For the 10th time, Shannon is not here on this earth with us to celebrate her birthday. She would be 23 today. A decade of missed celebrations.
I miss her spunk and her spirit. I miss her laugh and her smile.
I wish I could know her as a young adult, finding her way in this world.
I see her friends and classmates graduating college, getting married, even having babies. Just imagine...
Time doesn't heal this wound, and the grief doesn't end.
But the loss of Shannon prompts us to go forth and expand our worlds to ease the pain of the incredible loss. We grow with our grief... and because of it...
We surround ourselves with those who say her name and allow us to share our memories. We work to spread her spirit and do some good in her memory.
We loved her for the 13 years we had her here with us, and we've loved her every day in the 10 years since.
Happy birthday, Shannon.
