It’s been two years now. I have been trying to wrap my head around this thought for a couple of weeks now as this looming date approached. Two years ago. Two years have passed since I lost my best friend. Two years, yet it feels like just yesterday, but also an eternity ago all at once. I cannot describe this feeling. Some days the pain feels so fresh and recent, and others, I can feel the scar there healed over. Continue reading
Dear Jessi,
I don’t think I have ever been this genuinely and consistently happy as I have this year–and my happiness keeps escalating with every day. I have grown tremendously this year. I’ve learned to let go of things out of my control. I have learned to dismiss toxic people in my life, and to seek out and pursue only those that can lift me up and enhance my ongoing happiness and harmony. This summer has been one for the books with so much growth, discovery, detoxification, adventure, love, confidence, and inner peace and contentment that I have not felt in a very long time.
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✝ Makenzie will never be forgotten. She was such a role model both in dance and life. Makenzie’s story and legacy, the Stocker family and Makenzie’s best friend Caitlin have all helped me in dealing with my own personal grief with Jessi. They taught me to “turn my mourning into dancing” and showed me that I can get through this.
The dreams about her have subsided. I don’t think about her everyday as I have in years past and I’m needing to play old audio to remember her voice. Six years ago today, my oldest daughter, Makenzie — who is now my youngest — was invited into heaven. “Six years” is a long time as I think about all that has happened since. Great things. Hard things. Things to celebrate and things to mourn.
As I spend today in the back corner of a small-town coffee shop, I think about the word “restoration.” More-so, I think about what it takes to be restored. Brokenness first. Surrender second. Expertise third. Time last. Then, restoration births new life. That’s God’s way. He takes my broken and hurting heart for the loss of my child and calls it to surrender. He reaches out and holds my surrendered hands first to comfort, then…
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A year ago, I lost my best friend in the entire world. Jessica Dillon was just the angel I needed from the first day I met her my freshman year continuing on to now. A year ago, I was at a hospital in Boulder praying to God and crying my heart out. A year ago, I got two phone calls that changed my life forever. One to shake up my Sunday morning and send me in a haze of tears, prayers, car rides, walks and hugs and a second t to change my life for good. The night of May 4th, 2014, God called my best friend Jessi home to Heaven after a day of fighting for her beautiful life. A day filled with chaos and confusion turned to a night sitting on the patio with my other best friend trying to settle into this hard hit reality. Today will make me cry. Today will make my heart hurt. This date has been approaching and I have been hiding from it and hiding from this blog as a result. When the tears fall today, know that as much as I try to be strong and positive, my heart will always be missing a place for Jessi. My heart is not empty by any means though. It is filled with love and memories. The memories flood in as I try to focus on the happy and warm feelings. Everything happens for a reason. Every moment lends an opportunity for growth, even the grievous ones. I admit. I suffered a fair amount this past year, but I have also grown and morphed in a way I could not even imagine possible. I am stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have a confidence in myself I could have never dreamed of. I can honestly say that I am truly happy in my life. Even when circumstances are not the best, or I feel stressed or sad, I can look at the bigger picture and I feel secure knowing that I am in a balanced and blissful place. I owe this to Jessi. She taught me how to keep an open heart and an open mind, how to focus on the important aspects in life like family, faith, health and love. She taught me how to lift myself up, so that I can carry on her legacy and lift others up as well. She taught me to live life with heart, health and happiness–and now I strive to teach those around me as well. As today carries on, I pray for strength and love and peace. I pray that I can share Jessi’s story and be inspiring and encouraging to others.
I started this blog as a health blog in memory of my best friend Jessi a few months ago. Jessi was my best friend that I waited to emerge all my life, and the two years I knew her, though short, I felt like we had been friends our whole lives. She was the one and only person I could relate to 100%. I knew she would always understand and help me through difficult times. It has been seven months to the night now. Seven months since I lost my best friend, confidant, and sister in Christ. I miss her every single day, and it still feels as fresh as the night she passed. I have been lying to myself thinking that things have been better. But the truth is, I am very lost.
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My detox yesterday helped immensely. My stomach has returned to normal today after loading it with a mish-mosh of foods on Father’s Day. It all started with breakfast. I woke up and immediately began drinking water. This is extremely important when trying to flush out your body. I filled up my water bottle about three times yesterday morning. It is also important to start your day off on the right note—meaning breakfast. I needed fuel for my day, but something that would not upset my already-bloated stomach. I decided on a Green Detox Smoothie.
Moving Mountains Wellness 