Our camp staff and volunteers are highly trained and specialize in grief and loss. Kid’s Camp has designed fun, interactive activities for the children, age 6 to 12, to bond and share, play and gain tools to help them with their grief.
For some reason I couldn’t get the link to copy…so please go to the following website for more information. Sorry!
https://crhcf.org/Crossroads-Kids/
It is estimated by the Children’s Grief Association that each year 4.8 million children in the U.S. experience the death of one or both parents.
This overwhelming number does not include children who will lose a grandparent, sibling, or other significant person in their lives.
Sadly, children’s emotional needs are often overlooked as they try and navigate their world after loss. They find that their friends cannot relate and often the significant adults in their lives are consumed by their own grief. This isolation can lead to withdrawal, anger, acting out, aggression, and other issues.
Crossroads Kids is a 3-day, 2-night camp held at various locations throughout the country and is designed for children between the ages of 6 and 12.
By incorporating therapeutic activities into a fun camping experience, Crossroads Kids allows children to connect with peers who are also experiencing grief. It is a time for attendees to share their experiences in a safe place while developing coping skills to take with them when they leave.
Two sessions are run by bereavement specialists sharing best bereavement practices with the parents/significant adults of the Crossroads Kids.
By involving their families, we are able to help the parents process their own feelings in addition to their children’s. This model encourages openness and honesty, ultimately promoting an effective healing process and strengthening the family unit.
In order to achieve our vision, we maintain a 1:2 ratio of staff to campers to ensure ample supervision and support.
All therapeutic groups are overseen by credentialed, master’s level social work and psychology staff.
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If you know a grieving child that could benefit from Crossroads Kids Camps in 2016 — or benefit from other available children’s grief programs — email us, or contact Meredith Lawler, LCSW, Director of Outreach Programs. 2016 camp dates and locations coming soon.
Posted in Answer to Prayers, Shared Stories, tagged Divine Intervention, faith, God's plan, grief support groups, Grieving, loss of loved one, prayer, widow, widowed parents, widowhood on August 22, 2015| 1 Comment »
From my experience, as a young widow raising children, this is not an easy answer. First, I had to work through my grief. There’s no specific time limit for grief. It’s when a widow has worked through the stages and has accepted the loss. For me, it took two years before I could see the light of joy again.
I believe the parent must first work through grief to be capable of entering into another relationship. If they don’t, they could have unresolved grief and the children might have compounded grief. However long it takes, widows must work through their grief to then help their children complete theirs.
Once I was in a healthier state of mind and accepted my loss, I then realized my children still had a ways to go. After two years of widowhood, with an 8 and 9 yr. old, I had a marriage proposal. I really had to pray about it. A counselor told me that children can take on average four and a half years to work through grief.
So I put my heart and wants to the side. My children were my top priority and I had to make sure they resolved their grief before I moved on. I had them in support groups and children’s grief camps. I brought them to see counselors when I saw it was appropriate. And I always prayed for God’s direction!
So all my sacrifices and hard work paid off! It has produced the most beautiful joys and rewards. It wasn’t easy! I did remarry once my children were grown and on their own paths in life. My one daughter is married and my other is engaged. They have both been making very good decisions in their lives. Read my book to find out all the details of how the three of us made it through.
A Widow’s Pursuit: Finding Out There’s More to Life Than Grief
Posted in Shared Stories, tagged fatherless children, grief, Grieving, healing, hope, loss of loved one, widow, widowed parents, widowhood on July 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »
I hadn’t thought about it until my daughter was engaged and the wedding plans began. Then it occurred to me one day, “I should be the one to walk my baby down the aisle. I spent the most time raising her!”
All my sweat and tears, for 14 years as a young widow, doing the best I could for my daughter. I was so proud of her, not to mention how much I loved her. I was honored to walk my precious daughter down the aisle and give her away to the man of her dreams. It was so beautiful and bittersweet!!
Posted in Shared Stories, tagged death, faith, God's plan, grief, grief journey, grief support groups, healing, hope, instant gratification, loss of loved one, peace, prayer, widow, widowed parents on January 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »
This past year, September 19, 2013, I had the opportunity to speak to a H.U.G.S. (Healing Under God’s Sovereignty) Grief support group in Deltona, FL. My dear friend, Carol Keefer, who facilitates this ministry for grieving parents, arranged a weekly meeting where I shared a message about FILLING THE VOID.
Losing a child is quite different than losing a spouse, however, any void that results from a loss of a loved one, has to be filled with something. The following youtube video is the message I shared with these grieving parents and I’d also like to share it with anyone that has a void to fill during his or her grief.
A Widow’s Pursuit: Filling the Void
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SHE7ilbwuzs
A special “Thank You” to my friend, Lisa Dolce, for helping me put this together.
Posted in Shared Stories, tagged death, Divine Intervention, faith, God's plan, grief, grief journey, Grieving, healing, loss of loved one, new normal, renewed life, surrender, widow, widowed parents, widowhood on December 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Purchase, “A Widow’s Pursuit”, here.
When Cindy suddenly became a 34 year old widow, with two young children, she was thrown into shock. Due to her Christian upbringing, she immediately found peace by clinging to her faith. Once reality surfaced, she was overwhelmed with responsibilities and unfamiliar feelings. She had to figure out a way not to feel the pain. She overindulged in unhealthy and risky behaviors. Due to her negligence, a terrible accident happened to her daughter. Embarrassed of how out of control she had been, she realized she needed God’s help. By no longer dodging her grief, she’d cry every night and trusted God to take away her pain and heal her broken heart. She found herself moving forward and finding comforting moments. Then there were days she’d collapse in despair. Old memories could trigger panic attacks. Childhood memories revealed that her deceased husband was only part of her past. She then reached a point where she accepted her loss. Being a single mom brought about a lot of confusion with new relationships. She struggled with males over being just friends, going on dates, as well as getting in vulnerable situations. Going through grief wasn’t easy, but Cindy realized that as long as she pursued God’s will for her life, she would reap more peace and comfort. Once through her grief, she understood the meaning of her journey. She became more compassionate to others that had experienced losses. She was able to make new goals as she went back to school and obtained a LMSW degree in social work. A WIDOW’S PURSUIT: Finding Out There’s More to Life Than Grief, is not only written from Cindy’s grief years, but beyond. Grief had become only a small part of her life. This book is a complete journey through Cindy’s grief and finding an amazing life after her loss.
REVIEWS:
By Lori T on September 21, 2013
By Carol K on September 21, 2013
By Lynn on August 13, 2013
By A-son on August 3, 2013
By Nicole Acevedo on April 25, 2013
I was widowed at 34 years of age, with 2 young daughters, 6 and 7 years old. After raising my daughters, and pursuing a second career, I've recently remarried and wrote a book on my grief journey and beyond. My purpose for writing my memoir, "A Widow's Pursuit", is to encourage other young widows, that life goes on as we make new and joyful memories. We all have a different grief journey but we can help and encourage each other to persevere through grief and pursue new dreams!
PURCHASE HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO: A SEASON OF GRIEF
Short Story Finalist
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On-line Loss Website
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a widows pursuit 