Buried Dreams: From Devastating Loss to Unimaginable Hope

by Lindsey R Dennis

Finding hope when faced with the devastating loss of your most precious dreams. At 20 weeks pregnant, Lindsey Dennis and her husband were told the child she was carrying would not live due to a fatal diagnosis. Later, in another stunning blow, they were told the same news with her second pregnancy. They chose to celebrate both lives alongside a community, both local and online, of hundreds of thousands as she carried each child to term only to bury them 14 months apart from each other. Through the crushing of their hopes and dreams, they came to know the kind of resurrection hope that can rise from the grave. This experience of infant loss revealed to Dennis how sorrow and suffering are instruments in the hands of God to forge in us a greater joy and hope than one can ever know. This kind of joy can only be discovered when we walk through the deep pain of burying our most precious dreams. Buried Dreams offers an uplifting perspective, sharing how devastating loss of personal dreams can give way to unimaginable hope and how death can give way to life. Framing her own story of staggering loss and soaring hope with biblical perspective, Dennis highlights that we can never plan for the unexpected turns of this life that sometimes lead to great personal suffering, but we can reach for the One who is there with us in the loss. Product Shares how unrealized dreams can give way to unimaginable hope. Shows how sorrow and suffering are instruments in the hands of God. Rekindles hope for those who have experienced loss.

Genres: Grief

256 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2018

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey has indeed walked through "devastating loss" but that has not led her to withdraw and grieve alone. Instead Lindsey and her husband have used their family journey to invite a global community into their story, so that the world too, might know the God of hope and goodness they have come to know more intimately through their own loss and suffering. LIndsey's writing is authentic and poignant yet easily understandable. You will quickly be drawn into her journey and will find yourself at the end, ready to read it again. Her perspective on suffering and grief and discovering who God is in the midst of such journeys is relevant for any kind of dream you may have buried. Whether infant and pregnancy loss, the loss of a parent to cancer, divorce, or a sudden change in career, Lindsey's story can help you discover how to breathe new life into your own buried dreams.
*I received an early copy of this book from the publisher for review

[Abi Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey Dennis has been inviting people all over the world into her story since she and her husband Kevin found out about their first daughter's fatal diagnosis at their 20 week ultrasound. In this book, she further invites you into her suffering and loss as well as the hope that she and her husband have found in God through even the darkest days. Instead of trite sayings like, "Everything happens for a reason," Dennis shares the truth she has found through Scripture along with the reality that it's not okay that she had two bury two daughters in less than two years. She allows you into her sorrow as well as her joy while speaking truth about the sovereignty and goodness of God.

[Chelsie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a privilege it was to be on the launch team for this book. While I’ve been following Lindsey’s blog for years, I had no idea the details of her story that would have me crying, laughing, sad and full of joy all in a matter of a couple chapters. For anyone who has hit rock bottom and in need of a reminder of the hope we have in Jesus. This is for you...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. Lindsey writes honestly about her pain and grief and brings it back to the gospel consistently. While I have not known the situations she wrote about, her humble vulnerability about her grief brought me closer to God in my walk with him.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for anyone who has suffered through infant loss or a miscarriage and wants to read someone's experience who walked this journey twice and still kept her faith and remained hopeful that she'd be a parent. Very encouraging for anyone struggling with their faith during tough times.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three pregnancies in a row, I said “See you on the other side of Heaven” to three precious lives, two of which I had the privilege of hearing their heartbeat before they passed. It is easy to feel alone in the loss, especially since often no one else knows except you and your partner. It’s a silent suffering. However, in my suffering, I learned a great deal about God. I learned about His character and I learned about His loving kindness. In Buried Dreams, Lindsey shares about her own infant loss and the importance of suffering well, and being loved by God and by community in the midst of the suffering. She says, “For the greatest pain in our lives exposes what we really believe about God and is fertile soil for God to do His greatest work in our lives.” I believe this with my whole heart, and I can say it is true in my life of the suffering that brought rich fruit to my life and challenged my view of God. If you are suffering a loss or have buried a precious dream, I would encourage you to read this book. It is raw and real and not just a superficial “let go and let God” read, although Lindsey writes beautifully about truly letting go and letting God.

[Janis Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an honest, personal book about deep loss and deep faith. It is the story of one woman's journey with her husband and others through the loss of two newborn daughters. She chose to celebrate every step of their growth in her womb to their deaths and life after their loss. It is a remarkable journey through despair, loss, and joy. Lindsey writes with raw honesty about her questions and struggles. Though I have never experienced this loss, what she wrote challenged and encouraged me in my own struggles with loss and grief. Her faith is real and grows stronger as she continues through a different life than she ever imagined. It is painful to read at times because of the facts and emotions freely shared by her with the reader. But it is so worth the pain to find the comfort. This is not a quick fix Christian book. It is a "rubber meets the road'' life of spirituality. I highly recommend it.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It might be difficult for some to realize that there is joy in suffering. There is life after dreams have been shattered. I really liked this book because it made me take a look at my own relationships, especially my relationship with God. Though I have not suffered losses like Lindsey Dennis and her husband, I have lost the expectations I had for my life when I developed a chronic disabling condition. The idea here is that in the midst of suffering, even when we question God's ways, our hope is founded on Jesus Christ. Dennis uses scripture often and well in her writing. I did find that the last section of the book was a little long, as though the author was repeating some things, but other than that I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for God's hope and joy whether they are facing a tragedy or not.

I received a free copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.

[Kendal Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written beautifully. Lindsey has a strong relationship with God and through the hard times she endured with her pregnancies and motherhood she still seems so strong. Stronger than i think i would be. Her faith and her relationship with her husband is amazing. To read about her journey and about her two daughters is a blessing. I’m so grateful that she was able to spread her experience and walk through these difficult times in her life. Through this she has been able to help others.

[Liz Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey is the real deal. She has walked through devastating loss (twice) and wrestled with God through it and worshipped Him through it. She mingles grief and hope together so beautifully in her story, and I’m so thankful she shared this journey with the world. I highly recommend this read, but know it hits some very tender spots (infant loss) so it might not be the right read for every reader at all times.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written based on Dennis’ blog about her daughters’ brief lives and deaths, this is an intensely personal story of the family’s first two children, both of whom were diagnosed with fatal conditions in the womb. It is an excellent book that shares not only the grief from diagnosis through death, but also the crushed hopes when the Dennis’ second daughter was unexpectedly diagnosed with a similar condition just months after her sister’s death.

[VICTORIA VAN VLEAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful to me. I read it over the course of a few months, shortly after losing my firstborn daughter. Such hope in this book, and I felt a sense of "kindred spirit" with the author going through a similar loss.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey does a beautiful job sharing her journey of carrying her two oldest girls to term and loving them in her arms for 10- and 12-hours before they went to be with Jesus not even two years apart. She writes of hope, of joy, and of what it meant to learn to grieve as a mom. Highly recommend.