This series was very special to me. It helped me work out some of my pain. Losing a child is such a difficult experience. Fortunately, I had already learned a great truth ... reaching out to help others in your greatest hour of trial is one of the fastest ways to heal yourself. So, it was natural for me to apply my sculpting talents to do a series of dolls that talked about different aspects of losing a child. In doing so, I learned a great deal. I did not feel alone ... and because of my courage and efforts, I have touched hundreds of hearts. I completed the last doll in 1997, but I continue to share my story with those who might need it. I still get responses by people who have been touched by this series in one way or another.

I truly believe this sort of thing happens all the time. We just rarely get the feedback. I wonder at times if the Lord figures I will only continue to reach out with this sort of artwork if I get positive feedback from other people. I think He knows me well enough to know I am content just being "a seed planter!" I have faith that the trees will grow ... our Heavenly Father sends enough "water" to nourish them once they are planted. It is His garden.

I have included pictures of all six dolls in the series, and their stories, in this section of the gallery. Each doll was poured in different colors of resin in the same mold. They were then dressed and presented in 6 entirely different ways. They helped me discuss my feelings about six entirely different aspects of losing a child. Someday I would like to do a book, I think, of my experience ... with pictures of the dolls. It might be a good way to help others who are not connected to the doll world, and it would be a nice way to introduce our doll world to them too.

Below you will find the explanation of the basic sculpture for the entire series, and a picture of my precious son taken a week before he left my earthly arms.

As I work through the pain of the accidental death of my 21-year-old son, I have used this sculpture as a kind of therapy, a way to grow, and to connect with other women who have experienced the pain of losing a child. I feel I've joined an ancient and very special group of women - those who have lost a child. I think of all the mothers throughout time who have gone through what I'm feeling - our reasons have been varied - but the pain is the same, no matter where, when, or why. This sculpture is my tribute to all of us who have raised a child, only to lose them early - and my tribute to all women and their opportunity to nurture children of the world.

I wanted this sculpture to be a soft, real woman. She is not the thin, anorexic beauty of today. I used 16th century paintings as my inspiration for the mother's face. She is a warm woman that a man would find attractive - but not overly ripe or gaudy.

She is round with child, though I didn't want that to be the focus of the sculpture. Instead, I wanted her hands to tell the story of the growth inside. To symbolize the importance of a mother's hands, I sculpted them slightly larger than normal to emphasize this point. The touch of a mother's hands and the service that they render to children is never ending.

I wanted this symbol of Motherhood to be strongly built, not gazelle-like, so, I gave her substance. Her feet are slightly larger than normal to symbolize how a mother needs to be firmly rooted as the trials come and go in raising a child. Good mothers are solid and dependable.

Her eyes are ever so slightly unmatched. Mothers need to look in all directions. It is impossible to always be looking in the right direction. Sometimes we focus on the wrong things temporarily. Though we are not perfect, we strive hard to do our best. Mothers are ever watchful. I gave her wings because I strongly believe that most mothers call on the powers of Heaven to do their job well! Mothers are viewed as angels to some degree by our children - angels of love, angels of healing, angels of sacrifice, and so forth. Her halo has the feeling of a crown, and represents how we are queens in our homes - we are daughters of a royal Father in Heaven.

I made her jewelry to wear as a symbol that mothers seem to be guardians of beauty, grace, kindness, appreciation, gentleness, and similar qualities of refinement. I incorporated modern and old feelings in her clothing to symbolize past, present and future women. She stands on top of a pedestal to show reverence to the importance of Motherhood - something that gets little recognition or thanks in our society today.

Womanhood and especially Motherhood is a special (if not easy) blessing. This "Guardian of Motherhood" is my gift to all women. It is dedicated to all women who love the joy and happiness that children bring into an unpredictable and sometimes dangerous world.