Maybe life didn’t turn out the way you planned. Maybe grief found you unexpectedly. Maybe you’re rebuilding after loss, heartbreak, failure, trauma, disappointment, or simply a season that left you wondering who you even are anymore.

I understand that place more than I ever wanted to.

Over the years, my life has been marked by devastating loss, unexpected detours, hard decisions, financial struggle, solo parenting, adoption, special needs parenting, recovering from my own mistakes and choices, and learning how to keep going when everything familiar seemed to fall apart. There were seasons when survival itself felt like the victory. I’ve buried two husbands and learned to parent four adopted children through grief and secondary trauma — none of it on a timeline I would have chosen.

And yet… here I am.

Not untouched by the fire. Not pretending the ashes didn’t exist. But slowly discovering that God still creates beauty from broken places.

That’s what After the Ashes is about.

This isn’t a space for polished perfection or shallow positivity. It’s a space for honest conversations about grief, faith, resilience, rebuilding, healing, and finding hope again — especially when life looks nothing like you expected.

Some days we’ll talk about loss. Some days about courage. Some days about practical rebuilding after life implodes. Some days about faith when answers don’t come easily. Some days about the messes we made ourselves, and the grace that meets us there.

And sometimes, we’ll simply remind each other that starting over does not mean your story is over.

If you’re in a rebuilding season too, I hope you’ll stay.

There is still life after loss. There is still purpose after heartbreak. There is still hope after the ashes.

Welcome. I’m grateful you’re here.

— Leah