This may come as a surprise to those of you who only know me through my book or blog, but I can actually be a person of few words. There are many times when I think that a picture does in fact speak louder than words.

When I look at the following images, I feel like they clearly portray the three lifetimes I have incorporated into my world. While there is sorrow, I also see the beauty and wonder in each and every one of them now; I don’t think I could have said that in as little as a few months ago.

See what you think…

A Lifetime Ago – John and Carols farm Christmas 2002

A Lifetime I Could Not Imagine – Hawaii Christmas 2015 as I searched the sky for images of angel wings

A Lifetime Ahead – John and Carols farm Christmas 2015 – ‘Nuncle John, FKM and Maggie

While I miss my Sweetie Pie every minute of every day, I am learning how to live with only her spirit by my side. What I feel in my heart when I look at these images tells me for the first time since Kalei died, I am living life closer to the spirit of my child than I do to her body. 

Sometimes, like I had to do in this trilogy, I have to look back in order to see just how incredibly far I have come. Thank-you for sharing this part of my journey with me. Your words of encouragement make it possible to continue writing about the world of grief.

On behalf of angel Kalei and myself, I would like to give you a gift I have not been able to share for far too many years…

Merry Christmas!