Sophie's Giving Tree

01/28/2026

Dear Sophie,

14. 14 years. We spent the morning with Cecily before she drove back to Rhode Island. She and Samantha were going to spend the afternoon doing something fun. A few minutes after she left, I started to doom scroll. It was short. The second video in was a slide show, with the first picture being a ladybug pillow pet. Just like one of the ones who had. Ok, no big deal. It wasn't just the pillow pet though. It was the pillow pet with the caption, "She is still with you." The next picture was Disney princess dress up shoes, followed by a make up palette, bracelets, Little Pet shops and more.

It brought tears to my eyes and a smile on my face. Thank you for always showing up.

"When you believe beyond what your eyes can see, signs from heaven show up to remind you love never dies." ~ Julie Clapp

love you forever, miss you always.
Momma

02/11/2025

Dear Sophie,

It is hard to believe that you would turn 22 years old today. I wonder what you would have done for your birthday. I remember your first birthday, we celebrated with a cake in the shape of a heart since it is so close to Valentine's Day. You didn't even make a mess. Two days before your second birthday (with the giraffe cake) you tripped and bumped your cheek on the corner of the coffee table. That was fun to explain at the doctors office a few days later. Your third birthday was a princess party. The only other birthday I remember was your last. The last birthday we got to celebrate with you, was with your friends at the nail salon. Would we have seen you today, or would we have celebrated on another day? Would we have gone to the nail salon?

I still can't bring myself to work on your birthday. I tried it once and realized it was big mistake. I am completely fine with taking the day off. We all celebrate in our own ways. Some times we are together and other times we celebrate with others. Today we found some old home movies with you. We haven't looked through the DVDs in a long time and for some reason tonight we did. That's where we found the old family DVD's. It was like the cherry on top of the sundae to see you again. Your smile, your laugh, you in all your cuteness. Happy birthday my dear Sophie, I hope it was the best one yet.

"We begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. "
~Unknown

Love you forever, miss you always.
Momma

01/28/2024

Dear Sophie,

Today marks 12 years since you have been gone away. Although I only write these letters one time a year, it never means it's the only time I think of you. You are on my mind on a daily basis, and then some. Sometimes I wonder if you know how much we miss you. How much of a void remains in your absence. Can you hear us when we talk to you?

I know after loved ones pass, those who are left behind typically will ask for a sign from above. Today, Daddy, Cecily and I were in the Apple Store. We don't go there very often anymore since we moved. I was talking with the salesperson and looked over to see a woman approaching Daddy. He was standing several feet away from me at the time. I looked at him, and said, "Of all days, she would show up?" A few minutes later, she and I embraced in a tight heart felt hug. We visited for a bit, cried a few tears and then carried on with our reasons for coming to the store. As I was checking out, I said to the salesperson, Christopher, "Today it has been 12 years since my youngest daughter passed away. You see this woman right behind me? She was her favorite nurse in the ICU."

Those signs are sent to us at times when we least expect it. Some times, it is when we need them the most. Thank you for the sign today Sophie. The sign that you knew we were thinking of you on this day. A day we remember every day of the year, not just one.

"Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there has been a trail of memories." ~Unkown

Love you forever. Miss you always,

Momma

03/19/2023

Here is the last installment of our book opening events for this year. Thank you all for donating! See you next year.

02/16/2023

We are halfway through the month. Donations have been great, we appreciate how busy the Amazon delivery truck has been. Still plenty of time to send more. Thank you all so far. Check out or recent video posts to hear our shout outs to those who have donated.

02/13/2023

Opening another batch of packages with a special celebrity guest 🎉🧐📚

02/08/2023

Book haul number 2!! Thank you to everyone who has been sending books!!

02/05/2023

Opening our first batch of packages!!

02/03/2023

Happy February! As you all know this is Sophie's birthday month and we collect books for her birthday. Here is our wishlist. If you are moved to donate a book either through this list or any other means please remember it needs to be a new book. Also, please be sure to sign your name if sending as a gift, we love to thank those who donate and it is kind of hard when there isn't a name. ☺️

01/28/2023

Dear Sophie,

My Grandma Sidle passed away when I was 12. I wasn't as close to her as I was my Gramma Clinton, but I did go to her house after school where we would watch Guiding Light and I remember watching her roll out the pasta dough to make raviolis with such speed and accuracy I was amazed. A couple of weeks before you passed away I had a dream about her. In my dream I had been frantically searching for her and knocking on doors until she was the one who greeted me upon opening. As soon as I saw her I said "I have been looking for you. I have to introduce you to my children." More specifically, I needed to introduce her to you. In my dream, my worries and my anxiety diminished knowing that I had been able to introduce the two of you. I am certain she was one of many who greeted you upon your arrival in heaven 11 years ago, dressed in her oversized nightgown with a tissue or two stuffed up her sleeve.

We moved a couple of months ago. It's the first house we have lived in that you haven't. I remember the day we moved into our last home and you said "My room is awesome". I know you would like the place where we are now and possum is still up to his old shenanigans hanging around (just like he did when we would have a showing at our house in Manchester), so even though you haven't been here, your memory is, and we still miss you.

"The world changes from year to year, our lives from day to day, but the love and memory of you, shall never pass away." ~Unkown

Love you forever, miss you always,
Momma

02/12/2022

02/11/2022

Happy 19th birthday Sophie! I can't help but to imagine what you did today. Grandma Caryl probably said "Bongiorno!" and then sang happy birthday when she saw you. Grandpa Louie greeted you with a "Happy Birthday Sophie J!" And Grandma 2, as she preferred to be called, most likely made you a birthday cake while drinking coffee.

We spent the day playing games and opening gifts in the form of books from Amazon donated to us for your birthday, eating delicious coconut cake, and watching the Olympics.

We will continue to collect books to celebrate your birthday for the rest of the month because you loved to read.

I can't wait to celebrate with you again one day.

Love you forever, miss you always,

Love, Momma