Ascending Intentionally

23/12/2025

This absolutely breaks my heart 💔and it isn't the first time I've heard a similar story.

Sage Ferrell is desperately searching for her grandfather’s ashes after they were stolen from her unlocked car in Surprise, Arizona near Bell Road & Grand Avenue. The urn is MINI SIZE (keepsake) light purple with silver trim, about the size of a hand, and was inside a small cinched bag.
Her grandfather died in 2015, and Sage has carried his ashes with her ever since, traveling across multiple states with him. She describes it as losing him all over again. To her, this was her connection, comfort, and constant companion through life.
She has filed a police report and is offering a $775 reward for the urn’s safe return, no questions asked. She doesn’t want names, she doesn’t want drama, she just wants her grandpa back.
If you have any information or if the person who took it realizes what they have and wants to do the right thing, please contact Surprise Police Department at 623-222-4000.
Please share and spread compassion. What may look like “just an object” to someone else is someone’s heart, grief, and love. 💜

22/12/2025

The hardest part often comes after the funeral.

When the visitors stop coming.
When the casseroles are gone.
When you’re left standing in a house full of belongings and memories, wondering where to even begin.

Over time, I’ve seen how overwhelming this part can be. Sorting through a loved one’s things isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, tender, and often lonely.
Because of that, I’ve added a new offering to my work as a death doula:

Post-Loss Home Support.

This is gentle, hands-on support for individuals and families navigating belongings after a death—at your pace, with care, without pressure to rush or “get it done.”
If this speaks to you, or to someone you love, more information is on my website (under services offered).
And if now isn’t the time, that’s okay too. Just knowing support exists can matter.
💛
www.ascendingintentionally.com

Ascending Intentionally offers death doula services intended provide support, guidance, and companionship to individuals and their families as they navigate the end-of-life process.

21/12/2025

Would it shock you that cremated remains are tracked by clipping paperwork to it? In addition to that, most people are surprised to learn “ashes” from cremation are not actually ashes like campfire ash.

After cremation, what remains are calcified bone fragments. The soft tissue is reduced by heat, but bone doesn’t burn away completely, it transforms.

Those bone fragments are "swept" out of the crematory retort and held in steel bins to cool, as pictured above. Notice the decedents paperwork is clipped to each container? One cool, the bone fragments are then placed in a special machine called a cremulator, which pulverizes them into the fine, sand-like consistency most people recognize as cremated remains. This step is necessary so the remains can be safely returned to families and fit inside an urn or keepsake vessel.

This is why remains sometimes vary in texture or color, from white sand to gray kitty litter- it depends on temperature, time, bone density, and even age or medical history.

Death care shouldn’t be mysterious. You deserve honest education about what happens to the people we love. 💚

20/12/2025

Life doesn’t come with a timeline we can see.

Conversations go unfinished. Hugs get postponed.

We live as if tomorrow is promised, yet we never know when an ordinary moment will quietly change everything.

That truth isn’t meant to scare us — it’s meant to wake us up.
So today, what feels most important to you?
Who or what deserves your attention right now?

19/12/2025

Be honest…
When someone (usually me 😅) brings up death at a party, what’s your actual first reaction?

😳 “Oh no… here she goes again with this conversation.”
🤔 “Huh… I’ve been thinking about that lately.”
😅 “Depends on how much wine I’ve had.”
💬 “Finally! Someone said it out loud.”
🫣 Quietly backs away but listens anyway

No wrong answers — I’m genuinely curious.
Bonus points if you tell me why you picked yours. 👀

19/12/2025

18/12/2025

Sometimes people ask how I can talk about death so much. ⚰⚱
But the truth? 🗣💬
It’s made me laugh harder, love deeper, and appreciate the small stuff — especially during the holidays. 🤣❣💓🛐

Life is tender. That’s kind of the point.

Do you feel comfortable having these conversations with loved ones?

17/12/2025

17/12/2025

🎄📿🕎🕯Holiday small talk at parties with me:

‘So… what do you do?’
Me: ‘I host Death Cafés and support people through grief and dying.’
Them: long pause
Me: ‘I also bring snacks.’
Somebody’s gotta keep the conversations honest. 😂 ⚰☠⚱☕🍰

17/12/2025

I love learning about different burial techniques.

How do you feel about shrouding? 🤔 💀 ⚰️

16/12/2025

Recently at my birthday dinner at a dear friend’s home, he lit a candle from my mom’s Celebration of Life. It was a simple and beautiful way to include her-and lovingly fill an empty seat at the table. 🕯️ 💛🤍

How do you navigate and empty seat-during thr holidays or any other day?