Life Goes On....

I lost a friend on October 22.  She was one of my employees for over a year and I've known her family for a long time.  April was a sweet girl.  She would do anything for her friends and often was the glue that kept her family together.  She had an infectious laugh and had a smile that would light up the room.  She said some of the most off the wall things and I would tease for it all the time!  She loved it...she would just giggle and say, "Oh Em Gee Sandy!"  One time she asked Mike Sullivan, "Are people from Spain just classy Mexicans?"  We all had a laugh over that one forever!  She was such a goofball! 

Andrew cared for her girls this summer and our families kind of became intertwined.  Her daughters, Savannah 5 and Brooklyn 3 were adorable chubby faced sweeties with long curly hair and her same beautiful smile.  She was only 27 years old.  

She had been battling Anorexia all her life.  Nobody ever knew.  She hid it very well and pretended to be healthy.  She took her life after what the coroner said was a fit of rage.  A side affect from not eating or drinking anything and her organs shutting down.  

I went to her funeral on Saturday and it was a rough day for all of us that knew her.  We all grieve in our own way but that day everyone seemed very lighthearted and it was more of a celebration of her life.  Her sisters and family did a beautiful job with their eulogies and had dozens and dozens of pictures of her and a slide show to music.  When I think of April, I will remember her sweet smile, that adorable laugh, and the way her daughters clung to her when she picked them up after work.  They loved their mommy and she loved them so much.  I'm so sorry that we didn't pay more attention to your illness April. 

If I have learned anything from this tragedy, it is to love the heck out of everyone around me.  To tell them every second I can that I am there for them and pay close attention to anything that may be troubling them. 

Rest in peace April and I will pray for your girls everyday...