Riley's Love Day - Three Years Gone

I think it was Finley who first called it Riley's Love Day, our annual remembrance of Riley's passing. She's two years older now and still holds her Ootoo Riley very close to the heart.

We were gathered together on her birthday this year to eat some sushi and play in a park when she had a moment of overwhelm and sadness, sharing how much she missed Ootoo. It struck me as heartbreaking that she's so young and has suffered this loss so profound that even on her birthday she feels it acutely. Which of course it is, but I had to take a beat and remember that I too feel the pain and grief acutely, especially on big days that Riley should be here for. What a blessing that Finley can and does share those big feelings, and that she can be listened to and validated by the rest of her big feeling and heartbroken family right on the spot.

These photos are from this years Love Day. Mamma made sure we had cinnamon toast crunch (Riley's favorite,) and we ate out of ceramic bowls that Riley made. Mamma also put together a video from different clips of Riley singing which we watched together. It's really special to have so much to remember them by. Several of Riley's friends were able to join and Mateo once again brought the house down (and made everyone cry) with a beautiful performance of a song he wrote after Riley passed.

Somehow time keeps moving on, but Riley's Love is still here all the same.