Dr. Seuss once said, “You never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” What stunning and poignant words. I’m trying desperately to catch each one, and hold on to it just long enough for an imprint to stay behind. To grasp all of the beautiful and wretched like my favorite old polaroids which always remain in my head, and never fade with the passing of time. There’s been so much life swirling inside this living of mine, and all I’ve been begging of myself is to write it down and remember. For too long. So here goes!
Some long sentiments, some short. Some light, some dark. Some weightless as a feather and some heavy as a wrecking ball. But I’d like to preserve it all in this form. And look back on it when I need to, when I want to. To show my babies. And tell a few stories. I hope you will find a little something here to stir up your head and heart, with a splash of solace and a dollop of joy on the side...
Thank you for being here!
motherhood
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“I believe we will always have a strong connection” in her precious 9 year old spelling ❤️ This is the letter that Lillie Mae wrote to her daddy tonight. It’s his BIRTHDAY!!!!! He is bursting with love and creativity and insane drummer-singer-songwriter skills/paintings that are beyond (@chriscolemanart)!!! We love his adventures and drawings and stories and backyard sports leadership-but most of all we love his heart. The children sang happy birthday so loudly tonight I thought their voices would burst, we love you more than you will ever know @colemantime!! Y’all help me in wishing him the best year he’s had yet at his strapping young age of 45!!!!!! ❤️🎉🥳🎂
It’s DOWN SYNDROME awareness day!! Georgia Grace was born September 25, 2022 and changed our lives forever 🙏🏼 After clear routine genetic tests a few months earlier, we had the completely unexpected news of Down Syndrome by our doctor. He walked in the morning after she was born to tell me. I went into what I will call “stigma shock” and cried for about three hours, clueless of what was “next”. I was alone in the room when he walked in, family had been in and out all day. I will never forget him turning around as he walked out and saying “She will be the greatest lifelong companion you all could ever ask for”. Jesus knew the kind of doctor I needed. I pulled myself together with the help of @colemantime and we started life with our new “reality”. My job as her Mother remained the same-feed, love, nurture, protect etc. She is the most indescribably incredible blessing that has ever been bestowed on us all. Her love has no bounds, and I’ve said before she is the true healing salve to our weary souls. As we walk daily upon the parts of this world that are so deeply broken-Georgia and her Down syndrome buddies are true bridge builders, peace-makers, joy enthusiasts, and utterly unaware of pre-conceived opinions or judgments of others. They are pure love, in its most raw, beautiful and usable form. PLEASE help me in building Katie’s fund for @sweet.jordans -this was my beloved late sister’s favorite bakery in her hometown, and my dream is to open one in Nashville and other cities ❤️ They provide meaningful work for those with different abilities, while fostering a community of belonging and love! More job opportunities for these precious souls means everyone can thrive!!! Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for considering this! Link in bio ❤️❤️ You can buy their baked goods in Nashville @thecafeatthistlefarms 🤸♀️ We love all y’all!!!!! If sending me a Venmo is easier it’s @hollyaudreywilliams, thanks for helping this incredible organization! #worlddownsyndromeday #downsyndromeawarenessday #downsyndrome #downsyndromelove
There aren’t words in the dictionary for what Yarden Bibas (left) has now endured 💔 The video of Hamas terrorists dragging Shiri, Ariel (4), and Kfir (9 months) is something I will never recover from, the sheer terror in her eyes clutching her babies is the most harrowing image I’ve ever seen. After the monsters ravaged their community of Kibbutz Nir Oz-murdering both of her parents among the scores killed, torturing and kidnapping her neighbors old and young-they took a drill and broke the lock on their front door. Yarden tried to keep the boys quiet but they were too young to understand, of course. These were their last moments ever together as a family-marked by horror. They were taken away into the depths of hell. Yarden spent 484 days in captivity and was released February 1st, of course his former home decimated in the attack. His children’s bodies returned home this week, while Hamas sent a random corpse in the box of what was supposed to be his wife. Before that they threw a county fair style gathering with stomach turning video of children cheering around the graves of the “soldiers arrested” AKA these red headed babies. The fact that Yarden has to see these videos has been too much for me to comprehend as a parent. None of it feels real. The boys were killed by the bare hands of terrorists and then rocks were thrown at them to mimic an air bombing injury, so the terrorists could continue to gaslight the world and further their mission of vile hatred towards Israel. I will tell my girls tonight that the boys we have prayed over each night for hundreds of nights, have made their way to Heaven joining the other 38 children and so many adults who lost their lives that day. I can’t stomach what the Jewish community has been through particularly in the last 7 days. The “right side of history” is clearly calling out those who commit crimes against humanity, and memorializing those affected. If you are violently taken from your breakfast table with your children, I will always remember you. No matter what blood is running through your veins, what color your skin is, who you voted for, or who you worship. Please do the same for me. It’s the only way forward…
L-O-V-E ❤️ The most wonderful thing to sprinkle all around… #valentinesday #motherhood #familytraditions #downsyndromeawareness
Living! Oh, what a lovely thing it is.
I’d like to be an ambassador for the living, if there was such a thing.
We woke up again! We tasted and felt, we saw and listened!
In living there is possibility, and there is hope, and there is always a maybe. From the doldrums of motherhood to the most beautiful moments when all of my chicken dumplings are singing with me-I’m the happiest when breathing. Aren’t you? In a time when life has never, ever, felt more fragile/I must deeply cherish all of it-even the most unbecoming of hours.
My late sister, my beloved uncle, my precious grandparents-they all treated their days as a rare gift. I hope I am always able to do the same. Pictured here-adorable children doing cute and fun things. Not pictured-homework and dinner battles, sibling fights at sanity altering levels, the never ending laundry and dishes, atrocious mom outfits left on for 48 plus hours when littles are sick, and exhausted parents who are sometimes gentle and sometimes completely losing it. This is life right now, in its fullest and most beautiful form. Never stop living, no matter how bleak or impossible your days may seem now. Do it for the ones who can’t anymore, with all of the awe and hope and love and intention you are possibly able to muster up ❤️Your one sacred life is worth every repeated attempt at treating it as such…
