The flowers that we brought to Kayln’s grave for her birthday are a small representation of our love that lives on. She would be 23 today. Losing a child is so unnatural; I still often wonder how she could be gone already. Though I am very thankful for the 20 years we had with her, is it wrong to wish we had been given 20 more?

I try not to focus on the pain of her absence but that doesn’t seem to work very well on days like this. Still, I take comfort in knowing I will see her again someday and that promise sustains me in the hard times. So today I wish Kayln a happy birthday in heaven and hold my memories of her close to my heart.