Dear Nora,
I stood on the deck grilling chicken for dinner and watching your sisters play out back. I looked out to the woods as the sunlight streamed beautifully through the trees and heard the birds chirping. I took a deep breath and thought of how I wished you could be here with us. I thought of how I wished you were snuggled up in a wrap on my chest while we breathed in the cool evening air of this late spring day listening to the sounds of your sisters’ incredible imaginations. I wished the wind chime that was gifted to us with you in mind would chime as a reminder that you’re always near.
Instead, the wind rustled my hair and made my gaze change directions. There it was, a hummingbird. It flew right up to me, looked at me, almost nodded and flew away into the woods. I knew in that moment that you were there. You were enjoying the sound of the birds, your sisters’ giggles and the gentle breeze. While I was distracted by the hummingbird, Ellie and Rose had settled into the grass and stared off into the woods right where it had flown. The chicken was dry, but in that moment, I didn’t care about anything else outside the beautiful scene before me.
Love, Mommy
Originally written to Nora June 09, 2021
Dear Nora 