I knew this day was coming and I have been dreading it. I knew I would log on facebook and see her name- Penny Hoffman born June 23, 1970. And I knew this was going to be a very difficult day for many who knew and loved her. So, part of me doesn't want to say anything, but the bigger part of me wants to say something in honor of her beautiful life.

I was reading the paper this Sunday and I came across a story written by Harlan Coben about his father. He said he was writing an uplifting Father's day story. He wrote how his father had passed away when he was 10, I think, and he was talking about how seeing a picture of him and his dad made him break down into sobbing tears. I really resonated with some of the words that he wrote and so I want to share them with you but in reference to Penny:

Wait. Didn't I say this wasn't a sad story? So here is the uplifting part: It's okay to feel this pain. In fact, when you have been as lucky as I was in the sister-in-law department, it would be an outrage not to cry. You can't have an up without a down, a right without a left, a back without a front- or a happy without a sad. This is the price you pay for having a great friend/ sister-in-law. You get the wonder, the joy, the tender moments- and you get the tears at the end, too. My sister-in-law, Penny is worth the tears.

Happy Birthday Penny. We love and miss you. Thank you for all the sweet memories.