HERITAGE OF HOPE has long been encouraged by Libby Boatwright–the author of a recently released and informative book—THE LAST THINGS WE TALK ABOUT: Your Guide to End of Life Transitions. Libby’s professional experience as a Certified Financial Planner, a Pastor, and a Chaplain uniquely qualifies her to address end of life transitions with extensive knowledge but also abundant illustrations. You may remember Libby from our first video—Home Free.  In it Libby speaks to the importance of preparing one’s exit strategies by contrasting two families. One confused and distraught family had little idea what was involved in planning a memorial service. In contrast, the other family knew the wishes of the deceased in detail, so their distress was greatly lessened.

THE LAST THINGS WE TALK ABOUT facilitates the personal research needed to actually get one’s own affairs in order in several ways:

  • ORGANIZATIONALLY: An index, table of contents and a guide to key pages enable readers to quickly find resources and recommendations for the various situations that confront us as we, or our loved ones, approach the end of this life.
  • TERMINOLOGY: Libby’s book helpfully defines professional terms and titles in the medical and legal communities and elsewhere.
  • SPECIFICS: The book does not limit itself to generalities but includes an abundance of helpful details such as what materials are needed to arrange a veteran’s burial at a National Cemetery.
  • RESOURCES: The Last Things We Talk About is richly populated with suggested websites, books, and organizations to assist your personal research.
  • COMFORT: While this book encompasses legal, financial, and medical realms, it does not ignore our humanity. An entire chapter addresses saying good-bye and the dying process, while another is focused on grief.

Libby Boatwright

The HERITAGE OF HOPE Video Series and Workbook is designed to be used by individuals or families, small or large groups. We continue to receive positive feedback from all these approaches, but always there are questions. It is impossible for a video series to give individual counsel. That is the task of consulted professionals after one has done their own preliminary research. Accordingly, each chapter in our Heritage of Hope Workbook recommends books, relevant scripture, and articles while our website FinishLifeWell.org contains numerous resource links. To assist with your personal research, we will be adding The Last Things We Talk About to our resource links.

THE LAST THINGS WE TALK ABOUT is extremely informative, but it is not dry. As she did on our Home Free video, Libby illustrates her points with real life examples of those who prepared well for the end of this life and those who did not. Completing the Heritage of Hope Checklist, pages 20-21 in the new HERITAGE OF HOPE Workbook, can be a challenge. I heartily recommend The Last Things We Talk About: Your Guide to End of Life Transitions as both a motivating read and a valuable reference.  Thank you Libby!