Goodbye For Now

"I loved you like there was no tomorrow... and then one day, there wasn't." 

Today we said goodbye. Goodbye to our sun. To our protector. To the rock of our family and the light of our lives.

Today we said goodbye to the strongest, bravest, most badass woman I have ever known. 

These last few days have been surreal, but our family feels blessed to have had quality time with mom this week. To hear her laugh, to see her smile, and to tell her how much we love her. 

We have tried to prepare ourselves for this inevitability, but it was mom herself, with her humor, her strength, her absolute lack of self-pity and her kindness and unwavering love that made us truly believe we had more time. That this void in our hearts and in our home would be put off a little longer. 

But we were wrong. 

And today, February 10th, surrounded by so much of her family, mom finally let go. The cancer may have taken her body, but we know that her spirit and her light will live on. 

Mom has always been larger than life. She always laughed harder and louder, loved deeper, gave freely and cared unconditionally. She never knew a stranger and was a beacon of light to us all when we were in our darkest places.

She will be cherished and celebrated until the end of time, and we are at peace knowing how much she was loved and gave love. There isn't a doubt in my mind that Grandpa Bob and Daisy were waiting for her, and that she is sitting on the pier up north raising her bottle of regal brau to us all in a toast to a life well lived. 

Goodbye my dear, sweet mom. You are loved and missed by so many. 

Until we see each other again. ❤️

--On behalf of my dad, Charlie and Hailee, and all of our family (including all of my aunts and uncles and my grandma who have been by mom's side these past few days) we cannot thank you all enough for your love and support. Mom was so lucky to have such an amazing community of people who loved her so much.