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Moses Lake woman uses social media, art to keep little girl's memory alive

With each package of rocks sent to anyone who has requested them, "hashtag BrynlieBug" is handwritten in honor of Brynlie Rae Carver, 2, who passed away in Idaho last year.

Kierra Elfalan

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Published: 5:21 AM PDT March 21, 2018
Updated: 11:09 AM PDT March 21, 2018

MOSES LAKE, Wash.-- A Moses Lake woman is reaching thousands across the United States and honoring the memory of a 2-year-old girl.

Along with her rock art, a name is being seen, spoken and photographed.

With each package of rocks sent to anyone who has requested them, "hashtag BrynlieBug" is handwritten in honor of Brynlie Rae Carver, 2, who passed away in Idaho last year.

"Her family went through a tragic accident that all of them were a part of and their youngest Byrnlie did not make it," said Shawna Kluge.

Kluge runs her own rock painting Facebook page called "The Rock Bottom Rocker.”

Kluge said she is also part of countless other rock painting groups, one that Brynlie's mother also happens to be a member of.

That's where she saw a post from Brynlie's mother who was grieving the loss of her daughter and asking that people paint ladybugs in her honor.

"Something about that truly touched me because I paint to get through grief, it's how I cope with being sober and grief and loss and just if I can turn any part of that pain into something positive, I want to do it," said Kluge.

Kluge said she has now been sober for three years after suffering from addiction with substance abuse.

Through social media she started the "Ladybug Project" for a family she had never even met.

"Coincidentally my father passed away just a week before Brynlie so the anniversaries were coinciding, so for me to be able to get through that time of grief and that time of pain, I really dove into the project," Kluge said.

As part of the project, Kluge paints a family of four ladybugs, one for each family member who was in the accident, to be sent to families in packages.

The hashtag means something very special to Brynlie's family.

"It was a little nickname, they just called her Brynlie Bug you know? When she was little and it stuck," she said.

So far, Kluge said she has shipped over 2,000 ladybug families to 200 different locations across the United States.

"She has been to Disneyland, just everywhere these families are going they are taking their ladybug families and they are having fun along the way. They are sharing the memory and story of a beautiful baby and family, and they are spreading kindness along the way," said Kluge.

Brynlie's family is thankful for everything Kluge is doing.

"What started off as me painting for someone I didn't know, turned into a beautiful friendship between myself and her parents and I've been able to provide them a few moments of joy in profound grief," she said. "It's just been truly an honor and a privilege to be able to be a part of their lives and to be able to honor their beautiful daughter in this way."

Brynlie's family who now lives in Kennewick, Washington is expecting another child any day now.

Kluge plans to continue with the Ladybug project, but in order to do so, she is hoping the community will continue to donate postage for all the packages she is mailing out.

She has also set up a donation fund for the family.

If anyone would like to help with the project or contact Kluge they can message her on the Rock Bottom Rocker Facebook page.

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