This morning was a tough one. Being Christmas Eve and Eddie’s firehouse shift, we would have normally gone to visit him, before church and dinner at my aunt’s house. This was his home away from home. These were his brothers.

As I drove up to the firehouse, my heart sank and hurt. There was a lump in my throat that I had to swallow and keep going for the boys. He wasn’t here. He was never going to be here again. It was the first time I’d been to the firehouse since he died and it was one of the hardest things that I had to do. I did it for the kids.

I am so glad that I did because as soon as we walked in, we were filled with such love. Truly part of a family.

They didn’t have to do any of this. They don’t have to be there…but they did and they are. They do it because they are the most giving group of guys, that I have ever met. They do it because they loved Eddie and they lost a brother. They are taking care of us just as a family does.

Today has certainly not been easy. It’s actually been one of the most difficult yet. However, it’s the people that are in my life, the people that care, that have gotten me through. They have made this day as easy as it possibly could’ve been…full of love and new memories.