Blessed

Earlier this evening I heard from my dad that someone that I went to high school with just lost their baby. They knew that there would be complications with the babies heart but they didn't know he would die before he was term - the day before Thanksgiving. My mom sent me a link to the mother's blog. I read it and bawled. I think of the hurt they are going through at this time in their lives and know what an ache that is. I wish no one had to go through that pain - it is horrible. Yet, on the blog, she expresses her feelings of loss and her faith so well. It made me pause and think about my Faithy and how debilitating her loss was to us for such a long time. I still can't talk about it (five plus years later) without almost crying (and yes, I'm crying now). I am in awe how strong this (practically a) stranger is and I want to give her a hug (even though I'm not really a hugger).

Not that I want to focus on loss this season - because that is not it at all. I just want to remember my blessings (both those in the past and in the present) a little more. With Faith, it was easier to see the little things as blessings: like the days she didn't pull out her feeding tube or spit up, the people we were able to meet and receive help from because of where we lived (our angels on earth - Nurse Kathy, Nurse/Aunt Becky, and Judy), and most of all the spirit that radiated from her - even on her bad days.
And after a long wait- the blessing of our Buddy coming into our lives (even though he can be a Raptor sometimes).
Through everything the love and support we felt from our dear dear family was a blessing we couldn't have lived without.
Probably the greatest blessing, and most important thing I want to always remember is the gift of our Savior through His atonement. It is through that great Power that I can repent and return to Him, my Faithy, and be with my family for eternity. And that is the greatest gift of all.