Once upon a time, more than 30 years ago, God sent to me a precious baby girl, Ashley Elizabeth. Ashley grew up to be a big sister, an amazing soccer player, a grammar-geek and an avid reader. She decided to join the Army National Guard 19 years ago where she served as a Medic. She was deployed to two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. Ashley was a dedicated hard worker. She did her best to complete every job assigned to her and more. She had a beautiful smile, a unique laugh and a personality that welcomed anyone to be her friend. Ashley would talk to people in the checkout (she claims she go it from me), could be so sarcastic it hurt (Unk) and mastered Wheel of Fortune. She loved her  Steelers and could be heard with her famous phrase "get him" all through the neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon. She loved her Pittsburgh Penguins and SID, going to Tampa with her family including Lukas, to watch the game.

God blessed my Ashley with a baby girl two years ago, Charlotte Adalyn, aka, Charli. Charli woke up each day with a smile on her face and ready to go. She would sing, dance and play with mumma to Carrie Underwood on a daily basis. Then my child got sick. She got very sick and went to the ER on May 9th. My Ashley never came back home. You see, I didn't know how sick my child was. I watched her wither and fade on Sunday night, May 23, my precious, intelligent, beautiful daughter left us. She left her two sisters, Alyson and Amanda. She left her nieces, Olivia, Sophia, Alexis and Madilyn. She left Lukas. She left her little Charli.

I can't think, I can't understand what happened. I need to talk to her. I need to tell her the Penguins are on tonight. I need her to give Charli a bath. I need.... My little girl was a gift to me for more than thirty years. It was time for my gift to return home. I love you Ashley Elizabeth and will until the end of time. As Gramma would say, "Sleep like a big Girl" my precious child.