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It's been a very long week or so.  I flew out to California on Thursday morning to join my family as we gathered together to grieve over our loss and to celebrate Daniel's life.  It was so good to be there, to share in the loss, to try and be of some help and just to openly love one another.  Our family is very spread out, we have three siblings in California, two in Vermont, one in Ohio, me in Maryland and our parents in Florida.  More family in New Jersey and Iowa and lots of other places as well.  It makes it difficult to get together, but it doesn't mean that we are not close.  Although we are kept apart in distance, our hearts are forever joined.  That was clearly evident.  Those that couldn't be there in person were with us in spirit and we calling constantly.  It was so hard for them not to be there.  The service was a very good one, more than 300 people attended.  People of all ages and all walks of life. It was truly a testament!  Some of the family choose to speak about Daniel and then the floor was opened up to those in the congregation who wished to say a word or two, boy was that something!  So many wanted to speak and their words were generous, kind and thoughtful.  Like Daniel.  It was very healing, especially for his father and his brother.  Although his other brother could not be consoled nor could his girl friend and it just broke my heart!  He and his girl friend had been together for nearly 8 years and she is 21, Daniel was nearly 24.
Being that it was a holiday, the air fare was terribly expensive and flights were booked so I was not able to get home until Monday.  (Technically by the time I got home it was 2:00 am Tuesday morning)  So I totally missed Easter with my immediate family.  Jim and the kids understood of course, but Bella had a little bit harder time understanding.  She'd call and tell me what she was doing but the calls ended with her in tears.  It made me feel so rotten!  Talk about a few emotion packed days!  I have trained Michelle well though and she took pictures and posted them to Facebook right away so I could see them.  Here's some of what I missed: 

"We Love GaGa"

Michelle and Bella ready for church

My beautiful girl and a beautiful backdrop-everything was in bloom!

Michelle, Bella and Tim on his last day at his move out day.