Dear Emma,
My kindness, in memory of you, was getting out of bed. I know you would be laughing at that but let me tell you, it was hard. We all miss you so much that it physically hurts. Some days are okay. I take the kids to school, smile that your mom texted me back, and sort of clean my house. There are other days though where it is just too much. Last week was one of those days. I dropped some older kids off to school in my pjs and put a movie on for the littles and buried everything under the covers. I didn’t want to get up to a world without you. But then your mom texted a picture to me and Aunt Anna of a giant Longhorn cow she found at Marshalls that we are plotting to possibly buy Sadie (which I totally know you would be in on) and once I was on my phone I saw that your site was up and running and I sat under the covers watching your video and bawling. It was then that I knew I had to get up. You had gotten me thinking about all the stories my kids have told me about the times you made them feel special and wanted and loved and I knew I couldn’t spend all day ignoring them. So I got up Emma, just for you. I put down my phone and turned off the TV and played on the floor with the littles. I then decided to keep it going and did all the backed up dishes while listening to my iPod just like your mom said you did. I even texted Ben to tell him I loved him (and I KNOW you are grossed out about that but tough 
In truth, we have done much bigger things since August to honor you but I thought today you would want to hear this story. We love you Emma,
Aunt Tonia
Today I Got Up
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