Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Janet Boxx, a mother who has faced indescribable trauma and loss in her family. Janet shares her profound journey, beginning with the stillbirth of her son, Cole, the developmental disorders of her daughters Gracen and Katie, the tragic loss of her daughters Bethany and Katie in a car accident, and the impact of Gracen's resulting disabilities.

Through her story, Janet emphasizes the importance of reconciling grief with faith and how she uses her pain to educate others about loss, child disability, and trauma. She runs a blog, speaks in defensive driving classes, and facilitates biblical grief support groups. Janet's vulnerability about her struggles is a testament to the healing she has found in Jesus. No matter how deep the pain, Janet exemplifies that hope still exists.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Navigating multiple traumas/losses
• Do I have PTSD?
• Feeling invalidated by others
• Spoon theory, emotional energy, and how it relates to grief
• The importance of Scripture in our healing
• Reaching acceptance/approval of God's choices
• Trusting in God's sovereignty (this is hard!)
• Physical protection vs. spiritual protection
• Jesus' love for us demonstrated on the cross
• "Suffering well" for the Kingdom

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode56]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Caleb and Stefanie Rouse, relationship mentors and digital creators who focus on guiding couples toward faith-based, resilient relationships. Caleb and Stefanie share their personal journey of loss, having unexpectedly lost their twin sons, Shiloh and Asher, after years of praying and hoping to grow their family. Despite their heartbreak, they invited God into their pain and allowed Him to heal their hearts. Now, they help other couples find hope, joy, and love in their marriages.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Worshiping God in loss and sorrow
• Jesus' realness in moments of pain
• Processing grief (and differences between spouses)
• Wanting to hide and feel shame (and how these are attacks from the enemy)
• The importance of a funeral or memorial service for your baby
• How God weaves babies in our wombs (and why their spirits live forever)
• Using our broken stories for His glory
• Openly talking about our babies in Heaven
• Fixing our eyes on Heaven
• How to feel safe, seen, and loved by your spouse
• Why toxic thoughts wreak havoc in marriage
• The power of persistent prayer

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode55]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

This is a special bonus episode highlighting the program from the Wave of Light event that Bridget's Cradles hosted in Wichita, Kansas on October 15, 2024, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

In this episode, we shared:

• The program and announcements from our Wave of Light 2024 event
• Emcee Scott Evans and Pastor John Carney's remarks and Ashley Opliger's speech from the event
• A thank you to our generous corporate and memorial sponsors
• A special guitar solo by Steve Golik, Ashley’s Dad, titled “Bridget’s Ballad” played in his honor
• Josh Sander’s musical performance at Wave of Light
• Reading of Names of Babies in Heaven (for families that registered/attended or sponsored the event)

EPISODE SHOW NOTES:
https://www.bridgetscradles.com/post/waveoflight2024

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles
www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles
www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
www.ashleyopliger.com
www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger
www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Alicia Michelle about managing emotions in grief with science and Scripture. Alicia, who previously shared her story of losing her son in an early miscarriage in Episode 12 of the Cradled in Hope Podcast, has recently written a book titled Emotional Confidence. Using three simple steps from her book, Alicia shares how we can face difficult emotions and choose to live differently in light of them. As we focus on God's character while at the same time caring for our brains & bodies, healing can happen. Alicia shares practical wisdom for grieving moms to navigate their grief journey, blending faith with their emotional well-being.

In this episode, we discussed:

• A framework for managing emotions
• What are the 3 steps (Acknowledge, Discern, Decide)?
• Choosing where we emotionally dwell
• What happens if we get stuck?
• How to move past culture's expectations of us
• The emotional iceberg
• It's okay to hate death
• Disconnect between our heart and head
• Cracks in the foundation of our faith
• The mystery of God
• What is "emotional prep"?
• Being good stewards of our bodies

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode54]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with NBC's The Voice contestant Josh Sanders and his wife, Kendra. Josh was the runner-up on Season 25 of The Voice on Team Reba McEntire. On national television, Josh shared his story of losing his precious son, Leelynd, in 2020 on his own birthday. When his story aired, NBC showed a photo of him and Kendra holding Leelynd in a Bridget's cradle.

Ashley [Bridget's Cradles founder + Cradled in Hope podcast host] and Kendra connected and formed a friendship. In this episode, you'll hear Josh and Kendra share Leelynd's story and how they navigated their grief journey both individually and as a couple. Grounded in their faith in God and commitment to each other, they authentically share the ups and downs of marriage after loss. You won't want to miss hearing their honest and vulnerable testimony of hope in the midst of deep pain.

Exciting Announcement: This month, Josh and Kendra are flying from their home state of North Carolina to Bridget's Cradles headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. Josh will sing at Bridget's Cradles' event, Wave of Light, on October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Visit www.bridgetscradles.com/waveoflight for more information and to register to attend!

In this episode, we discussed:

• Grief is a symptom of love
• What it looks like when spouses grieve differently
• Losing a baby and having a funeral during the pandemic
• Marital tension after loss
• Surface-level feelings vs. deeper soul emotions
• Why Josh auditioned for NBC's The Voice
• His experience being on the show on Reba's team
• Holding our life plans loosely
• Spiritual warfare in grief
• Why we shouldn't pretend to be put together
• How God takes our mess and turns it into a message
• Their experience holding Leelynd in a Bridget's cradle
• Josh singing at Wave of Light 2024 and their hopes for the event
• A special prayer from Josh for grieving parents

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode53]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Eric Schumacher and Jessika Sanders about how to pray for a child or baby in a medical crisis. Eric is a grieving father and author of Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage. Jessika is the founder and Executive Director of Praying through Ministries. Together, they wrote In His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Going to God before Google
• Surrendering our children's lives to the Lord
• The impact of trauma on our brains
• The power of intercessory prayer
• All about their book, In His Hands
• When God doesn't answer our prayers in our timing or ways
• Trials and how they build our (and our kids') testimony
• Suffering and our sanctification
• Reasons why we believe in Jesus
• Praying through Ministries and how they help grieving families

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode52]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Sara Horton, a bereaved mom, and a perinatal bereavement nurse. Sara has experienced the loss of three boys, all born sleeping. She received cradles for two of her sons and began attending Hope Online. Sara is passionate about sharing Christ's truth and hope with grieving moms struggling to understand God's goodness while suffering through deep waters.

In this episode, we discussed:

• How stepping out of her comfort zone (to attend Hope Online) blessed her
• What is it like attending a support group for the first time?
• Reconciling your circumstances with your faith
• The difference between our spiritual good and our materialistic good
• Wrestling with doubt and resting in the Truth of God's Word
• "Even if" kind of faith
• Practicing biblical lament
• Sanctification in suffering
• Being honest with God and expressing your emotions
• Praying even when you don't have the words
• Is there a quota on trials and tribulations?
• Rethinking what it means to be broken
• What is the difference between joy and happiness?
• Advice for nurses caring for grieving families

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode51]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Eric Schumacher, author of Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage. After experiencing multiple miscarriages in his marriage, Eric felt called to write a book for fellow dads, encouraging them to grieve alongside their wives. He journeys through the Gospel of Luke to lead dads to Jesus.

In this episode, we discussed:

• Compounded grief, how it impacts us, and why we need to grieve well
• Does time heal all wounds?
• The different components of loss and how we experience them over time
• Sanctification in the midst of grief
• Jesus as a friend and how He showed us it's okay to show emotion
• Why don't we blame Satan for our loss?
• Nothing is outside God's control
• God is the only solution to our pain
• Why we should read the Gospels and run to Jesus
• Practical ways for fathers to grieve
• How a husband can support his wife (even when he can't fix it)
• An explanation of a father's grief timeline after pregnancy loss
• Sharing grief in marriage, even when spouses grieve differently

• EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode50]

• CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

• CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

• FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

• CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles