Passing the Baton

I know the two of them would have had much to talk about. Both loved basketball, Chip and Joanna Gaines, and photography. Both ran competitively in their teenage years, Amanda with the cross-country team in high school and Kristi the 4x400 relay in high school as well as cross-country in college. Both felt freest when they laced up their Asics and strode out on a country road for a couple miles. Kristi in particular was an incredible long-distance sprinter, posting a 59.2 second 400 split with a baton in her hand.

Amanda Grace, Grief & Loss, MarriageDavey BlackburnNovember 12, 2018 Comments

Around a Kitchen Island

The enemy would love for you to believe you’re alone in your journey — that you’re the only one dealing with the pain you’re currently undergoing.

The truth is there are hundreds, maybe thousands of people who are walking through very similar trials as you. When your eyes are opened up to this, it makes your problems seem much smaller in the light of the larger picture of pain in this world.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnJanuary 31, 2018grief, loss, remarriage, marriage, spouse, Amanda, widows, widowers, hope, heaven, pain Comments

What Do I Say?

I wonder if you’ve ever felt the same way. Whether you have or haven’t lost someone close to you, you've probably known someone who has. You’ve probably been faced with a moment like this. Perhaps not having to speak publicly to a group of grieving folks, but maybe you’ve walked across a room to console someone face-to-face and with each step searched for the words to say that could bring some kind of comfort, answers, and reasoning for their pain.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnMay 15, 2017grief, loss, healing, helping, how to help Comments

How Do You Deal With The Way Amanda Died (Part 4)

Lately I’ve been having flashbacks. I’m not sure if they call this Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or not, but there have been multiple times over the past couple weeks where my mind almost involuntarily drifts to the morning I walked in and found Amanda.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnOctober 24, 2016Amanda, Grief, Tragedy, Loss, Pain, Purpose in Pain, Protection Comments

How Do You Deal With The Way Amanda Died? (Part 3)

It took me three months after Amanda was killed before I could go back into my house. I couldn’t bring myself to face the scene where I found her. I couldn’t muster up the courage to willingly walk back into those horrific memories. But I want you to know something that happened while I was in the house. I want you to see how, if you’ll let it, God’s Word can direct you in truth to comfort your unknowns.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnOctober 17, 2016Amanda, Grief, Loss, Tragedy, Violent Comments

How Do You Deal With The Way Amanda Died? (Part 2)

From day one I recognized this was not just a physical attack, but a spiritual one. There was no other way I could understand how all this could have happened in the hour and a half I was gone from my house, other than this was a strategically mapped out, carefully plotted ploy by evil powers that live in the supernatural realm and have been given dominion of this world.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnOctober 10, 2016Amanda, Grief, Loss, Tragedy, Healing, CS Lewis, Pain, Purpose in Pain, Why Comments

How Do You Deal With The Way Amanda Died? (Part 1)

From day one, anytime someone would talk about those last 45 minutes, it was too much for me to handle. In fact, I think the Lord knew it was too much for me to handle. So I believe He gave me this one truth to hang my heart on until He could show me other truths.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnOctober 3, 2016 Comments

How Do You Deal With The Way Amanda Died?

Over the next 4 weeks, every Monday, I’m going to share my journey of healing with you. I’m going to share with you what I feel like the Lord has showed me. I don’t know for sure everything that happened in those last 45 minutes of Amanda’s life, either in the natural realm or the supernatural one, but the truths I’ll share with you the next 4 weeks are the ones that have helped me heal.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnSeptember 26, 2016 Comments

Braveheart, Valentine's Day, and Purposeful Pain

I purchased Amanda a sword from the movie Braveheart the Valentines Day during our engagement. I know, most guys do chocolates and flowers but I’m not most guys, and Amanda wasn’t most girls. She was special and each special occasion I felt the urge to do something special for her. Something that would top the last.

Tuesday Nights

Sometimes you don’t have an explanation for it. It defies reason. It defies logic. It’s no respecter of time or appointments. It doesn’t take into consideration conversations you’re needing to have, situations you’re needing to save-face for. Grief. Agonizing, gut-wrenching grief.

Grief & LossDavey BlackburnJuly 7, 2016Grief, Family, Pain, waves Comments