I chose a single white carnation and gently placed it on top of her casket. I kissed my fingers and pressed them against the cold hard casket as my final kiss goodbye. I glanced over to see the empty hole in the ground where she'd soon be put to rest next to my brother. I felt the lump in my throat double in size. I distracted myself for a moment by plucking a beautiful red rose from the spray on her coffin and pressing it between the pages of my Bible.

February is always a difficult month.

My biological mother passed away on February 9th at 11:30pm. My aunts held her hands while my uncle held his cell phone to her ear so that I could tell her how much I loved her and how she would always be in my heart. I prayed for her and said goodbye. I closed my eyes and remembered washing her face while the machines breathed for her. She smiled and then slept so peacefully.

We buried her on February 13th next to my brother who died February 27, 2001. There will be time for more details and some interesting (albeit a little morbid) details that we learned, but for now I have to get back to resting my own aching body.

Thank you all for sending me such positive support and uplifting prayers. Things will return to normal soon.