7 Years Later

Friday we passed the 7 year mark. It’s unbelievable how large that number looks when my heart and mind are stuck in that moment as if time has stood still. To me it still seems like just yesterday. We don’t experience time the same way as others. I appreciate those who continue to support us and rally around us on that day so that the negative thoughts and the lies of the enemy aren’t the only ones we hear. Thank you Kristi for always posting and sharing pictures and helping me keep Sydney’s memory alive. It’s sad for me to say that after 7 years..YOU are the only one who did. Thank you to Marilyn for always sending us the most amazing crafty gifts that always seem to fit the memories and thoughts perfectly. Thank you to our faithful friends and Sydney’s faithful friends who continue to show up and sit with us. They aren’t just praying for us..they are the ones who have answered Gods call for them to be the answer to our prayers. I know that is a call many don’t want, and have avoided. Thank you to those few who have continued to love us instead of treating us like we don’t exist. After 7 yrs I can honestly say I still need as much love and support as I did the day it happened. After 7 years I still so desperately desire to know that Sydney’s life and love have not been forgotten. Thank you to the few people who couldn’t come by but reached out and sent messages letting us know they were thinking about and praying for us. Knowing they remembered some how makes us feel a little less alone. I have always been the easiest person in our family to approach. Stacy does not get a lot of people reaching out to him. His response is often filled with some RAW truth that many just want no part of. I am so very thankful that Marty Wilkinson and Robert Mumford cared enough to reach out to him. You have no idea what that meant to him. Thanks again for all those who were selfless enough to think of us and Sydney as we reluctantly move into another year without a part of us. I miss Sydney and I miss who I was when she was here. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be and I’m forever tossing in life trying to find a more comfortable position. One that doesn’t seem to present that throbbing ache inside my heart. I wish it was like the other throbbing aches, the ache that a little Advil could take care of, but it isn’t arthritis and no matter how much I toss and turn nothing feels comfortable, nothing feels right. I continue because I woke up breathing this morning and trust that if God gave me breathe then he has a purpose for me today. I have experienced his strength to carry me beyond my capabilities so I continue to follow him because he is the only one that has the fix to my tossing and turning. Not a new bed, not a doctor, not a therapist..just JESUS🙏🏻

Beauty

Missing you still consumes me and memories sustain me as I wait for the day God blesses me with seeing you again. As much as I hurt I’m also thankful that God blessed me with memories I can share. Her heart was beautiful❤️#missablekindofgirl#Godsttuth

Happy 20th Birthday Sydney Lisa Jeter

My heart is so broken because you were just so amazing. From the little spitfire at 18 months old so boldly telling me to leave you alone to the amazing young lady you became who desired nothing more than to share the love of God you found with other who felt broken and worthless. I wonder what your earthly birthday is like in heaven I know you probably don’t celebrate being born on this earth in heaven but I wonder do you celebrate that as the day you met me and your daddy for the first time? This is my 4th birthday without you, but it still hurts as bad as the 1st one. I thought I would bless your page with a little bit of you. Happy 20th birthday my forever 16 year old baby girl. I love you FOREVER AND ALWAYS Sydney Lisa Jeter

Spreading Sydney’s love on the 3 yr anniversary 


Today has been rough as it is 3 years that I was forced to say goodbye to my beautiful daughter who brought so much joy and happiness to not only to my life but so many others. I began the day with millions of tears and even questioned whether I was going to be strong enough to follow through with all the kindness acts we had planned today. I continued to fight hard to push through. Honestly it was harder than I thought it would be to focus on the positive without letting my pain devour me.  I am blessed to know that I have some of the most amazing friends who went above and beyond to honor Sydney today. Sydney’s friends were out and about as well and two stopped by to check on us as we were leaving for our adventures so we brought them along. We filled Bryan College Station with so much of Sydney love. We had purchased gift cards to chick fil a Walmart Jj’s snow cones and McDonald’s to hand out along with balloons to children and roses because who doesn’t love flowers. I loved seeing the three teenage boys walk up to hard working nurses and hand them a rose and a gift card. We brought cookies and brownies to a few College Station Fire Stations and delivered some gift cards to The Bryan Police Station. It brought tears to my eyes to stop by and thank Shelly Carly and Holden for the creative lemonade stand. It truly blew me away. I ended my day by stopping by to tell a young boy (who has seen so much suffering himself) know how much I think about and pray for him. I wanted to encourage him and let him know that he is an amazing little boy. I got to bless him with a signed Astro’s ball thanks to Shelly Janac and Riley Ferrell and a superman shirt (with a cape) and a gift card to his favorite restraunt. I’m ending my day forever missing my beautiful girl but knowing she continue to love and touch people today thanks to everyone who stepped out to love someone because of the love Sydney so freely gave.

A little bit of the story behind the card…I think you’re beautiful <3 Sydney :D

PicMonkey CollageIf you’ve received one of Sydney’s cards I hope you feel the love of an angel surrounding you and I hope you know that you are beautiful ❤ Your card is our way of keeping Sydney’s memory and love alive..we hope that you consider sending the card with a pay it forward or sharing it with someone you know who may need to be reminded that no matter how they feel they are beautiful not only to others but to God who has made us in his own image. If you would like to share your story of why you shared your card or how it felt to receive the card feel free to leave a comment for others to read.

On the 2 yr anniversary of Sydney accident I was blessed with an amazing gift. Jill Presnal and I had become friends over the last two years and on many occasions she’d listened to me talk about Sydney and the way she “loved” not just me but everyone around her.
I asked Jill to share the story of why she made the cards:

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I always loved seeing Sydney’s sweet notes on your Facebook and twitter feed- a bright spot in my day. The handwritten one on the post it was my favorite and I saved it to my phone. Maybe because I am a boy mom and don’t get little love notes hidden away is why it really touched me. The sweetness and simpleness of a little love note to make someone smile and feel loved. I would come across it when looking for a picture and it would always make me smile. I love the simpleness of it- her own handwriting on a little yellow post it note, tucked away in your bible for you to find. The simpleness of it but with a HUGE impact.

She thought ahead and wanted to make you smile, feel loved, know that you are beautiful. And she did this not just for her mom, but for so many. Bible verses, Instragram posts, kind notes giving others support and love and comfort.
In our world it is rare to come across someone so giving and kind that lifts others up. I thought- wouldn’t it be nice to get a sweet love note like that from someone? A surprise, tucked away in your purse, or book, or even for a stranger- on their windshield. So that is where the idea started- spread Sydney’s love and kindness all around. In a world where there is so much sadness, anger, pain- we all need love and kindness. What a perfect way to brighten someone’s day or surprise a friend or stranger. I have one on my visor by a very special picture and whenever I flip it down and see the photo with Sydney’s sweet words I smile. And I hope that is what everyone does when they get a Sydney love note, smile and feel loved.

IMG_9015The I think you’re beautiful card originated from a post it note Sydney left in my bible. She was always leaving what I would call “love” notes or encouraging notes for people to find. I believe God knew I would need some encouraging words from her so he had her leave it for me to find..after the accident I began using Sydney’s bible when I attended church or bible study because it made me feel close to her. So I didn’t end up finding this extremely cherished “love” note until several months after the accident.

It has been (by far) one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received because she has given me a way to continue “loving” people the way Sydney would have loved them if she were here.

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Two more of Sydney’s “love” notes The first one was left for one of her soccer team mates and the last one she wrote on her Daddy’s grocery list. She was at the end of her Sophomore year of high school when she left these so those around her would know how much they meant to her. I challenge you..I challenge you to stop for a minute and let someone know how much you love them or that you think they rock your socks, or that they are beautiful

KBTX coverage of I think you’re beautiful project

My heart is overwhelmed at how God places the right people in my life giving me the opportunity to continue to share Sydney’s legacy with others. These cards were an amazing gift given to our family on the 2yr anniversary of Sydney’s accident. Jill Presnal who quietly stayed out of the spotlight today took the beautiful post it note that Sydney had left for me in my bible and made these cards for me with the idea to use them to share Sydney’s heart and love for others. What a blessing! Today I got to see Sydney continue to do what she loved to do which was make people smile and feel loved and I have no doubt she looked down on me and Jill Peterek Presnal smiling. Today I was blessed to share some of Sydney’s love and I hope it continues to spread The link from KBTX covering the story is below