#BeAGiana

Today was her birthday and I was shopping for something to wear to her celebration of life. 

Today was her birthday and before today I didn't actually know the date. I would have seen the notification in social media and sent her a message about how I hoped that today she would be blessed with happiness, surrounded by love, and enjoy the start of another year of adventures.

I remember talking to her family about how they were finally going to get to have a full family trip to Mexico soon and how excited I was for them all. How  wonderful I thought it would be that their beautiful blended family found a solid week to spend together even with work and school schedules. 

I remember going to her 'going away party' before her semester abroad. She was so happy, so bright, and brave. I enjoyed watching her so beautiful and gracious at the love that surrounded her to wish her well on her travels. I remember how moved I felt as we all prayed for her safety. 

I remember seeing all her pictures on Instagram from her experiences. Her pictures always showed her sense of pure joy at life. I loved her letter when she returned about her months living on the other side of the world and how I was excited to one day have her tell me all about it in person.

I remember when she reached legal drinking age and seeing pictures of her wine tasting with her family and thinking how fun that would be to join them all on one day when we could make the trip down to visit. 

I remember the first time I sat down with her family and found out that someone else has successfully walked the path that I'm on; the path of a blended family who loves their children without labels, without judgments, and with the desire to do whatever it takes to make multiple houses function in the best interest of the children. 

Giana was the proof for me that my family could be amazing. I know it still can be, and IS amazing, but Giana was that shining light to me about how beautiful my families future could be. To me, Giana was like looking into my own son's future. Looking at what a leader he could become in our family as he and his siblings navigate this life on their own. 

Giana was the embodiment of everything I could ever hope for someone. A beautiful woman I hoped my children could get to know better. A joyful soul I hoped to one day get to know better.

Thanksgiving morning I opened my Instagram and saw her smile back at me, happy and excited for her trip. She was still so alive. For 10 more hours she was still there moving and smiling like I've always known her to do, in a continuous loop sharing her joy. 

I'm so glad I was blessed to know her, even if just a little bit. I want to remember all the things I admired about her, and remember that we can all be like that. We can all be outgoing, and happy, and brave, and excited about life, about challenges, and diversity. That we can find joy in all the little things in life. As she once wrote, just to know that "the world is a beautiful place".

 Today was her birthday and I was shopping for bright, cheery, purple clothes to wear tomorrow to celebrate her life. I hope tomorrow everyone who knew her feels surrounded in sea of bright happy colors that we all picked out especially for her. I'd like to think that she can see us all, wearing her favorite colors, and smile knowing how much she touched our lives. 

Today was her birthday. To celebrate we should all go out and remember that we are surrounded by love, that happiness is always within our reach, and that life is an adventure. 

#BeAGiana