Why the title of the blog?

As I was going back through some old posts on Facebook, I found the copy of the poem I wrote for Kylie's funeral. I titled it "The Precious Gift," and my sweet sister read it at her funeral for me (I knew there was no way on this planet I could get through the first word, more or less the whole poem. I was a wreck.). I wrote this poem because this is how I deal with things. I write. For me, writing just hits me sometimes, and the urge is so strong that I HAVE to find a place to either type or write with pen and paper. Writing is a release of emotions in a way, and sometimes, it gets those words out much easier than trying to speak them. So, for now, my blog is "My Precious Gift." And this title has more than one meaning to it. Of course, ultimately, Kylie is my precious gift (as are my other children). However, in the past three years, so many other things have become gifts in the wake of our loss.

God has given us the opportunity to minister to other parents, to be a source of support and a source of comfort, something that we really did not have. He has given us the opportunity to work with the March of Dimes and raise money to help prevent other families from losing their precious babies. He led me to create the facebook page, Healing Hearts for Baby Loss of North Alabama, in the hopes that parents will have other parents to connect with in the journey of grief. I was baptized in February, the biggest blessing so far. So many gifts, that I can't even name them all.

So in reality, though losing Kylie is still the most painful, difficult thing in my life, it has also brought me many gifts. It doesn't change the fact that I hurt. It doesn't change the fact that I would give anything to have her here with us. It doesn't change that I wish she never left. But, it does make living each day a little more doable.

So, I am thankful for My Precious Gift. In more ways than one.

The Precious Gift 

By: Amber Keith 

Your presence was a precious gift 

Sent from up above 

A little miracle for us 

To always know and love 

We never thought we’d have you 

But we’re so happy we did 

It’s just a little hard right now 

To keep our feelings hid 

We had to let you go 

Back to your heavenly home 

How I’ll ever fill the void 

Only God above knows 

It seems so unfair 

For you to leave us so soon 

But I know you’re in God’s hands 

And you know that I love you. 

We will always know you 

As our first baby girl 

And I will always look forward to seeing you 

When its my time to leave the world. 

I know you’re smiling down on us 

And watching from above 

And I want you to know we miss you 

And are sending you lots of love