Art & words by Jo Jayson  The other week I posted a video of me painting the beginning of a special portrait commission. Today I am posting the finished portrait, completed on Valentines Day. This is Sydney, she was 21 when she was tragically killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Eve 2016. Her beloved Step Father Ken Bell came to me in October to ask if I would paint their daughter as a heartfelt gift for her mother Marcy Stone.  It of...

How has one year come to pass?   It feels like only yesterday receiving the news, going to the morgue, planning the funeral.   Getting dressed for the funeral I recall looking into the mirror and not recognizing the face that looked back at me.   It wasn’t until later that I realized what that signified and then found myself on a journey of self re-discovery while also dealing with this indescribable loss.   I was blessed with a few visits from...

The defendant that is being charged with taking Sydney’s life has requested, and been granted, a continuance. According to public record, the defendant’s “expert”has been discredited in another court hearing, which means they now have to regroup and find someone else to try and prove his theory. To me, this feels like Sydney is helping us where our hands are tied. This does means the trial will now go into the new year....

Today is my birthday, something my girls always made special. In fact, my birthday, Mothers Day and believe it or not, Fathers Day were 3 days that they took it upon themselves to go out of their way for me, make me feel even more special then they already did on a daily basis. And even at a young age, they teamed up and conspired for me, finding their way through making us all dinner and then a beautiful birthday cake. It was beautiful to...

In awe & gratitude… As I have been reflecting today, I find myself struggling to find the appropriate words that capture the emotions that are flowing through me from last nights “Celebration of Sydney’s Life”. To say “thank you” or say “I am eternally grateful”, while completely true, they just don’t seem to do justice in expressing the depth of what I am feeling. I am in awe. To witness and feel the love and compassion in the room last...

Sydney would have been 22 years young today. She always loved her birthday. Not because of gifts but because of the changes it signified in the year to come. She looked forward to all that each year was going to allow her to explore, along with the endless possibilities and adventures. And let’s not forget it meant MORE quality time together! And cake!!! She loved cake (and cheesy fries)! Sydney had a zest for life, she loved to laugh and...