A Year Later

Note from Jamie

I like to share things that light me up, fill me with joy, and make my life easier. Nothing is sponsored. These are just things that are helping me along my journey.

A Year Later

Today marks one year since my sister, Jenny, passed away.

People have been asking me how I'm doing.

Honestly? Mostly good.

Do I miss her? Absolutely.

Am I happy for her? Absolutely.

My sister suffered for a very long time. Her body gave out on her many years before her death. She lived with tremendous pain, and she knew that her health was only going to continue to decline.

In one of the bravest acts I've ever witnessed, Jenny chose the end of her life with incredible intention. She selected the date she would stop her dialysis treatments—the treatments that were keeping her alive. Then she gave us an extraordinary gift: eight months.

Eight months to prepare.
Eight months to love her.
Eight months to laugh with her.
Eight months to celebrate birthdays, holidays, ordinary Tuesdays, and everything in between.

We soaked her in.

I know how incredibly fortunate we were. While there is never enough time with someone you love, having those months together allowed us to create memories that continue to sustain us today.

Before she passed, Jenny told us she'd come back as a firefly.

The timing couldn't be more perfect because the past few weeks, they've been everywhere.

Every evening, tiny lights dance across the yard in brilliant flashes of green and gold. I smile every single time. In my heart, I know it's my Sissy Poo saying, "Hi."

Bold. Sassy. Colorful.

Exactly as she always was.

Last weekend, my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their families surprised my parents with one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever seen.

Their communities spent months collecting 1,000 pounds of plastic bags. Those bags were recycled into a beautiful memorial bench in Jenny's honor (see above photo).

We sat together on that bench and simply...felt.

Afterward, we watched home videos from Christmas 1986.

Forty years later, we were transported back into those moments together.

Some memories came rushing back. Others I was seeing for the very first time.

I watched my grandpa—who wasn't usually known for being warm and affectionate—rock my baby brother with such tenderness. I saw my grandma beaming with joy just because everyone she loved was under one roof. I watched my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins laughing and smiling with great delight.

It reminded me that sometimes the greatest gift isn't remembering the big moments.

It's getting another chance to witness the ordinary ones.

For lunch, my parents and I are going to one of Jenny's favorite restaurants.

We'll order the Million Dollar Bacon.

We'll raise a toast.

We'll laugh.

We'll probably cry a little, too.

And somehow, I think that's exactly how Jenny would want it.

Because what she loved most wasn't just a place or a meal.

She loved being with her family.

She loved laughing until she couldn't catch her breath.

She loved being silly.

She loved being completely, wonderfully ridiculous.

Everything delighted her.

So today, my wish for you is simple.

May the people around you delight you.

May you notice the ordinary moments that someday become treasured memories.

May you laugh loudly.

May you be a little silly.

May you even be a little ridiculous.

Life is but a moment.

Enjoy it.

xoxo,

Jamie

Inspiration

Nourish Pick of the week

Jenny's Duo

Jenny never left home without her lip balm, so we created this special Lip Balm Duo in her honor, featuring her two favorite flavors: Orange and Lime.

Beautifully packaged in a kraft gift box and tied with a reusable black or blue hair tie (her favorite colors), it's a small tribute to a woman who brought so much joy, laughter, and love into the world.

100% Natural. 100% Jenny. 💙

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