Losing a member of your family is one of the hardest trials of life. It takes a toll on you and your loved ones, but brings everyone together in ways that can only be imagined.

Death was something I was lucky enough to not have experienced often in my family or my life in general. My grandfather died when I was in 6th grade, barely old enough to really understand the depth of the situation. I recently lost one of my grandmothers and my deeper understanding of death was forced to the surface.

We do not realize how much we affect our families or how much they truly love us. My grandmother and I talked on Facebook often, as she lived on the East Coast and my immediate family lives in the Midwest. My dad called to tell me how proud she was of me because, unknown to me, I am the first member of my dad's family to attend college.

My grandma read every one of my 65 Odyssey articles and my personal blog posts. She always commented on my photos and posts, asking when I would be home with my family again or how school was going. I didn't know how proud she was of me or often she talked about me to people.

I didn't get to say goodbye to someone who saw me as special and someone I viewed in the same way, and that hurts.

I didn't get to take the time to see her or ask her about things I would've loved to know, like what my dad was like when he was little or what his family was like when he was growing up.

Nana, I hope you know how many people you touched. I watch them post on your Facebook now and it amazes me how many people you knew and loved. I hope you know what a great dad your son is to all of us. I hope you can somehow comfort the members of our family who loved and needed you here for just a while longer.

Even though we didn't get to say goodbye in the way we would have liked, we all know that you are watching over us. That is something we can take comfort in and be grateful for forever.