Thankful Thursday!

I have a W.o.G and Tutorial post all lined up but I'm not sure how annoying that would be if I started posting three things on the same day. Ehh...we'll get to it tomorrow!

For right now, it is time for Thankful Thursday!

As you know, a LOT has happened in the last week. A week ago, I was visiting with my grandpa and celebrating my grandma's birthday. This week, we celebrated my grandpa's life with all of his immediate family--not counting his surviving siblings, that includes 5 children, 5 children-in-laws, 14 grandchildren, 3 grandchildren-in-laws, 2 great-grandchildren and 2-great-grandchildren on the way. WOW.

So...

1. i am thankful for all my cousins (and aunts, uncles, etc.). They are so fun, funny, kind, respectful, and just all around great to be around.
   




2. J's safe arrival. He arrived in Florida at 12 AM and departed 16 hours later! Monkey and I were so thankful and happy to see him for those 16 hours and we can't wait until we are back home with him!
   




3. I felt the baby move last night! It was awesome! I love that and look forward to the next 25.5 weeks of feeling it :)


4. The grieving process finally started for me at the memorial yesterday. I was finally able to mourn and cry over the death of my grandpa. It took a while but now the emotions are raw and even this morning, when talking with one of my grandma's neighbors, the tears were quick to spring to my eyes. I know that it might be weird to be thankful for tears but I'm glad they finally came.
   




5. I forgot this from last week: When I was running one morning, I prayed that I'd be able to comprehend what Grandpa was trying to tell us. Later that day, the twin and I brought the babies into grandpa's hospice room. He CLEARLY said to them, "Hi there!" in his old, normal way like he'd do any given day. It was WONDERFUL and such an answer to prayer!


6. everyone in real life (i guess "IRL"), all my blog friends, and everyone on facebook who have been SO kind and encouraging the last week (and, of course Your patience and understanding as I've slacked on this blog!)


7. Monkey has been taking GREAT naps TWICE a day since we've been down here--i think it is because she goes swimming twice a day but that is fine by me!





8. and, one more for good measure: the knowledge that my grandpa was a believer in the one true God who offers Eternal life with Him in Heaven--what a glorious and encouraging thought for our family of believers!