October 3, 2014

Today was the viewing for my grandmother, and while I know that doesn’t sound like something to be grateful for, it really was.  Despite the exhaustion and sadness, here’s what I’m grateful for tonight.

This family.  This family is ridiculous…ly large and loud and loving.  We don’t always see eye to eye on everything (religion, politics, etc.–the usual), but we know how to come to the aid of those we love (and even of those we don’t).

This family–8 kids, 25 grandkids, and 37 great-grandkids strong (7 have been born since this photo was taken in 2011)…

Grandpa was talking tonight about his friends that he saw at the viewing.  One in particular,  he said, an old high school friend, had half a dozen kids, too.

“He was Catholic,” Grandpa said by way of explanation.

I asked Grandpa, “You’re not Mormon or Catholic, so what’s your excuse?”

He said, “Nope, I just say I’m just a passionate Protestant.”

We died of laughter for a minute.

This family, that cries together (the sap gene we all share), that sings together (apparently there’s a musical gene, too), that sometimes cries and sings at the same time together (that’ll be tomorrow, as all of the cousins are expected to sing at the funeral–really??).

This family makes its own choir…a really big choir.  You should hear us sing “Happy Birthday” at a restaurant.  Heads turn.

We sang Grandma into glory.

We sang Grandma out of her house of 67 years.

This family has faith.  Again, we may harbor some doctrinal and practical differences, and we may even quibble about them occasionally, but this family loves God and believes deeply that we will be seeing Grandma again (and the great-grandmas and great-grandpas, too).  This family is faithful and faith-filled, and Grandma was the best example of both.  And there was a reason her middle name was Grace–well, her mother was named Grace, but that’s not the only reason.

I am grateful for this family that my Grandma and Grandpa started.  I am grateful for the examples and role models they have been in the things that really mattered.  I am grateful for their legacy.  I am grateful to be part of their legacy.

     

Tonight the rain is coming like a good thing, and the wind is cold (it’s 46 degrees F right now), and I am grateful for all of that, too.

And I’m grateful for the anticipation of pjs and bed.  Good night.