Life is a Gift

I never thought much about the weight of a memory until I held one in my arms.

Her name was Launa, She was beautiful, perfect, and still. In the quiet of that hospital room, I whispered all the love I could into her tiny ears, knowing she would never hear it the way I wished she could.

The weight of her body was lighter than the love I carried for her. I memorized the curve of her fingers, the way her face resembled mine and her mother’s. The softness of her cheeks. I tried to press it all into my soul, terrified that time would take these details away from me.

It has been almost 16 years now. Time does that thing where it moves on, even when part of your heart stays behind. But I have learned something sacred: this experience is a gift. You can move forward with those you love.

The world wants to forget. It tells you to distract yourself, to tuck away the pain in neat little boxes. But love isn’t neat. Love doesn’t end just because a heartbeat does. Love is messy, relentless, and eternal. It stretches across time and space, binding us to those who have gone before and those who will come after.

I know this because I have lived it. When my second daughter, Jaine, left this world too soon, I realized something—grief and love are the same thing. One cannot exist without the other. The depth of sorrow only reflects the depth of love. And if that love still exists, then so do they, in a way that is more real than anything we can see or touch.

Me, Lavon and Baby Jaine

That’s why Lavon and I are creating this space. Because you, too, have been given this gift. If you are here, it means you love deeply, even when there is nothing to hold. That love does not have to shrink in grief or be lost in everyday life—it can grow. It can move beyond the sorrow and become something new, something living.

Here, we remember. Here, we say their names. Here, we find new ways to honor them—not just in mourning, but in celebration. Because their lives, no matter how brief, were a gift. And we will not let that gift fade into silence.

Each article in this space will explore the journey of grief, not as something to overcome, but as something to walk with. We will share ideas on how to celebrate the lives of our children, how to cherish the small and sacred moments, and how to turn love into action.

Love is costly. Love leads to pain and suffering. But I believe with all my soul, it is a price worth paying, Because death is not the end.

If you are here, you are not alone. Your love is real. Your child is remembered. And together, we will make sure that love is never lost.

Do you want to share your gift with others? Send us your story and we'll add it to this blog where your Angel can leave an imprint on hearts all over the world. 🤍