Sheri is home.

We arrived back home yesterday from an amazing vacation. I had full intentions of posting about it today, but there are more important things to talk about first. I need to write about someone who has impacted my life in so many ways. Sheri Bird, or "Sheri-mom," passed away late last night from a valiant battle with Glioblastoma (an aggressive form of brain cancer, which ironically took my dear Aunt Lisa last August as well). I am so grateful I was able to visit with Sheri at Lindsay's house a few months ago. That visit to Idaho will always be a special memory to me.

Sheri will be missed. So, so, so much. But her passing is a bit bittersweet since she is reunited with her sweetheart, Keith, who passed away seven years ago. They are together again. Smiling, joking and laughing, just as I will always remember them.

Sheri had the most infections laugh. Her smile could brighten anyone's day. She always thought about others before herself.

One of my favorite memories of Sheri was in middle school when I missed the bus in the morning. Both my parents were working at the time, and I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get to school. Oh wait! Call Sheri-mom. She'll take care of me. Sure enough, 5 minutes later Sheri swings by my house wearing a bath robe and towel on her wet head of hair. That's how selfless she was -- she would take 13 year-old Camille to middle school in a robe and towel on her head.

I will never forget the brilliance with which she lived her life. I hope someday I can be more like Sheri, which includes being able to make that uhhhh-mazing raspberry tart that she would whip up anytime I came home. It's the little things you remember, you know?

But for now, my thoughts and prayers are with the Bird kids. I love you guys, more than you know.