This post really hit home for me, Kristin. I didn't know Maricela, but I know she touched the lives of many, many people in our community. To see such a vibrant, giving, loving soul be taken early - especially orphaning two young children - makes me yearn to understand the lesson that we are intended to learn. Are we meant to learn appreciation for what we have and the time we are given together? Are we meant to learn the impermanence of this temporal life so that we are able to focus more deeply on our journey that extends beyond this earthly body (whatever we may believe that to entail)? Whatever we are MEANT to learn, I pray that while mourning what we no longer have we can all find a kernel of comfort to hold onto, and thank the ones we've lost for continuing to teach us even in death.