I want to introduce you to a new author (and friend) to me … Alycia W. Morales.
Her debut book, Surviving the Year of Firsts: A Mom’s Guide to Grieving Child Loss, was published on September 17, 2024. This is a club no one wants to be a member of; this is a book no one wants to have to write. But if you’re dealing with the grief from child loss, this is a resource that I encourage you to pick up today. Email me if you’d like prayer.
About the Book
Your child is gone. Your heart is broken. How on earth do you survive this?
When we’re preparing for motherhood, we don’t expect to have to bury our children four, nineteen, or thirty-six years later. Nor are we prepared for grief’s assault on us and those we love. Is there any hope left in this life? And if so, where do you find it?
Alycia Morales knows your grief is as unique as you are and will help you navigate the foggy forest of child loss, a journey she’s survived multiple times.
In 52 bite-sized chapters, with deep biblical insight and genuine compassion, Alycia will help you:
- push through the pain and heartbreak of grief, with hope to discover a new normal where the ache remains but death has lost its sting
- continue to put one foot in front of the other, taking small steps toward getting back to living a life that not only honors the Lord, but honors your child’s memory as well
- learn to refocus your thoughts, taking them captive to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, rather than dwelling on death’s doorstep
- seek out the treasures in daily life and walk in gratitude as you journey down this path with God
- Despite the heartbreak and devastation you currently feel, you can experience healing, hope, and joy. An abundance of life remains for you this side of heaven. Let’s go find it.
About the Author
I’m Alycia, wordsmith and mama of many stripes who is addicted to reading books, watching crime shows, drinking sweet tea, documenting life with my camera, creating beautiful things, and making mixed playlists on Spotify and YouTube (I might miss the original MTV).
In my day job, I’m the receptionist at a concrete construction company.
At my second job, I’m a writer, editor, and book coach. I share on the complexities of faith, life’s joys and heartbreaks, and stories. I create community for women who desire to live their best story and for writers who want to share their stories with a world in need of hope.
And in my other job, I feed and parent three young adults, which if you’re a mama to children of any age, you know is a full-time job on its own.
Review of Surviving the Year of Firsts
This is the first book of Alycia W. Morales’ that I’ve had the privilege of reading, and I hope she will continue to write many more. I have experienced a miscarriage myself almost 18 years ago; and also had to say goodbye to my in-laws, both within six months of each other, so grief and I have met.
While this book nails it regarding the feelings and emotions of grief when losing a child, it is not only for parents grieving the death of their children, it’s for any loss an individual is experiencing.
I felt as though Alycia had walked into my home and traveled the road of grief I’m currently on, that’s how well this book ministered to me. I found myself crying because I was experiencing those emotions again or simply crying for Alycia and her family as they walked a different path, equally (or maybe even harder at times) as mine.
She explains to the reader at the beginning that the chapters will be very short, have survival tools and also a Scripture verse because when you’re grieving, it’s hard enough to get through one day, let alone have anything of length to “have to” read. Have to’s and grief don’t mix, and she takes the “have to” out of the equation and instead offers bite-size lifelines which are the perfect size. Something for readers to look forward to, someone who understands, not one more thing that has to get done.
I loved how Alycia shared her heart with the readers, showing us the little “God hugs” He sprinkled throughout the first year to bring her extra comfort when she needed it most. I also loved how so much of what she experienced, I, too, had gone through, and didn’t realize it was normal or “okay.” I found myself crying when she talked about sobbing while grocery shopping, realizing she would never buy “___” for Caleb again. I, too, had found myself months earlier sobbing while passing the pork rinds, knowing I could never surprise my mother-in-law with them this side of heaven again either. Something little but of great importance, because it’s one more “joy” taken away from you to share with that person you loved so dearly.
This book is a wonderful encouragement to any individual struggling with surviving the first year after losing someone they love. It spoke directly to my soul, and I know it will do the same for others.
I was given this book as a complimentary copy but was not required to write a review.
Thanks for connecting today.
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to focus on seeing
“JESUS in the EVERYDAY?”
