This is my first attempt at building a website~so I extend to you a warm welcome! I hope you enjoy it and will come back often!
What began as a labor of Love~~for our daughter, Kylene (pictured), who passed away January 6, 2002, just six days' after her 22nd birthday~~is serving to act as a source of therapy for me~~to help ease the pain of losing a child before me~~as well as helping me cope with the tremendous feelings of guilt I had then~~and still do~~for being unable to be with her~~at her side when she passed.
I chose the name, "Steel Magnolias", for a number of reasons. First, from the 1989 film, (starring Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Tom Skerrit, Darryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Shirley MacLaine). It was one that Kylene and I shared as being a favorite of ours. Secondly, it is said that~~if you touch the delicate petals of a Magnolia blossom, they will turn brown~~yet remain on the stems and branches long afterwards. Thirdly~~the name itself~~"Steel Magnolias"~~describes the sweetness and delicacy of woman~~as well as that "inner self"~~from where we derive our strength~~and fortitude needed at various times in our lives~~and which all women have~~whether we realize it or not. We are sisters~~daughters~~grandmothers~~aunts~~career-women~~and stay-at-home Moms. Our most important job in the world~~is having~~and raising~~our children (sometimes as a single parent)~~but always~~and in all ways~~loving~~nurturing~~and protecting them~~for they are the Gifts that God bestowed upon us~~they are the Treasures which we must cherish. They may only be ours for a short time~~be it a few minutes~~a few hours~~days~~months~~or even~~as with Kylene~~for only a few years~~But they are our future~~as well as our past and our present~~and it is for them~~and because of the one I lost~~that this site was "born."
The following pages will take you on Kylene's journey~~and our memories of her. She is my "Steel Magnolia"~~and I miss her tremendously. She was~~indeed~~full of Life~Love~and contagious Laughter. All whom she met~~she called "Friend"~~and, though she could be quick to anger~~she was, also, quick to forgive. She was, indeed, an Angel of God~~a true Treasure~~One we shall cherish in our hearts forever.
What started off as a labor of love for~~and a tribute to her, is becoming~~what I hope~~will eventually be a site honoring all God's Children~~For we must remember~~that although they may be born to and of us~~They are only on loan to us~~Not to deliberately hurt or injure~~But to teach, guide, cherish, love, protect, and enrich their lives~~as they enrich ours~~For they will~~As will we all~~One day~~Return to Him who created us~~just as Kylene did early that January Sunday morning.
You'll see that most of my pages (once I get them up)~~as well as the page my son dedicated to her on his site~~have backgrounds of the sea~~or backgrounds in blue~~or with roses. Blue was Kylene's favorite color~~roses~~her favorite flowers. She loved the outdoors~~the mountains and especially the sea~~and I still have one~~final~~Journey to make with her~~To the Ocean~~and there~~scatter her ashes upon the waves~~which I know will rise to meet and greet her~~and return her to the bosom of the Sea.
Thank you for visiting my site here at Angelfire. Please come back often~~And be sure to sign my Guestbook~! Again~~Thank you and God Bless.
If any pictures shown on my website belong to you, and you wish them removed, please let me know and I will gladly remove them. Thank you.
To my ex-husband, Larry~~Kylene's Dad~~who had the brilliant idea that I might like to build web pages~~Thank-you for planting the seed. To my son~~ Jon~~without whose help and guidance~~this site may never have become a reality; and Keigan, my good friend, who has also given me valuable advice and suggestions. To Stan~~a very warm and special Thank You~~for without your love, caring, and deep Faith in God~~I never would have had the courage to set forth on this project. You have given me more than you will ever know~~Helping me reach a deeper understanding of what it means to~~Truly~~Believe and have Faith~~in God~~in your Dreams~~in those you love~~And more importantly~~In yourself. I am so Blessed to have you in my Life~~You are the "Wind Beneath My Wings"~~Words will never truly be enough to say all that is in my heart.
Finally, I want to say a special "Thank you" to: Ishaah's Inspirations where I found some of the beautiful backgrounds and pictures I use here, with permission; Bruce DeBoer, whose beautiful site, Music Of The Heart and Diana Claire, webmistress of Dolphin Dream's Midi's, where I found most of the music I've chosen to use for my site, also with their permission. While I'm using music from other available (and free) sites, theirs is music that will stay with you. I hope you'll visit~~and browse~~all three of these beautiful and inspirational sites.
Thank you~~All~~So very much~~God Bless.
My Favorite Web Sites:
My son, Jon's website. Please visit it.
The page Jon dedicated to his beloved sister. Please be sure to see it and thank you.
