Efsun's remembrance of her Babyhood ❤️

 Jessica Ann Sprinkle

[Note: Efsun shared over 40 pictures of this wonderful time. Do come over to Facebook to see them!]

How do you make sense of a life ending too soon? How do you wade thru the profound grief that keeps crescendoing over and over like a never-ending tsunami? How in the world can there ever be an acceptance of the unthinkable? No such luck in finding any answers; just gratitude for all the sweet memories shared with this most beautiful soul and her family.

Alara and I met Jess and her mom, Kathy, at a mother’s meetup that Kathy was organizing when they were just babies. Even though my night owl’s sleep schedule was too late for the coffee dates, we soon became part of the core group that met at local parks and at each other’s houses. We babysat for each other, fed, changed, rocked each other’s babies to sleep. We brought our spouses in the mix and they also became friends. We celebrated the good moments and special days, and supported each other through the trickier times. That’s how our cozy baby rearing village was born. Most of the credit goes to Kathy and her miracle baby Jess holding our community together like glue. 

Much like her mom, Jess has always been a force to be reckoned with; light as a feather and strong as an oak that she loved climbing so much with her mighty girl spirit. She was a fearless adventurer with the most whimsical imagination and creativity. Jess’ legendary antics and quips that are memorialized in Kathy’s #stuffmygirlsays still leave us adults in stitches. 

To describe Jess would take a lifetime. Much like grieving her loss. She was a life source that sparkled. In my mind’s eye I still see her climb the tallest tree without a plan to get down, saying it’s so much better up there. I see her running around barefeet at the park with her clothes soaking wet, covered in sand. I see her holding her friends’ hands and spinning till they all fall down. I see her on the swings flying so high till she could touch the tree branches. I see her feeding her snacks to good boy Nash and stopping by the sidewalk to hold a tiny rollie pollie. In all my memories I see Jessie always running, skipping naps and running, unlocking the toughest locks on doors then running, tasting the sand then running, tossing her hat then running. And my dear friend Kathy constantly chasing after this free spirit. 

All these moments that keep flooding my mind are so deeply ingrained in my family’s core memories that it’s difficult to separate it from who we are even today. I can still feel Jess in my house shreiking with laughter as if it happened yesterday. Jess scaling our bookcases (giving me a heart attack), Jess’ dolls and toys scattered in Aleyna’s room that are precious even to this day, her books and favorite tv shows still on rotation, and our living room couch that Jess happily bounced on (which Kathy and Rob had gifted us so generously before their move). But mostly I remember how much I love this kid; her kind and gentle affection, her legendary comebacks, and her compliments that always made one feel like a million bucks.

As I breathe through my grief, holding our dear friends Kathy and Rob in my heart, I make myself some mint tea that Jess thought was so fancy after dinner one night. I close my eyes and feel ever so grateful that our paths crossed, sweet girl. I only wish that we had more time to “wish for more cake.”

Rest in love and light, fierce spirit.