Dear Traci~

As a sweet young lady with her father go to receive her mothers grave stone it hits me....they have lost a mother and a wife, someone they love more than I am sure they can describe. It sits hard with me as they pull out of the driveway...I didn't know Denise but I feel as though I  may tear. For the days I have spent with this young lady have been enlightening and close to my heart. Everyday I love her more and she probably doesn't even know it. So now I feel this enormous amount of pain in my heart for her, and for her father. How this little girl keeps it together I don't know. She rarely talks about her mother.  I pray that she is dealing with it on her own terms and not suppressing a tremendous amount of pain that she will later have to unravel again and feel this all over. I feel the need to be her keeper, her friend and her stand in for these next few years I know will be challenging in many ways.

I need to tell her. I think she should know that I am here for her. The only reason I haven't expressed it yet in words is that I don't want her to feel any pressure. She doesn't need anymore pressure or pain or confusion in her life. She just needs to know I am here for her. I think she may be ready to hear that from me, I am ready to share that with her.

"When the student is ready the teacher will appear"
   Buddha