The Earth Laughs in Flowers

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The earth remembers how to bloom, even after the longest season of silence and shadows. 

And somehow, so do we.

As spring time leaves us, we find ourselves drawn to the quiet reflections happening in gardens, in open fields, beneath the shade of trees. There’s something holy about the way the world turns green again, like a promise kept.

Grief, too, changes with the seasons. It stretches out in the sun. It lingers in the smell of rain on a dirt road. It breathes with the wind that moves through the elephant ears and ferns. We’ve found that healing doesn’t always look like a straight path, with grief steadily winding, swirling, and looping through our days. 

And The Winner is...

We’re also thrilled to share that the 2025 Kathryn Leigh Thurgaland Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Zachary Winter, a graduating senior from The Villages Charter School. Zach embodies the creativity, compassion, and courage that defined Kathryn’s spirit. We’re honored to support his college journey and can’t wait to see where his talents take him.

As of May 2025, thanks to donors like you, the Kathryn Leigh Thurgaland Foundation has proudly awarded a total of $78,000 in scholarship funds to six bright and deserving students since our establishment in 2021. These scholarships are providing crucial support for their educational journeys and helping them pursue their dreams.

Season of Connections and Growth

This season has also brought new connections and opportunities for emotional growth. In May, Elizabeth attended the Surviving Siblings Summit—an incredible gathering, hosted by The Surviving Siblings Podcast, dedicated to honoring and uplifting those navigating the loss of a sibling. The podcast is for anyone, whether they have lost a brother or sister or just want to understand and support someone who has. The KLT Foundation is currently applying to share Kathryn’s story on a future season of the Surviving Siblings Podcast and are hopeful for the opportunity to contribute to this powerful space of remembrance and healing.

An excerpt from Kayleigh's diary

This summer, we’re leaning into connection. Not just the kind where you sit across from someone and speak, but the kind where you walk beside each other and say nothing at all. The kind where you plant something that will outlive you—because love always does. The kind where we remember that Kathryn herself loved flowers, laughter, and the joy of simply being with people she loved. We carry her spirit like seeds in our pockets, planting wildflowers wherever we go.

So we invite you, no matter where you are in your journey, to go outside. To let the sun kiss your face like someone who’s missed you dearly. Let the wind carry your sadness and your joy in equal parts. Connect with a friend, a memory, a part of yourself that may have faded in the long season of silence.

Let’s grow something beautiful together.

With warmth,

The KLT Foundation