“You always hear those cancer stories... and you’re glad it’s not your family, but when it is it’s really... hard.”

seeing her up, and around cooking, cleaning, and doing everything,” said Courtney. The family took turns going in to talk with their grandmother. “When it was my turn I remember talking about school auditions. She broke down, and started crying, saying she was sorry she could never come to a performance…I’ve never been able to perform because I always picture that,” said Courtney. As conversations went on they got harder. “We tried to make small talk, but it was hard because we both knew she was really sick,” said Courtney. “The hardest thing was knowing she was going to die.” After returning home, she went back to school the next day, but her dad stayed in Florida. Shortly after leaving, their grandma was put into Hospice. Her health steadily declined. They received updates from her dad on how she was doing. One day, her father called to say she seemed to be doing better. She went outside, talked, and had a great day. That Wednesday night, Courtney’s phone rang at youth group. It was her dad. She heard her dad sobbing on the other end. She knew her grandmother had died. “It was hard enough hearing that my grandma died, but hearing my dad cry made it harder,” said Courtney. At the funeral she reflected, and watched as countless people attested to her grandmothers’ char-acter. Courtney, and her cousin sang the song, “The More I Seek You” in memory of the many times songs were shared at family gatherings. Courtney struggled with the loss of her grandmother. Their family was supported in many ways, but none of it brought back the woman Courtney now had to live without. After months of mourn-ing, Courtney struggled to find joy, and struggled in her relationship with God. She recognizes