Leah Stirewalt

Out of Deep Waters

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Rescued and Restored – My First Book is Here!

June 27, 2016 by Leah Stirewalt Leave a Comment

BookCoverImageI am absolutely giddy with excitement over this announcement! My first published book has been released! It’s finally ready to share!

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been blessed by meeting new widows just beginning their walk down Grief Road. I’m humbled that people continue to send these precious women to my blog to share in my own journey by reading some of the posts from my first year of widowhood. However, the further I am removed from that year, the harder the posts from that time frame are to find on my blog. Several people suggested I make a collection of those posts and publish a printed or electronic book to make them more readily available. Well, I’ve done both!

I’m still stunned that anyone would even want to read what I have to share, but I know God was my Rescuer and is my Restorer during the most difficult tragedy I’ve ever experienced, and if I can bring Him glory by sharing that experience with others, then I’ll continue to do so.

If you know someone who could benefit from reading this segment of my widow journey, or perhaps if you simply want to see more fully how God worked so amazingly in my life during that season, I’d love for you to get a copy or two. You can do so HERE or HERE, or if you’re a Kindle person, you can get the electronic version HERE!

Thank you, friends and readers, for your encouragement and love through the years here at Out of Deep Waters! I truly have been Rescued and Restored, and He’s certainly not finished with me yet.

P.S. I’ll be giving away a couple copies of Rescued and Restored here soon. Stay tuned!

 

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Five Years

May 3, 2016 by Leah Stirewalt Leave a Comment

FIVE YEARSJust like in 2011, May 3 is on a Tuesday this year. Upon that realization, I sighed.

It’s been five years ago today since my previous husband left his earthly home to go to his Heavenly home, a result of suicide. The anniversary of his death is always difficult for me. While I have “moved on” by most accounts, there are still certain triggers on a grief journey that pop up from time to time and cause a bit of an emotional cyclone. These last couple weeks have been that for me, and the culmination of those spiraling emotions is this very week.

In 2011…

Tuesday, May 3 – the last time I saw my husband I alive. The day he “disappeared” and ultimately took his life.

Wednesday, May 4 – the day his lifeless body was found.

Saturday, May 7 – the day we celebrated his life with friends and family.

Sunday, May 8 (also Mother’s Day) – the day we buried him, because the cemetery wouldn’t accommodate us on May 7.

God has beautifully restored my life and brought blessing upon blessing upon blessing…no doubt! My life looks nothing today like it did five years ago. I stand amazed at all God has done to bring beauty from ashes. And yet…I still get a bit of a yucky feeling on this week every year. I still feel a knot in my chest as flashbacks from those days creep into my mind all over again. I still wonder…will this ever end this side of eternity? Whether it does or doesn’t is really not the point. Yet…I still wonder.

And then…there’s my prince. God brought Joel into my life so unexpectedly and yet so beautifully and perfectly! Joel accepted me, accepted “my story”, accepted my daughter as one of his own and lovingly supports me through those rare, but still there, emotionally difficult days. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to him. He is an absolute gem and a delight to my soul, and I’m SO VERY THANKFUL God blessed me with him!

My life looks so different now than it did five years ago. I was a grieving, single mother of one beautiful daughter. Now, I’m a joy-filled (still grieving, on occasion) blessed wife to my prince and mother/step-mother to NINE and Grandma Leah to two adorable munchkins! Only God could do that. Only God restores life like that. And…to Him be ALL the glory!

The days will soften soon. The momentary sadness will pass. Joy still exists even among brief episodes of pain. God is still restoring, and I am immensely thankful for this life He’s given me.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (ESV)

 

 

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Meet Leah

Leah StirewaltI became "twice widowed" when my beloved prince, Joel, went to his Heavenly home after a brief and sudden illness on February 12, 2017. I’m in a place of shock and devastation, but I intend to use this format to journal my second widow journey, much like I did my first. It’s my open journal, my electronic oasis, and it’s often the place I find true healing as I allow myself to “come clean” with my feelings. Read More...

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My first book details the account of my first widow journey. Learn more below.

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