It has taken me six months and the bitter cold of winter, but I am learning....

In the early days of my grief, my comfort was found at Jessica's final place of rest. Knowing that her body lay peacefully beneath the carefully placed stone cross gave me solice as I was able to seek her presence and speak with her. But the beauty and warmth of those days gave way to the darkness of Autumn, and that same warmth that had preciously enveloped me then, was becoming much harder to feel. Now, with the Winter season fully upon us, that bitter cold which runs through my body as I struggle to find that same sense of peace at her grave, is leading me home...to her...

Yes. It has taken me six long months...yet only a blink of an eye in the realms of eternity...to finally teach me that Jessica is always with me, existing deeply within my broken heart, giving it strength to learn how to heal amongst the scars which will forever remain. No--I don't need a grave with a nameplate or her room with her treasures...her love is what surrounds me with every breath that I breathe. She was a part of me with her creation and now, with her death, she once again holds that light. Love does not die...it does remain long after our bodies are returned to the earth...and although it is said over and over to all who have lost, it truly is something that cannot be realized until we travel that lonely road that we hope to never tread upon...

Even in death she teaches, touches and inspires, as her love spills over onto our souls. And my gratitude will forever be hers...