Vulnerable post below!! It’s hard to believe a year has passed since my beautiful grandmother left this world. It feels like just yesterday we were sitting together on the couch, watching morning shows, cutting up bread to feed the birds in the backyard, and just yapping about life. I can still hear her laugh, feel her hugs, and remember the warmth of her joyful presence. Grief is the most challenging and disorienting emotion I’ve ever faced. Adjusting to a world where you feel someone’s presence so deeply yet can’t see them is both confusing and painful. The first few months after she passed were a blur of shock and disbelief. Only recently have I begun to process the loss of such a prominent figure in my life more fully. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of her and wonder what she would say if we had one more conversation. I was blessed to spend my grandmother’s final hours with her, where I spent some of the time reassuring her that though losing her would be the hardest thing I’d ever face, I would be okay. I shared my hopes for the future, dreams she supported and encouraged, and made promises I believed I’d keep. This past year, however, has unfolded in ways I never could have predicted. Doors closed, paths shifted, and I felt guilty for not following the life I thought she’d envisioned and approved for me. However, I’ve come to realize she wouldn’t want me burdened by guilt—she’d want me to be happy. Though I never imagined I’d be where I am now, I believe she’d be proud of the courage I’ve found and the joy I’ve embraced, both of which are rooted in the love and lessons she gave me. In her words “Trust in God, it’s all in His hands.” Today, I’m grateful to spend time with my family. There may be tears, but we’re honoring my grandmother as she lived—singing, dancing, laughing, wearing bright colors, and praising the Lord, just as Rosie would have wanted. I hope everyone has the opportunity to live a life like Rosie lived. Unafraid to stand up for themselves, in service of others, lighting up every room, and never taking a single moment for granted. Being raised by her was the greatest blessing of my life. Te amo 💄💋