I dedicate this book to the loving memory of a wonderful
daughter, sister, mother, niece, cousin, and true friend.
Whitney, your life down here, though a mere forty-eight years,
will never be forgotten. You have left an everlasting mark
on a world in search of the simple beauties from above—
and your voice was one of those.

As time goes on, when I hear your songs soaring across
the airwaves, I’m sure the pain will turn to laughter because
that’s who you were—a gift from God who loved to laugh.
We both knew that there was no better medicine for the soul
than laughter. Some questions will go unanswered, I’m sure,
while some answers I’ll find in the dark of the night,
right when I’m not looking.