I picked Annabelle up from school early and we attended a funeral together today. Her friend, at 8 1/2 years old, lost her battle with cancer. There are not even words for the sadness we felt.

We joined many of the girls from Annabelle’s girl scout troop to pay our respects. Nothing will ever prepare you for seeing that small little casket. Or the sad little tears running down the faces of 7 and 8 year olds. You can never prepare nor should you. Sometimes you just have to accept the sadness.

You just hug. Hug your daughter, hug friends. And you cry. And you let her squeeze your hand as hard as she can while you sing and pray for that sweet little angel. And you hold her hand as you walk to the car even though that’s not really cool anymore. And you are so immensely thankful for your blessings.

And you talk and talk and talk to your 7 year old and even though you don’t feel like you have the right answers you keep talking and talking and talking with her….