Do you see the sweet girl in this picture above? Words cannot express how much she meant to everybody she encountered. However, I am going to try my hardest to describe the love my family had for this sweet angel.

You're probably asking, why?

Ella Kate, the daughter of my UN-biological aunt and uncle, had a brain aneurysm last Wednesday. Late Friday night (October 7, 2016). This sweet angel went home to be with the Lord. Ella was ten years old and full of a vibrant personality that was so incredibly contagious.

I find myself asking, why? Why did God take this child into His arms so young? It's an answer that nobody can give, but everybody asks. However, God does indeed have a plan, and whatever that is, we should praise Him. Ella's family is choosing to praise him through this storm, so we should be joining them.

Ten years ago, Ella and her entire family came into the lives of my little family, and became a part of it. They joined in holidays, beach trips, movie nights, preparation for dances, and sometimes even sporting events. For nearly six years, each time they came to one of those events, our family felt bigger.

Without the Bumgardners around, it didn't feel normal to me. When this family moved to Georgia, it felt like my heart had shattered into a million pieces, but nothing compares to how I felt Saturday night.

Ella meant a ton to not only her family, but ours as well. Having known her since before she was a year old, made the bond between Ella and our family. But, it also added to the bond between the entire Bumgardner family.

From the time she was little, Ella made all of us laugh continuously and smile bigger. The times we spent with this sweet girl, could not ever be replaced. She is an irreplaceable girl, who brought life into all of our lives.

Words can not express the amount of grief everybody started going through as of Saturday night. In all honesty, I have never experienced a death that hurt more than the death of this amazing little angel.

It is something, that even two days later still does not feel real. I find myself remembering all of our random little memories throughout the day. Like how it was never "Chick-fil-A" but it was always "Fick-chil-A". Whenever I see something about Tinkerbell, I remember all the times you spent at our house watching the movies with my mom and (sometimes) me.

Sweet girl, I remember all of it, and always will. Your life meant so much to me, and it still does. The color green will always have a new meaning for me, when I see hearts I'll remember all the green ones we saw to show support for you.

Ella Kate, you changed my life forever, and there will never be another girl as vibrant, vivacious, and silly as you were at all times of your life.

My favorite movie has been and always will be Beauty and the Beast. I thank you, for making that movie even more special for me from the day we watched it on my couch.

I was babysitting before church one day, and you were the one who chose to watch it. Well, you didn't necessarily like the beast, so anytime he came on the screen you hid under the blanket and held onto me as tight as you could. But whenever there was a song, you'd either tell me to stop singing, or try to sing along with me. During this time we were both exhausted and fell asleep. My mom came home to get us and you told me that you chose that movie because you knew I loved it.

You were maybe 5 at the time, and it was then that I knew your heart was bigger than its real size.

I want to thank your entire family for allowing me to be apart of y'alls lives. For seeing my family as their family. That, even though we live in different states, our families bond couldn't be broken. Your family isn't just "family friends" to me, they're truly family.

There has never been a time where I didn't refer to your family, as my family. So, thank you Bumgardner family for all your love and support over the last ten years. I will always love, support, and pray for y'all, and I cannot wait to see y'all again sometime soon.

I will miss you dearly, Ella Kate, and already do. It's something my family has accepted, but still don't understand (much like everybody else). It doesn't feel real, yet, and I know that's because I don't live near your family. But, I look forward to the day that I will recognize you in Heaven, and get to hug you again.

Thank you for all of the memories. I will wear green for your family now and forever.