I know I’ve posted this before but every year this comes back up in my memories I just sit in awe. She truly loved others and wanted to share. 7 years ago today she updated her tumblr bio with this
My #missablekindofgirlSydney Lisa Jeter
I love when I hear a song that just touches my soul because the words connect with my journey. This song does just that. I know many think my need or desire for Jesus started after the accident but He was SO VERY present in every part of the previous 3 months. The words “every minute, every moment of where I’ve been and where I’m going, even when I didn’t know it and couldn’t see it” just seem to explain so many parts of our journey Jesus had been in our lives prior. Before soccer moved to Sundays we spent a lot of time in church and Sydney Lisa Jeter spent many years in Awanas memorizing scripture, went to vacation bible school, and loved to go to youth group. In all that, something had still been missing but In the moments of those last 3 months I knew something was different. The intensity was tangible. I knew he was working, I could feel him. I saw him in Sydney’s smile. It literally changed everything about her when she began to understand God’s love for her. She was free of the burdens of rejection and imperfection. She radiated with a light that’s unexplainable. I’m blessed to know that radiant light, was also witness by Stacy and a few others. Right in the middle of our brokenness, in the middle of my mistakes as a mother, in the middle of our living room, at the kitchen counter, in her closet, and even at the end of her last breathe here..THERE WAS JESUS. I knew then, that it was real but looking back now these words describe it best..THERE WAS JESUS.. we were the ones in need of an amazing kinda grace, forgiveness and a price we couldn’t pay..In the middle of it all was Gods beautiful faithfulness. I wish I could touch people and allow them to see and experience all I experienced, but all I have is words that I can write for you, her words that I can share and my prayers that no one ever doubt, that even when you can’t see him in those moments, he is there. If you ever wonder, if you ever need to hear a testimony that is too big for a post..look through Sydney’s website, message me, call me, I’d love to share Jesus with you.
Several months ago, I grabbed some tickets to see a very special band Tenth Avenue North. For those who don’t know the story. Their song By your side was the last song playing in the car the night Sydney met Jesus. I hadn’t ever heard of the band prior to that but I immediately had to go listen. I cannot tell you the peace and comfort the words brought me, and then I came across Hold my heart and that song literally described my heart. Music was the tool God used to help me survive. The words to these songs were the truth I needed to be reminded of. Music somehow made me feel connected to God and heaven, which connected me to Sydney. I also know that God specifically chose this band to be a part of my journey. I had no idea when I got the tickets that this would end up being the last tour they would do as Tenth Avenue North. I can’t explain to you in a post all the ways God worked all around us the past several years through them. God is so good and these guys were so amazing. We got to sit on the bus and have coffee with them and just talk to them. There were only 6 of us. We got to share a little of Sydney’s story with them and thank them for the music they created and the sacrifice they make to be away from their family. We got to ask them about their lives and where they find encouragement when times get tough for them. I had 3 Play For Jeter bracelets with me and after the small group got through talking, I asked them if they would want to wear one of Sydney’s bands for my picture. They all said of course❤️These little small things mean so much. They actually kept them on throughout the concert. I know it’s just a bracelet but seeing it on someone’s arm never fails to make me smile. I always feel like Sydney is there with me but I couldn’t help but feel God gave her the opportunity to be there with them. Thank you God! My cup runneth over. Wishing them lots of luck on their next chapters and some much needed family time. Here are some pictures and videos from the night. Yes Mike personally made our coffee, yes he stood in our chairs, yes he played both songs By your Side and Hold my heart. #PlayForJeter #missablekindofgirl #tenthavenuenorth #noshametantour
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth!! Life isn’t about what you accumulate this side of heaven..Its about what you accumulate FOR ETERNITY! Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who believed that The Lord would fulfill his promises to her. Miss you always and forever
Last night The Lady Tiger Soccer Program had the 7th Annual Play For Jeter Memorial Soccer Game. It sill amazes me how these Coaches and Teammates continue to honor and carry my daughters memory. JETER loved soccer, she was a fierce competitor, and she played with so much passion and heart. What a blessing for this program to continue to promote and pass on those characteristics in her memory. I’ve said it many times but want to say it again. I believe that every sports program works hard to win games, but I believe a program has won so much more when you have taught their team compassion, empathy, and that sometimes you are entrusted with not only carrying your teammates on the field but also carrying their Legacy and passion for the game. There aren’t words to express my appreciation and love for this program and the soccer community. I don’t know these girls like a team parent does but I watch them, I learn their names position and numbers and I cheer for them like they are a part of my family because to me they are. I also want to thank all the people who continue to support our family by attending or posting about Sydney Lisa Jeter We love you all. #PlayForJeter #missablekindofgirl #AMCLadyTigerSoccer
I’m going to be honest. I do not like the story of Job. I do not find comfort in even the restoration that God provided because when you’ve lost a child you know what the rest of the world doesn’t..there is no restoration for what you’ve lost apart from heaven. Another child or 10 more children will NEVER replace the unique beautiful ones he lost or we have lost. Money and stature may make grieving a little easier as the weights of everyday life may be a little less but it DOES NOT take away the pain of losing and missing your child. I wanted to start by saying that because I think the story of Job is so much deeper than what we are often taught today. I hear this story told and it’s often told in a way that encourages people to continue when it’s dark because if you do God will restore everything to you. He may however he may not..regardless Job didn’t have his story to encourage him or a story of someone else to encourage him. He had himself and his faith in God. I think Job’s story isn’t about what happened at the end, I think Job’s story is about showing and teaching us that even in the dark times unbeknownst to us, if we trust and continue regardless of our circumstances he can use us as a witness and to encourage others. Maybe Jobs story isn’t about the blessings at the end, maybe it’s about the fact that he walked into the darkness and trusted God not knowing how it would end. The relationship that obedience created between God and Job was unbreakable because Job knew God was and will forever be his only hope. The story of Job is a witness of the belief that we are nothing apart from God and to what profit is it for a man to gain the world but lose his own soul. Something to think about..or maybe just what I think about.
There just aren’t words to express how thankful I am that The Lady Tigers Soccer Program and these girls continue to Play For Jeter and honor the passion and love she had for the gameIt isn’t just the girls and the coaches though, it is the parents and families that continue to include us, communicate with us and treat us as they would any other soccer parent. Thank you to all who have continued to Play For Jeter and include our family alongside yours! #PlayForJeter#missablekindofgirl
Below is what was shared by a parent:
“Tonight at the soccer banquet KK was awarded District 19-5A Defensive Player of the Year and 1st Team All District. She also received the Sydney Jeter Love of the Game award voted on by her teammates. (Michelle Broussard Jeter, Consol continues to honor your girl, and KK is proud to receive this award!)We are so proud of what this girl accomplished this year! She is fierce and battles life with such courage. We are proud of KK & our Consol Lady Tigers! 
“
This is one of Sydney Lisa Jeter writings..I had a hard time with this one for a while not because my faith gauge wasn’t full because I would say it was overflowing. The problem I had was when she says what do you want from Jesus today? Do you believe he is able to do this? Well what I want from Jesus is my child back and then thinking about the next questions brought all kind of emotions because I do believe it’s possible but I don’t believe it will happen. So wrestling with… this one has been hard, until I stopped looking at it from an earthly view, because the truth is..giving me my child back is exactly what Jesus has already come and conquered. His purpose was ultimately to reunite us with God but does that not give me exactly what I desire? Maybe not on this earth, but this earth is temporary and Jesus’s gift is eternal. It takes time to wrestle with feelings and truth as they often do not coincide. The waiting is hard and hurts but never the less the answer to Do I believe that he is able to do this, as a Christian Disciple, is not yes..but he already did. God has truly blessed me with these writings. It is like she’s leading me in a bible study ❤️Love you Syd! You truly are a #missablekindofgirl
I don’t even know where to begin. One of my dear friends said it best..WOW..yesterday we began the new year with the Annual Play For Jeter Memorial game and tailgate. This is the 6th year for the event and I’m still just as blown away as ever. The kindness and love they continue to pour over our family and Jeter’s Memory is unbelievable. I’m still shocked that even though none of the girls knew her they love and carry her memory and passion for the game as if they did. I work hard to keep her spirit and memory alive but only a bereaved parent can understand the beautiful gift it is to have others do it as well. This year they were able to play at Ellis Field (A&M’s soccer stadium) which I’m sure was a treat for the girls. The team has continued to showcase a “Play For Jeter” slogan on the sleeve of their team shirt they wear to school on Fridays since the 2013 season, but last night these girls had on a brand new maroon game jersey that also showcased “Play For Jeter” on the sleeve❤️This school, these coaches, these parents, these girls..they are teaching and learning something beyond winning and losing. They are learning compassion and how to love and care for someone else. That some how just kinda wraps up exactly who JETER was off the field. I am humbly grateful to everyone who stepped up to help organize this event. Coach Lockart and the other coaches, Chad Thompson with Morrison supply who helps sponsor the tailgate, Amanda Vaughan with Card My Yard for the amazing decorations, and all the amazing parents, the Dad’s who grilled the burgers and especially Jill and Gary Tomlinson who not only give their time to plan and organize the event but have included me and made me feel part of this soccer family. I am also thankful for everyone who comes to support us and the event especially my amazing friends who have made nearly every event the last 6 years, their sons have stood by and supported Cameron like true best friends. These beautiful people come not only to remember Jeter and support us but to support the Consol Lady Tiger soccer program. I am attaching some pictures and video and a tweet Jeter shared a little over 6 years ago❤️Thank you Consolidated Lady Tigers for having my girls back I’m positive she never thought it would be carried out quite like this. #PlayForJeter #missablekindofgirl #AMCladytigersoccer2019
Well the season is about to be here when Santa’s Wonderland will be open. I dread this every year. I know people can’t understand why anyone would not like Santa’s Wonderland, but let me tell you PTSD is real and due to where I live I have to pass this every night going home. It isn’t even here yet but my heart starts to beat a little bit faster just thinking about what it will due to me every night all through the holidays which are hard in general. For those that don’t know the details of “my story” a detective never made it to our house before I woke up and realized Sydney wasn’t home. I had gotten in the car to go look for her and when I got to the end of the road that faces Santa’s Wonderland all I saw were flashing red blue and white lights. We live out of the city, so there are not a lot of street lights and the darkness is extra dark which magnified the flashing lights. They were not actually flashing at Santa’s Wonderland because Sydney’s accident was on the feeder between William D Fitch and Nantucket but I could see them from that stop sign at the end of that road. I knew at that moment, after seeing those lights flashing..that was the reason she hadn’t come home..I also knew (without really knowing) at that moment that it was bad, that if she had been okay she would have already called me. Turns out I did know..without knowing..but it was so much more than bad..I share all of this to allow other people to understand that the trauma a parent goes through that surrounds their child’s death is something completely different than the grief from loosing them. For those whose child made it to the hospital, they most likely feel the triggers and flashbacks when they walk into a hospital especially if they walk into “the” hospital. These things can happen with more than just the moment you lost them. The other night when I walked into Central Baptist Church (the church we had Sydney’s service in) for the Crowder concert I immediately pictured the funeral and felt a horrible emptiness come over me. I’m 100 percent positive that is normal for a grieving momma but I still felt it and still had to process those moments when PTSD makes it way into the night and I must somehow figure out how to process and handle it. The triggers that envoke PTSD are different and unique to each story..to each parent. They can be a smell, a place, something visual..etc. So here is what I know..the best way to process traumatic experiences is to talk about or write about them. It in some way allows them to enter a place that is outside of you. Talking and writing aren’t easy and is not the end to the process..Most likely you will be faced with it again but I believe the more you speak about or write about it the easier it is to handle and face it the next time it rears its ugly head. I’m 5 years out and I know without a shadow of a doubt when I see those flashing lights from the sheriffs car directing traffic at Santa’s Wonderland I’m going to feel sick, I’m going to have flashbacks of seeing the lights that night and feel the panic I felt driving up to the roadblock where I waited watching those flashing lights while they got the detective and chaplain to come and tell me my daughter was in the vehicle involved in the accident, and that she didn’t make it. I will need to process all the emotions that flood me, so when people bring up any part of their story be kind and listen. If you feel comfortable you can even engage them and ask questions. If they have brought it up they’re probably comfortable enough to converse about it. You have no idea, it’s a mean of therapy for them. They aren’t trying to be morbid or upset you they are most likely trying to process the trauma they’ve been through which may have been triggered by some event that day. It isn’t just important to talk in the 1st or 2nd year, It’s needed as long as they are still experiencing and processing the trauma they went through and for us parents, I’m pretty sure that will be as long as we are living with facing a reality that’s impossible. If you are a parent who needs support and feel like you just haven’t found it. Please find a Compassionate Friends Chapter or another pier grief support group and join a meeting. It truly is one of the safest places you can share and the people in your group become like family. They will always be there to listen because they don’t have to read this post to understand the need to share your child’s life, the need to process the pain and trauma, or the need to be heard and have your feelings validated without judgement. For those who haven’t lost a child you are just as important and can make just as big of a difference, all you have to do is listen, and love them. If they post about their child, if you can’t think of anything to say..just say Love and hugs or continued prayers for you, or say what you would say if it were a momma or daddy posting a picture of their child that wasn’t gone..for example beautiful girl or she is gorgeous. If the picture is a memory you can relate to comment from the heart, for example I sure miss watching her on the field or she made me laugh so hard that day. Now take all these tips and knowledge out into the world and help those who may need help. Never forget God uses people to answer prayers. Be the answer to someone’s prayers..Christianity is about action not just thoughts and words.
A Legacy of a Lifetime 