birthday

A Letter to My One Year Old Daughter

April 6, 2020 Jasmine M. 1 Comment

Dear Sariyah, It is really hard to believe we are here now, at one year. I mean how? It seems just like yesterday when those lines immediately showed up on the test. I remember how we were in the middle of already trying to find a bigger home. And you were the greatest testament of faith for me. God whispered your name to me long before it was confirmed. And the meaning behind your name holds so much power.It seems just like yesterday that warm ...

I just want to start by saying I am so grateful that you are here. I was born and raised in the south, and consume way too much coffee. I’m married to my best friend, and we have 5 kids + 1 hyperactive Weimaraner and a Jack Chi mix! In the summer of 2020, our lives were turned upside down forever — when our youngest daughter was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma.

We were thrown headfirst into a completely different world. In October 2021 she, unfortunately, had to have her eye removed. She is thriving and inspires me daily to seek joy. I have wrestled in the tension of the unknown and God’s goodness. I’ve seen a darkness so thick with despair I couldn’t see a way out, but the Light always made its way in.

Through the grief, I’ve vowed to do my best to raise more awareness and to advocate for childhood cancer. I’ve shared my daughter’s story with Good Morning America, Today’s Parents, and many other news outlets.

I believe in sharing our stories because that’s where the connection and healing start. It is my biggest passion to encourage others through my own stories. I don’t have all the answers, fashion, or beauty tips. But what I do have is a deep desire in my soul to bring Jesus all the glory through my story.

I hope to; encourage, uplift, and inspire others to see and live life through the lens of grace. And laugh a little, because sometimes you just need either a good laugh or a cry. I hope you will pull up a chair, kick back, and join me. There’s always a seat at the table for you here!

For more encouragement and daily posts on Sariyah’s journey, you can find me here. -With Love, Jasmine