My Story
I learned early on the best way to connect with people is to relate life situations through scenarios or personal accounts. One doesn’t have to look very far to see this inherit in the world’s greatest storyteller, Jesus. He shared parables to convey the most complex inquiries of heaven and eternal salvation. His messages captured the heart and soul of his followers as he spoke truth and love. But it wasn’t just his parables that inspired, his Word too.
“And the word became flesh” John 1:14
His life’s, messages as well as books of the bible shared the greatest story ever told, foreseeing his coming, his redemption and one day his return.
Ultimately, through Jesus’ example, we know that words are powerful.
My aspirations to be a writer were never in my career plans, but as we know, God always has his own plan
for us.
For the last two decades, I’ve spent most of my adult career pursuing teaching. With a BA in Social Science, Minor in History, Masters in Secondary Education and a national faculty member for the College Board, you might say I’ve put in the time to refine my craft. I have taught everything from 7th grade Ancient Civilizations to high school AP History courses. I learned pretty early I was not designed to be an elementary school teacher. My hat goes off to anyone who can teach Preschool to 3rd grade! Still, teaching has always been a big part of my life, you could say it’s been my own little stage for storytelling the past.
In a way you can say many of my aspirations, without realizing it have been to model Christ. He was a teacher, a story teller, and a friend. I could never come even close to being as perfect as our King, but his life is a blueprint for all of us to follow.
So who knows where this journey will take me.
“With God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26
The Grieving Daughters' Club
Faith Friends and (mostly) Fiction- How the Grieving Daughters’ Club Started.
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“I knew about the women in my bible study, I knew about grief, so I wrote about both. That’s how the Grieving Daughters’ Club came to be.”
One Summer afternoon, a thought occurred to me. “I know very little about the bible.” I've always admired people who could pour out scripture and commit it to memory. Since my parish had no women's ministry, some friends and I took it upon ourselves to start one. We had no idea what we were doing or how to operate a bible study, but leading by faith (and some good wine), we started a small group (Casie, Missy, Lupe, Felecia, Alicia, Sonny and me).
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For the next six Fridays we met and poured over the pages of our guidebook and bible (again no clue what we were doing). Little did we know in those six weeks, God would change the trajectory of our stories.
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Midway through, my mother Debbie, passed away suddenly, from a two and half year battle with brain cancer. God would press the words in His book to come to life for me. It was the beginning of a dark time for me that would continue for many years after.
Life After Death
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Living with grief was being apart of a club I didn’t sign up for. My mom was my best friend, my everything. The sorrow was heavy and I found those first few months a blur (apparently, this is a real thing called Grief Fog). I tried desperately to return to my life before her death. I pushed myself to continue as a high school teacher, staying involved with church and my kids' lives, but I couldn't function, and I wouldn't. I was no longer in that world where she once existed. But, I felt compelled to carry on with my bible study. Casie, one of our members, sent daily scripture passages (and she continues to this day). I found solace in God's Word and prayed for His guidance on this new grief life. I also found solace in the Rosary.
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Not wanting to bother others, I started journaling my grief, This journaling helped me find consolation toward healing. But I was still in a fog. Later that year I attended a Catholic women's conference. I was surprised to find I recognized one of the speakers. Courtney Vallejo was an old friend and I had no idea she was speaking and writing. I had always imagined writers as untouchable figures. But Courtney was a mom, a homeschooler, and a busy lady. I was impressed she could do these "untouchable" things. And then… something happened… Some crazy fire came over me (I'm pretty sure it was the Holy Spirit), but I began to think… maybe I could write? I had no prior experience other than college essays, and my grief journal. But there was something there…
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After the conference I reached out to her. She had put me in touch with a group called Catholicmom.com. Within six months I found myself with an article posted on their website, and an interview with Relevant Radio, of which I hadn’t’ realized was not customary to get calls for just an article. This was the confirmation I was supposed to write. But what?
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Grieving Daughters’ Club
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This fog of grief had slightly lifted, (slightly) What had been replaced was a desire to know more about my faith and share what I discovered. But how? I didn't have any writing experience or a theology background, and while I was learning about the bible, I didn't have enough knowledge to feel qualified to preach about it.
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But I knew about the women in my bible study, I knew about grief, so I wrote about both. That’s how the Grieving Daughters’ Club came to be.
In writing this story (partially true and partially fiction), I discovered an opportunity to heal as I relived aspects of my life with my mom and support among the women in our group (Faith, Friends, & mostly Fiction).We all have experiences of loss. Their stories are integrated, although names, and scenarios have been changed to provide privacy.
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If you’ve lost someone or experienced any loss, then you’re part of the club too. While sorrow can be hard to endure, we don’t have to go through it alone.
Andrea
