Earlier in the year my phone was dragging and lagging and anytime I would go to take a photo an error message would pop up saying my storage was full. I deleted apps, deleted tons of photos and adjusted my phone settings to "optimize storage". It wasn't until a week or so later that I realized what I had done and when I realized I couldn't undo it I was crushed. In optimizing my storage I had lost my text thread with Manda. Gone.
Words of encouragement I'd sent her when she was doing treatment that she had replied to with concern about MY day... as if somehow anything I was going through could pale in comparison to what she was dealing with. A video of Miley eating breakfast at my house saying "love you, mama" that I'd sent her while she was doing a drug trial in another city to which she had responded with the most loving words or her baby girl. Conversations between her and I working through details for kids parties she knew she wouldn't be there for. A text telling me she was dropping off a birthday surprise on my doorstep a week and a half before she passed away - Manda was ALWAYS thinking of others even when no one would have blamed her for thinking only of herself.
While I may not have those texts anymore the memories of our conversations still make me smile and make we want to live more like she did. She loved and trusted Jesus completely and fully and His love shone so brightly through her.
Love and miss you, Manda!!!