Book excerpt: As a young widow, Ashley Bugge was suddenly faced with the task of raising two young children and a newborn child without the support of her spouse. Could she do it alone? The Ocean is Calling exposes the realities of a life’s greatest love and loss: the unexpected death of a spouse, followed by giving birth to a child, alone. Facing insurmountable grief, Ashley Bugge takes readers through a journey like no other—from a bitter dark night with a bottle of sleeping pills in her hand to giving birth alone, to a no-holds-barred expedition through eight countries with her three young children in tow. Ashley holds nothing back as she includes readers on her real-time voyage through incredible states, countries and oceans. She shares daring, challenging moments of donning scuba diving gear to explore the same water her husband took his last breath, traversing mountains in Switzerland, exploring WWII remains in Poland, and grappling with the struggles of a young widow raising three children on her own. The Ocean is Calling shares a journey of heartache, discovery, travel, family and exploration. Ashley hopes that her story will encourage readers to be confident and trust that whatever happens in life, there is hope and joy ahead.