The Compassionate Friends/Whatcom County Chapter of WA

02/10/2026

Dear Parents, Grandparents and Siblings,

Our next meeting is this Wednesday, 2/11, at 7:00 pm in our usual location of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 Lakeway in Bellingham.

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01/12/2026

For bereaved parents who are a few years down the track, there can be a quieter kind of heartbreak — one that doesn’t always get seen.

The messages slow. The check-ins stop. People no longer ask how you’re really going, as though time has neatly taken care of things. Your child’s name is mentioned less and less. Stories are no longer shared. It can feel as though the world has quietly agreed to move on, while you are still living every day with the absence that changed everything.

Sometimes others talk freely about their problems — the frustrations, the stresses, the everyday worries — and you listen, carrying the weight of the biggest loss imaginable. Not because you don’t care, but because your life has been reshaped in a way that can’t be fixed, solved, or put behind you.

There’s often an unspoken assumption that because time has passed, the pain must be in the past too. That it’s over. That it’s best not to bring it up. But grief doesn’t work like that. Love doesn’t work like that.

You still think of your child every single day. You still carry them into every conversation, every season, every ordinary moment. And sometimes you’re still quietly waiting for someone to ask, “How are you really?” — but the question doesn’t come.

Words: TCFV

Art: Jungsuk Lee

01/12/2026

Our meeting are on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. If you are interested in attending a meeting please contact Alice at 360-2208955

12/25/2025

💙🩵🤍
We know this can be an incredibly difficult time of year — a season that highlights the empty chair at the table, the silence where laughter once lived, and the ache that settles in your chest no matter how many years have passed.

For those in their first Christmases without their precious child, sibling or grandchild, we understand the shock, the heaviness, the feeling of moving through the world with a heart that’s been changed forever. And for those further along in the years, we know that the sadness and heartache can still sit quietly beside you, especially tonight.

Please know that here at TCFV we send our love, our friendship, and our gentle support to each of you.

You’re not alone in this.
We’re here, walking alongside you, today and always 💙🩵🤍

Art: Pinterest

12/02/2025

December 14th 7:00 local time. If you would like to attend our local service please reach out to Alice at 360-220-8955

11/11/2025

Our meeting is this Wednesday, 11/12, at 7:00 PM. Because of the approaching holidays there are some schedule changes, so please take a close look at the dates.

11/12: Carlos will be sharing his volunteer work in the Philippines and author Wendy Saffel will be presenting her new book entitled "Never Really Left: Grief, Healing and a Mother's Unexpected Relationship with Her Departed Son. (The book will be available for purchase after the meeting. I have a copy I will be putting in our library when I finish reading it as well.)

11/12: Reminder: I need your photos for the December candle lighting. You may email, text or bring 1-3 photos of your loved one with their name and dates. (If you gave me photos in the past, I will use those unless you want to change them.)

09/27/2025

If you live in Whatcom County or the surrounding area and have experienced the loss of a child, grandchild or sibling we are here for you in your grief walk. Please call Alice at 360-220-8955.

08/07/2025

🖤💔🩶
In the early days of grief, shock cushions the unbearable. It carries us through the impossible — the phone calls, the funeral, the moments we never imagined we’d be living.

But over time, that numbness begins to wear off. And that’s when the reality of loss hits in full.

It’s different for everyone — there is no timeline, no map. But sooner or later, we’re faced with the enormity of what’s missing. The silence where laughter used to be. The empty space at the table. The future we had dreamed of, gone.

Whether you’ve lost a child, a partner, a sibling, a parent, or someone else who shaped your world, the grief can feel impossible to carry.

There are few things harder in life than coming to terms with the truth that you will never see them again — never hold them, never hear their voice.

It’s a pain that reshapes everything.

If you’re in that place right now, please know you’re not alone. So many of us walk this road beside you. We may not have answers, but we understand the weight of love and loss.

Be gentle with yourself. Some days just breathing is enough.

And know that it’s okay to still be in shock, to still be struggling, to still not have found peace. Love like this doesn’t end. And neither does grief — it just changes form.

We’re here, together in this heartbreak. 💔

Artist Credit: Micell A

08/07/2025

Quietly
❤❤❤

I missed you quietly today. So quietly that no one noticed.

I missed you as I climbed out of bed and as I brushed my teeth; when I waited at the lights on the drive into work and as I heard the rain outside my window.

I missed you as I ordered lunch and as I kicked off my shoes when I got home; as I switched off the lights and climbed into bed for the night.

I missed you without noise, tears or fanfare. But oh how I felt it.

I felt it in the morning, at lunchtime, in the evening and at night, I felt it as I woke, as I waited, as I worked. I felt it at home, on the road, in the light, in the dark, in the rain.

I felt it in every ne of those moments, each one sitting heavier and heavier as the weight of me missing you kept growing and growing.

Yes, I missed you so quietly today.
But I felt it so loudly.
- Beck Hemsley

04/08/2025

We are very pleased to bring you the Spring 2025 online issue of "We Need Not Walk Alone," courtesy of The Compassionate Friends!

04/08/2025

💜🩵💜
Nobody has ever "gotten over"
grief by being more grateful
for what they still have, or
"moved on" from trauma by
being more positive. Our
society has a strange
obsession with trying to force
people out of pain that is
rightfully theirs to feel.

Words by:

Artist Credit: My Moon Garden (Etsy)

04/08/2025

Asking for Help in Grief 💔🧡💔

Grief is heavy, and no one should have to carry it alone. Yet, asking for help can be one of the hardest things to do when you're grieving. Sometimes, the words don’t come, or you worry about being a burden. But the truth is—your grief matters, and there are people who want to support you.

If you're struggling, it's okay to reach out. And if you're supporting someone who is grieving, know that even small acts of kindness can make a difference—not just in the early days but in the years to come.

Here are 10 ways friends and family can help:

💔 In the early days of grief:
1️⃣ Be present. Sometimes, just sitting in silence with someone grieving is more comforting than words.
2️⃣ Bring food or help with meals. Grief is exhausting, and cooking can feel impossible.
3️⃣ Help with daily tasks. Laundry, dishes, school pickups—these small things can feel overwhelming.
4️⃣ Listen without trying to fix. Just hearing their pain without offering solutions can be a huge comfort.
5️⃣ Say their loved one's name. Acknowledge their loss instead of avoiding it.

💔 As time goes on:
6️⃣ Check in—months and years later. Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. A simple “I’m thinking of you” can mean the world.
7️⃣ Remember important dates. Birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays can be especially tough. Let them know they’re not alone.
8️⃣ Share memories. Many grieving people fear their loved one will be forgotten. Keep their memory alive.
9️⃣ Invite them to things—but don’t pressure them. Sometimes, they may want to join; other times, they may not. Let them know they're always welcome.
🔟 Understand that grief changes but never fully disappears. Even years later, there will be moments of deep sorrow. Be patient and compassionate.

If you're grieving, know that it’s okay to ask for help. And if you're supporting someone in grief, your kindness—no matter how small—can mean more than you realize. 💙



Artist Credit : Xuanwei Su