Letters to Taylor: On FreedomMy Girl,It was July 4, 1999. Your bouncy pigtails danced in the evening light as we walked the field where my mama grew up. I remember how busy and beautiful you were at age 3. When darkness fell and your Uncle Chip began shooting off fireworks, panic struck your sweet face. The dazzling night sky didn’t wow you at all and you screamed against the loud booms. … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Freedom
Family
Letters to Taylor: On Forgetfulness
Letters to Taylor: On ForgetfulnessMy dear girl,The ache of missing you is waking me in the middle of the night. It’s been a couple weeks since I sat down to “talk” to you, to write out the thoughts that continually float around in my head and surround my heart. I’ve been avoiding writing to you because it hurts so deeply to pen the words and stare at their starkness. Every letter to you … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Forgetfulness
Letters to Taylor: On Procrastination
Letters to Taylor: On ProcrastinationSweet T,I miss you. To say that I miss you doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel. My heart holds a void like I’ve never known before.I’ve been looking back at our lives from the past few years and pondering over the decisions our family made while you were living. I analyzed the choices on what we did and did not do. I’ve spent many hours … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Procrastination
Letters to Taylor: On Numbness
Letters to Taylor: On NumbnessMy sweet girl,I have not wanted to write to you in the past couple weeks. I knew that as soon as my fingers began to type words that I long to speak to you in person, tears would fall, and pain would surge into my soul full force. I’ve felt numb more often since my last letter to you and I’m not sure which is worse. Numbness to dull the pain while knowing it’s … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Numbness
A Prayer to Empower Moms
Parenting is hard work, amen? It's both hard work and heart work. It's long days, short days, good days and bad days.I've been mom-ing for over 22 years now. Through many stages and phases, I can tell you one thing for sure: God loves mothers. He loves mamas because He created them. He loves mamas because He uses them. He must love mamas because He gave one to Jesus. Think about that!And … [Read more...] about A Prayer to Empower Moms
Letters to Taylor: On Heavenly Kisses
Letters to Taylor: On Heavenly KissesDearest Taylor,I’m sitting with Daddy by the ocean this week and the sound of the waves soothe my soul. I would wish that you were here, only the beach was such a strange place for you. The one and only time we brought you by the ocean, you could not stay standing in the shifting sand. I can see your squinting eyes as you struggled to understand why the … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Heavenly Kisses
Letters to Taylor: On Miracles
Letters to Taylor: On MiraclesSweetest Taylor,Tonight my arms are aching to hold you. The longing to feel you breathing is taking my breath captive and my mama’s heart can hardly beat. The pains that I thought were beginning to ease up have returned with a vengeance and I imagine they are like the phantom pains of an amputee, rattling nerves due to something missing. You feel … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Miracles
Letters to Taylor: On Singing Again
Letters to Taylor: On Singing AgainMy sweet girl,I am getting accustomed to the barren space in my world without you here. It’s strange how the pain still feels vast and deep, yet a numbness surrounds it. I don’t know how to compartmentalize the grief of losing you because you came from me and are a part of me. But the new routines of daily living are beginning to take shape and actually … [Read more...] about Letters to Taylor: On Singing Again