There’s so many things about my mother that would be unfair not to share with the world. She was born September 2, 1960 with a cleft lip and palate. Her mother, father, and 6 siblings protected her with all they had. I never noticed this “flaw” because she was perfect in my eyes, and all I ever knew. Throughout my whole life, but especially since she passed away October 8th, 2017 at the age of 57, I have been extraordinarily humbled to know how many lives she touched. She specifically had an amazing kindness for individuals with special needs, those who were overlooked, had fallen behind, and those who weren’t accepted. Everyone was worthy in her eyes – perhaps because she knew how it felt to feel less than perfect. She saw beauty in everything, but her heart especially lit up helping her sister Kathy with her daughter Olivia, who was born with Down Syndrome. Olivia and Sara had such a special bond that lit up a room, and although Olivia is nonverbal, she still speaks of Sara being with Jesus so clearly. With so many obstacles to overcome in her life – her cleft lip and palate, losing her son Daniel in a car accident, and her heart issues to name a few, Sara always still wore a smile. She loved dancing and singing with all of her nieces and nephews, neighbors, and always drew a crowd. I came across “Little Girl In Bloom” while going through some of her notebooks, and knew it had to be shared with the world. This is for you, Momma. – Rebeccah Dorrell