I am thankful ...

... that I'm incapable ... of doin' any good on my own.

Seriously, the tragedy I have been watching around me makes me stop and reflect how many things for which I have to be thankful. Let me give an abbreviated list:

• My beloved husband
• My family
• The best dog in the world
• My home
• Indoor plumbing :)
• Delicious food that is readily and easily accessible (and often somewhat nutritious)
• Clean, drinkable water
• My overall good health
• A supportive work environment
• Freedom of speech and of worship
• Easy access to medicine
• Laughter
• My new Barista and the delicious coffee that Hubby makes for me before I go to work
• Christmas CDs that arrive early (yay Amazon.com!)
• A baby's laugh
• Seeing miracles everyday with my own eyes
• Most of all ... my Savior

Goodbye

We buried my grandmother today. Today was horribly difficult and draining, but it was healing as well. I felt God removing my anger and was able to realize that despite her flaws, my grandmother still really loved me. I'm looking forward to seeing her in Heaven; until then, I want to make sure that my sweet grandfather is surrounded by love even if we're not physically there to show him how much he means to us.

My dad preached the funeral today. I forget how beautifully he speaks sometimes, and his words today moved me to tears. Throughout his speech, he spelled out the plan of salvation and the story of Christ's sacrifice and love for us. He quoted I Thes 4:13-18 -- "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." And he did.