Thankful Thursday

Today's Thankful Thursday is a hard one for me to write...because what I am most thankful for today is what another family is missing most. I am thankful that I can walk downstairs this very minute and hug my son if I want to. I can also walk down the hall this very minute and hug my daughter and my step-son. I was able to hug all three of them before they went to bed and I was able to get the low-down on their days when they walked through the door after school/work today. I am thankful that Brian and I could have a fun conversation with Nick and Hailey tonight at dinner about normal, everyday life as junior high students.

On New Years Eve we went to dinner with some friends and their kids. One of their daughters brought a friend named Madison with her to the dinner. She was an outgoing, smart college student who had no idea her world was about to be rocked. (Madison is on the right in the picture below.)

Some of you might have heard on the news recently about the 16 year old boy named Parker Allred who was a healthy, football playing teenage boy. He came down with the flu, was hospitalized, found out he had a serious staph infection, and passed away from the complications within a week of the first sign of illness. Parker is Madison's brother. My heart just aches for this family. (You can read the blog Madison started when Parker went into the hospital at http://www.sweetblueeyedboy.blogspot.com)

Everyday since this boy passed away I've hugged my kids tighter and longer and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to do that. I also know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of our lives and we don't know when our time on this earth is done. I do know that our hearts can be healed from the pain of this brief separation from our loved ones through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful for this knowledge!