Backpack Program to feed students — with Wayne Aleshire and Layla Layla

Friends forever

Every conversation with Layla was so interesting — politics, the Bible, or even rays from the sun and how one of them could knock out our electricity and internet at any moment. I could sit around and just talk with Layla for hours and not get bored.

She loved talking about her kids and how proud she was of them, and she was just as proud of my kids — her nephews. That love was constant and genuine.

I’ll always smile when I think about the daycare days with Layla and Keri, surrounded by cousins and chaos.

I’ll miss our conversations more than I can say.

I remember one time Miranda and I were making SpaghettiO’s at the Springhill house and when I picked my bowl up it was hot and I dropped it. The bowl broke and SpaghettiO’s went everywhere. I started bawling and apologizing and trying to clean it up. Aunt Layla just hugged me and told me it wasn’t a big deal and joked she didn’t have to feed Harley now. She made me feel so safe. It was such a small kindness that made such a big impact on me and I have carried that kindness and mindset into my own motherhood. I hope that I am half as good of a Mother and Aunt as she was one day. I loved her and love y’all so much.