Our Senior

    For two nights straight I have found myself in the stadium parking lot, just envisioning and crying. It is as close to her and what "should have been" as I can get. SO many memories there, on either side of me, as I sit, flanked by the stadium and middle school. But Friday night's events won't be a memory for my collection.
   I didn't get the chance to have senior pictures made. Don't have graduation announcements to pass around to family and friends. There's no graduation luncheon or party or trip to plan, but as a parent it just feels right to want, or maybe need, to honor our would-be senior, OUR grad, our beautiful and talented daughter, Sydni Lewis. It will require that I step out of my comfort zone as I look for the first time thru pictures of her on our computer. But I want to do this for her. It just feels important, so here goes...
   Sydni was a member of NHS, JV cheerleader for 2 years along with co-captain for 1. Varsity cheerleader for 1 year, a member of the Spanish Club for 1 year, and was in the top 13 percent of her class at the time of her death. She took dance for 7 years, played piano for 10 years, cheered for 5 years, and in my opinion, was a budding artist. She was a member of Old River Baptist and the youth program and had a huge heart for missions. She was exceptionally loyal, friendly, sensitive, confident yet insecure like most teen girls, adventurous, protective, and above all beautiful, not just on the outside, but on the inside. She loved God, children, and as we all know of course, animals. She planned to attend Texas A&M or Blinn in the fall and wanted to be a vet, but was also considering a career as a nurse practitioner or teacher.
   This is one of the last pictures of her, taken with my camera by her best friend Kelcy on our annual family vacation last summer to Garner. Little did Kelcy, or any of us know that their "photo shoot" that day would be our last pictorial memories entrusted to last a lifetime. I'm grateful to have them.
   This is for you SydniDrew. You are loved and missed beyond words or thoughts. I could never express enough the magnitude of your impact on my life. You made me a better person and I loved being "Sydni's mom."  I will attempt to display the compassion, generosity, and inclusiveness I have now, countless times, heard that you offered others. It was your gift! I know first-hand the wonderful person you were, and I pray I never forget the smallest details of your beautiful face, those green eyes, your soft hands, your infectious laugh, your glowing smile, your quirks and mannerisms, your walk, or your love. 

YOU could light up a room, like you lit up my life! 

You will forever be your daddy's prom queen, Landon's YaYa, our beloved daughter, my other half and best friend<3
God gave me you



Proverbs 3:5