Grateful

As I close out this year in words, the one word that comes to mind is: Grateful.  I am grateful for our health.  I am grateful for Randy's job, which he loves-- he's never enjoyed work this much.  I'm grateful for Reunions with both of our amazing extended families-- Burrell's July 2019, Dirks January 2020.  I'm grateful for the community of friends that surround my kids and us.  I'm grateful to close out another year in my dream home.  I'm grateful to have another driver for those times that I don't want to get groceries or take kids to activities.  I'm grateful that three of my kids have started on their orthodontia journey, and that they'll all have straight teeth before High School.  I'm grateful that I survived the year without a mental breakdown-- I was really scared.  But most of all, I'm grateful for the knowledge that we're Sealed together Forever.  The pain is still so intense, the Missing still so acute, that I honestly don't know where I'd be without the certainty that I'll be with Caden again, that I'll see his face and kiss his cheeks and never have to let him go.  I look forward to the day where I'll bathe the feet of my Savior with my tears as I thank Him for making it possible to one day have my entire family together again.  I'm grateful.  I'm so grateful.