The idea for the three sections or lifetimes in the book comes from a photograph. How that picture came into being was either the result of a simple misunderstanding or it was meant to be. Either way, the end result is the same.

As the one-year anniversary of Kalei’s death drew near, my sister Karen asked if I had anything special planned for August 20^th. I told her I was heading out to the cemetery first thing in the morning as I needed to be there by 8:05 AM so I could mark the end of one year and the start of another based on the exact time of Kalei’s death. If she wanted to join me she was welcome.

I arrived at the cemetery about 15 minutes early and settled in to wait. As the minutes ticked by I wondered where my sister was. It was not like Karen to be late. I finally gave up looking for her when 8:05 arrived and grief demanded all my attention.

When I got home my phone was ringing off the hook. It was my sister frantically trying to locate me. She had interpreted my words to mean I would be at the crash site not the cemetery that morning.

A few hours later she sent me a picture she took of Kalei’s memorial cross. It is a heartbreaking image, so profound in its simplicity. My shoulders slumped when I looked at it.

Then she forwarded a second picture. As soon as I opened the file I felt a sense of wonder as I immediately saw the reflection of my new world and different life in that image.

The sunflower, catching the early morning rays of the sun portrayed our past and A Lifetime Ago.

The framed photo, which is all that I have left of my child, reflects the present and A Lifetime I Could Not Imagine.

The roses, glistening with dewdrops and the promise of something special housed within, speaks to a future and A Lifetime Ahead.

I love that photograph very much. Not only because it represents the three lifetimes in Forever Kalei’s Mom, but because I know how difficult it was for my sister to make that trip that day. For both those reasons I added the image to page two of the book. Unfortunately, the black and white presentation does not do it justice which is why I am sharing the color version with you today.

If it is not clear by now, the reason why the book has three lifetimes is because of a picture. It was taken by a loving Aunt on a stretch of lonely highway that had things been different, would not have warranted more than a passing glance from her.