Just look up.

Last night, Lisa went home to be with the Lord. She was like a mother to me while I was growing up. I used to spend more time at her house with her family than with my own flesh and blood. In middle school, she took me to school every morning with her daughters. When I had head lice and couldn't treat it for months, she treated it for me until it went away. And then had to treat Sarah with her super thick hair lol. Every Wednesday night she would pick us up from church. On Sundays, she would go to church with us and make a huge dinner for our family. We've got some picky eaters so she made something for everybody. She gave you the best & most straight forward advice when you needed to hear it. She gave me a lot of advice, and always asked about my family. If you were wearing mismatched clothes and had bedhead, Lisa would still tell you you looked beautiful. She actually meant it. When Lisa cared about someone, she genuinely cared about you. She was very compassionate when someone was sick or hurting. When I was at the camps last summer, she called me just to tell me she missed me and she loved me. <3

This admirable woman gave us the three beautiful young ladies that I call my sisters: Amanda, Sarah, and Christina. Their mother would do anything for her children. As a single mother who raised five children, Lisa is pretty incredible. If her kids really wanted or needed something, she would find a way to get it. She loved them unconditionally. She could tell if something was wrong or if something was bothering them. Being a concerned mother when any of her daughters were acting strange, she would secretly call me to make sure they were alright. I had to promise to tell her if anything was seriously wrong. Of course I never had to tell her about anything, but she still called anyways because she loved her daughters so so so much. I will forever be thankful to Lisa and look to her with gratitude for the amazing way she raised her children. Also for giving me the people that I consider my close family.

All of her daughters are beautiful, strong, smart, and talented in some way. Their brother Eric has handled everything so well, and is a great man. Alex is a good brother, and has done a good job at being there for his sisters. Saying the upcoming months will be hard is an understatement. Everything is changing, but you will always have each other. Nothing is going to break the tight bonds of this family. You all love one another, and need to be together right now. Mom is so proud of you guys: working, taking care of the house,  taking care of each other. There is nothing you can't do, and you guys will get through this. One day at a time. So many people love you and will be there at a seconds notice to comfort you, cook for you, make you laugh, be a shoulder to cry on, or hug you.

It feels like it was too soon for her to go... and it was. Especially while we are just beginning our adulthood. We weren't ready to let mom go, and we won't be ready to for a very long time. How could we ever be ready to let go of such a wonderful woman who meant so much to us? We don't understand why God would take her so soon. Perhaps we won't even understand during this lifetime. There is one thing we can hold on to during this time of pain, loss, and sorrow. Don't we believe in an afterlife with God and Jesus? Didn't mom believe in that too? Yes, she wholeheartedly did. We can be comforted knowing where mom is. Her body remains here on earth, but her soul is free in Heaven. She is no longer bound by physical pain or hurt. She can only experience joy. She is still alive in Heaven, and we have hopes of seeing her again. We WILL see her again. Until that time, in those moments when you miss her so much, just look up. I promise you she's looking down too.