:(

I was going to write a post about diversity in kids books, and how we need it so that kids like the ones I work with in the nursery at church can feel like they can be heroes, too. One little girl moved back to Korea recently, but I also have a highly creative Samoan kid, an African-American girl with a sly sense of humor, and a little Cree girl who wants to play princess every week. When the weather is good, a Philippino boy comes from the wilds of Minnesota. And there's a little blond kid or two who show up occasionally, too. These kids love books, and I want to see them the heroes of their books.

But all that has sort of been washed out of my mind by the news that my funny little friend Lizzy, age two, who already had a wicked sense of humor and who loved pouring water on herself and sneaking up on people and every so often just needed a random person's lap to sit on and a hug--that when they went to wake her up this morning, she had passed away. My mind hears the words, but my heart is having a hard time believing it, even though two different people have called me. Her parents are no strangers to sorrow, but certainly did not need any more. All three of their kids are adopted after they weren't able to biologically have any of their own. While working on adoption, they took in foster children, and still do, with a long-time teen in their house and occasional short term foster care of other kids, usually to give the regular foster parents a break. They're the kind of people communities long for, and you could not get better parents. I feel horrible that they have to go through this. Not to mention her 4YO sister and 8YO brother.

I do actually believe that this life is not the end, that the spirit is eternal and that someday we'll all be resurrected. I've had experiences where I've felt the reality of this very strongly; it's not just because someone told me so. And when you look at it that way, Lizzy's had a pretty wonderful life. She got two years with a family who was ecstatic to have her, with smart parents who made her a priority. She brought happiness to tons of people and passed away easily, without pain and trauma, it appears. And I do believe that someday they will have a chance to pick up where they left off. But it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt right now. And man, tomorrow is going to be hard. :(