Dear Karen,

Yesterday.

When I saw the rose bud in my yard, I thought of you.

When the kids tumbled into the car, I thought of you.

When I gazed up at the vast, clear California sky, I thought of you.

When we joined hands around the table last night and said grace, I thought of you.

When Kade grinned at me, I thought of you.

When Chayse kissed me good-night, I thought of you.

As the days slipped by this past year, I have thought of you often. It was never contrived, as your memory always slips in at random moments. Sometimes it strikes my fancy and I smile. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes my heart was lonely and I would want to call, but instead I had a conversation with my heart.

You were always there.

I miss you, though.