we are still a family

i spent this weekend at Camp Amanda.

it was incredible.

just amazing stories about life, love and loss.

Camp Amanda is a camp for children teens and adults that have lost a loved one through homicide, accident, illness, suicide or war. 

i was extremely empathetic to these families. but i had a hard time myself.

i just kept thinking how lucky i am to have the people in my life. 

joe was there for the weekend with me. i couldnt imagine him not being in my life. i saw all these women who have lost their husbands and how difficult it can be.

and my mom. my mom and i are so close and our relationship is so special i just dont know what my life would be like without her, the same for my sister. my best friend since the womb. dana and i have this almost supernatural bond that cannot be put into words. how different my life would be with out them.

it is hard to hear all of these stories and not put them into your own life. i am so blessed to have the people in my life that love me unconditionally. i dont deserve it but im not going to take it for granted.

at the end of camp is where i got the most emotional. we have a balloon release ceremony where we present each family a balloon in honor of their loved one. we sing a song while doing so and the last line in the song is "even though we're changing, we are still a family". that is powerful stuff. 

even though things happen we lose people we love and life sometimes disappoints. but we are still a family. forever.