A Butterfly Finds it 's Wings

She was only 12, full of life, laughter and practical jokes. Today the laughter has been silenced, taken by an incurable disease. How do you reconcile the loss? What can you say to ease the pain? How does a mother find her healing, in a situation that's gone against nature. She was always so vivacious, bringing laughter to those that knew her. No more knocks at the door, no more requests to play with my daughter.

I didn't get to say goodbye. I didn't think it would come to that. It's amazing how much you learn about a person once they are gone. She loved to draw all the time and her favorite creature was the butterfly. It's almost fitting. Butterflies are creatures that get prettier through each stage of their developmental cycle. She was like that--getting prettier everyday. Butterflies are delicate and she turned out to be so, yet her strength was in her ability to see the beauty all around her. More importantly, she helped those around her appreciate just how beautiful life really is. Her sunny disposition, her drive to be the best, her really indomitable spirit helped place her at the top of all the things that she did.

You left us much too early
There was so much yet to see
So much love and laughter to show us
What will life without you be?

Thank you for sharing the beauty around us
It's easy to pass it right by
With you we had to take notice
And we're blessed to know all's not awry

You will always be part of my heart
As I start to move forward again
Thanks for being a beautiful butterfly
That decorated my world from the start

Rest In Peace, Gabrielle. I will miss you.