I can’t recall Tyler being this excited on Christmas mornings. What a joy to have this piece of history preserved forever. She loves her little dog Milly so much. Bless you Tyler. We all love and miss you and know you are among us.
Tyler’s Peak
The Tyler’s Peak Memorial Playground is dedicated to honor the life and legacy of Rocky Mount Academy graduate Elizabeth “Tyler” Strandberg. Tyler lived a life of determination, tenacity and adventure. The playground was dedicated in Tyler’s memory on October 14, 2017 to memorialize and celebrate a life well lived, while offering children and visitors of Rocky Mount Academy a small glimpse of the paradise that shaped Tyler’s life. Located on the campus of RMA, for many years to come, may the smiles and laughter radiating throughout Tyler’s Peak serve as a reminder to live life to the fullest every day, just like Tyler would want us to. Tyler’s family members would like to thank the RMA leadership team along with so many others who worked hard to make this playground come to life, and a special thanks to Jim Gardner, Anthony Edwards and Will Kornegay.
Tyler and Milly’s love for snow
Outer Banks got a good dose of snow and ice. Milly being the mountain dog she is from Jackson WY has a great history with snow. Tyler used to ski in knee deep powder with Milly chasing her down the mountain. But I really think Milly may have kinda forgotten about snow since she hadn’t seen any in awhile. Needless to say it didn’t take long to remember. She was running around and playing like a kid today. Warmed my heart.
Update on the Elizabeth Tyler Strandberg Foundation
The Elizabeth Tyler Strandberg Foundation Inc. was created in 2015 by family members to honor and remember Tyler’s legacy by doing what she did best: Helping Others. In this Christmas Season of giving, Tyler’s spirit is among us and many others. We are pleased that in her honor and memory in just a short period the Foundation has supported the following with donations of over $37,000.
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church Playground, Rocky Mount NC
- Word Tabernacle Church Playground, Rocky Mount, NC
- Rocky Mount Parks & Recreation Dog Park Memorial
- Angel Komenda
- Jackson Hole Marathon
- CV Ranch / Playground / Old Bills Run
- Nash Health Care Foundation
- St. Johns Episcopal Church, Jackson WY
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Agape Village Foundation
- Heart Math Tutoring
- The HEARTess Yard
- Boys & Girls Club, Rocky Mount NC
- Teton County Search & Rescue
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Kates Club
- Rocky Mount Academy Playground – Tyler’s Peak
- Old Bills Run – CV Ranch
- Helping Hand Project
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church Angel Tree Christmas Gifts
- Hopeway Foundation Charlotte NC
- UNC Lineberger Cancer Center – The Holly Fryar Project
- Animal Adoption Center, Jackson WY
A Letter to My Daughter
For a brief second every morning when I wake up, everything seems normal, like it was before but then reality quickly sets in and I remember that another day has passed, another year, another season, another birthday and holiday are over. Then the reality hits hard that I will not be able to see that beautiful face or hear that infectious laugh or that sweet southern accent anymore, even though you tried your hardest to disguise it! The emptiness is always there, even on better days. But so clearly in my head I can hear you saying, “Mom, Don’t be sad. Embrace life and enjoy every moment of it.” So for you Tyler, I try my best every day to follow your words and inspiration. You are my constant beacon. Recently, I was reading one of the numerous notes you wrote to me throughout the years, “Embrace your darkness along with your lights”. Those there the exact words you wrote to me in 2013 when I was going through a difficult time in my life. Never did I know those words would hold so true. I could always count on you to be brutally honest with me but always encouraging. You always said you were sorry, even if you weren’t because you didn’t like leaving things unfinished. You were my biggest cheerleader and always let me know how much you appreciated and loved me. How thankful I am to have these notes to hold on to and I thank you so much for leaving that precious gift to me.
This journey called grief has been so difficult for all of us who love you. You would be so proud of your sisters for the strength and courage they have shown these last couple of years. They have helped me so much and I don’t know what I would do without their support. And your Dad, he has taken such great care of your sweet Milly, giving her a life full of activity, adventure and love, just the way you had done. She misses you by the way. I can see it in her eyes. Your amazing grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, godparents, and close family friends have kept your memory alive every day. And your friends, I don’t even know where to begin to tell you the love and support we have gotten from each of them. From your elementary school friends, all the way to your incredible Jackson family, and even people who didn’t even know you. Each of them has been such a source of comfort to your family. The memorials and tributes, phone calls, text, and hugs are personally getting me through each day. If you only knew the impact you had on all these precious lives, you would be truly amazed.
Being back in Jackson each time is bittersweet. I can always see you standing right at the door in the terminal with Milly by your side with that amazing smile. As hard as it is to go through that door without you being there on the other side somehow Jackson always seems to restore my soul. I feel you in the quiet beauty of this place, I feel you in the laughter and love of your amazing Jackson friends. I feel you everywhere there. I’ve loved getting to know the Nix Family and I know how happy you and Nix would be having our families together celebrating your two beautiful lives. Your Jackson friends will forever keep me close to you and for that I’m eternally grateful to them. This was the place where you found your true happiness and how many people can say that about their lives. You could and what a blessing that is for us.
Each day I think about all the other young lives that have gone too far too soon, Nix, Bobby, Lane, Josh, Anne, Mark, Simon, Zee, Alex and too many others to name. I now understand the pain that their families have endured every second of every day. I like to think that all of you are having the most wonderful adventure together and will be waiting for each of us on the other side.
The questions are still there though. Why did God take you before me, can you see us and Milly? Do you know how much we miss you? Are you the cardinal that visits my birdfeeder every morning or did you place that penny from heaven in my path so I would know that you are thinking about me? Do you know how loved you were? I know God always has a plan and I accept that but I sure don’t have to like it. So I focus on the truth that our separation is only temporary and as each day passes, I’m one day closer to you. Even though there is a hole in my heart that will never heal, I honor you by trying to live my life as the best person I can be and embracing each day as you did. I read somewhere that sometimes when you look ahead, you see a twisted, complicated path, then a peaceful fog comes over the path and your view is obscured only allowing you to see a few steps ahead. Maybe the fog is a protection calling you back to the present moment and God is saying to focus on him and he will guide you through the path.
In this season of praise and thanksgiving, I am so incredibly thankful and blessed that I was chosen to be your mother. It has been one of the three greatest privileges and gifts in my life. I love you and miss you more than you know and will carry you in my heart and soul always.
Mom
Foundation Update
Since the beginning of the Elizabeth Tyler Strandberg Foundation, over $33,000.00 has been donated from the Foundation to various charities throughout the country. Some of these charities include The Heartest Yard, Teton County Search and Rescue, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Angel Komenda Life Long funding, The Rocky Mount Dog Park, St. Andrews Church playground, and Word Tabernacle Church playground just to name a few. We wanted to highlight some of the other special charities that have been recipients:
Kate’s Club, Atlanta
Kate’s Club empowers children and teens facing life after the death of a parent or sibling. Kate’s Club has developed therapeutic programming to help our children and teens establish healthy support systems and develop the necessary skills to cope effectively with their grief – a foundation that we believe is critical to supporting children who must cope with a tragic loss. We foster positive social and emotional development through four main programs including: Support Services, therapeutic group activities designed and led by licensed professionals; Club Outings to sporting events, exhibits and community service activities around Atlanta; Camp Good Mourning, a three-day overnight summer camp at Camp Twin Lakes; and KC Connects, a collaboration with partner schools and afterschool programs to bring Kate’s Club’s services directly to grieving children.
Kate’s Club offers top quality social and therapeutic programming designed specifically for grieving children and their families. Programs are led by professionals and trained volunteers and designed and overseen by a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Recreation Therapist.
Heart Math Tutoring
To ensure that all elementary students develop the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success, by helping schools use volunteers as tutors. Community members commit one hour per week to deliver an effective, hands-on curriculum through one-on-one tutoring sessions during the school day in Title I elementary schools.
Agrape Foundation
www.agrapevillagefoundation.org
The Agape Village Foundation is a Christian nonprofit organization with the mission to provide loving care in a Christ-centered environment for orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia, enabling them to thrive and to eventually become self-supporting adults.
Boys and Girls Club
Boys & Girls Clubs of The Tar River Region has an impressive history that began over 50 years ago with the establishment of the Boys Club in Rocky Mount, NC. The organization has since grown to serve thousands of young people between the ages of 5-18 in three locations (Tarboro, Rocky Mount, and Nashville) in the Twin Counties.
They provide a world class club experience that assures success is in the reach of every club member that walks through our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Through the Foundation, we look forward to continue to help our youth in the ways that Tyler would have wanted. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for our family
Happy Birthday Tyler. Forever Young! Love Dad.
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
