The Scent of Yellow Roses: A Memoir of Hope and Healing

On a cool dry evening in March 1994, twenty-year-old Jennifer went out to a birthday party. She never returned home. In the middle of the night, policemen were calling and knocking at the door. They had to deliver the worst news a parent can hear. Jenny was never coming home again.

After the shock comes survival. How does a family go on? Some survive better than others. This is a true story of one woman's attempt at enduring the pain that comes with the loss of a child and the slow but steady loss of a marriage.

This is a story that spans more than twenty years. It is a case study in grief and the impact it has on a family over time. Just one moment, one decision, the timing of a traffic light, a missed exit, or even a couple's wedding date, can change a family's life forever. May this book of letters let you know that you are not alone in grief, and that sometimes faith, hope and purpose are all you need to survive.

Susan Harriman Smelser, MA, LPC is a mental health counselor, mother, and grandmother of two charming boys. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two little dogs. Visit her at thescentofyellowroses.com, Facebook at https: //www.facebook.com/thescentofyellowroses or reach her at thescentofyellowroses@gmail.com.