For the past two years, every benchmark of this experience of having lost my only child has been a trial. From the "celebration of her life," to the missed birthdays, graduation, Thanksgivings, Christmas and New Years, I have felt I had to put on that smile that said, "everybody relax, I am doing fine." A strange thing happened this weekend when we all gathered for Brittney's 20th birthday and balloon release...I didn't have to put on that "I'm ok" costume, and I didn't suffer the crippling grief hangover that always follows the next day. To some this might seem like a small step forward in the grieving process. To me, it is nothing short of a Christmas miracle!
