My teacher

My teacher tonight was incredible. She made me stay after class, told me I didn't have to come for the last 2 class sessions and told me I can take as long as I need to to turn in my final project...even if it's after the semester is over. And then she told me her home is always open if I need somewhere to go. I'm thankful for her, for her support and for her empathy. She didn't "bless my heart" or say "my thoughts and prayers are with you." She said, "I think about you multiple times a day and my heart is broken for you." And she meant it. She wasn't saying those things because there's nothing else to say. I'm thankful for that. I can only hope my Thursday teacher will be equally as incredible. 

A gluten free stash

My mom spent last week at my brother's house. When she got here, my brother and I went to the store and stocked up on some gluten free stuff (muffins, pretzels, bread, etc.). Most of it didn't get eaten. Now my mom's back in St. George, so I volunteered to take all the left-overs off my brother's hands. I'm thankful for that stash because I also spent most of last week at Aaron's house, which means my cupboards and my fridge are very empty!! Now at least I have stuff to get me through until I can get to the store. 

Filed taxes

I usually file my taxes as soon as I get my W-2 from work. But this year I procrastinated. Today I'm thankful to have them filed...with 9 days to spare. And I'm very thankful to be getting a tax return. 

The end of this day

I don't know the last time I was this thankful that a day was over. Today we had my sister's funeral. It was hard. Really hard. I cried. A lot. And as thankful as I am that this day is over, I dread the days and weeks and months ahead. I've done this before. I know that now the hard part starts. Now I have to figure out how to do real life. Now all my family goes back their real life. Now we have to create a whole new "normal." One without Sharon. And that doesn't happen quickly and it doesn't happen easily. 

Our bodies

Today I'm thankful for the knowledge that our bodies are just a shell. Our spirits are what really bring us to life. We are not bodies with a spirit, we're spirits with a body. Today I saw my sister's body. Even while she was alive her body was sick and sad, but her spirit made up for it. And now that her spirit is not there, her body just looks sick and sad. It was hard to see. But I'm thankful that her spirit lives on, no longer restrained by her sick and sad body. 

Gluten free coconut pancakes

I went out to breakfast today. I ate gluten free coconut pancakes and they were yummy. The rest of the day was just hard, but I'm thankful for the pancakes. 

Family memory time

My mom asked me to speak at my soster's funeral. That might be ranked on the list of top 10 things I would really love to NOT do. Ever. But she's my mom and although I tried, she would not accept no for an answer. I will be doing a little bit of a "life sketch." I'm terrified and I have no idea what I'm going to say. But, today I'm thankful we could get together as a family and talk about Sharon for a little while. I'm thankful I could write some things down. I hope I will be able to compile those thoughts into a talk that Sharon would approve of having at her funeral.