One Year, Four Funerals, and a Family

I'm not sure how much I can add to what anyone reading this already knows about this last weekend, or indeed, the three other similar occasions of this past year. Most of you were there or at least know all about it by now. I did however want to express in a few words my gratitude (in light of Thanksgiving) for what I consider to be a unique experience on my part.
As all of you well know, I have spent the past two years living out in Michigan in Jonathan's house. For the first year of this time I had Kayleigh as my next door neighbor. And while at the time I'd complain about the volume of her movies and music (I've still got lines from movies I've never seen memorized), given the suddenness of her passing, and considering the fact that I had spent the two years prior to that on my mission and away from everyone, I will forever be grateful for that year that I spent with her just next door, it is priceless to me. Her optimism and love still inspire me.
Similarly, in the past two years I've had the opportunity to make relatively frequent trips with Mom to Kentucky. A few of those trips were made when Granddaddy was still healthy. When he's be up long before the crack of dawn making sausage and eggs for our breakfast. I'm glad that I can still remember his laugh and smile from before the nursing home days. I'm grateful that I was able to watch movies with Uncle Joe in his bedroom with sprite to drink, he always had sprite, and that I was able to go to the movies with him (seems like all the older kids got to do that in the past, but this was my first time). He had a secret or two...I think it's funny that he wants it kept secret actually, but he told me not to tell, and I suppose I never will. He acted like it was a huge conspiracy, I was almost worried when he first started telling me...I almost laughed out loud when I found out what it was though. I'm grateful that I was able to go out and eat with all them at Shoney's and other places so often...we of course had to go out to eat at least once every time we were down there, you would have thought that it was the law that Granddaddy treat us to a meal at a restaurant. It was always funny to see him with Grandma Bloodworth, seemed like he could complain to her about something and sing her praises in all the same breath. They for sure belonged together.
I suppose all of these experiences have actually made it harder to say goodbye but I wouldn't trade them, I couldn't. I am grateful for all of you, my family and my friends! Please know that I treasure the moments we share together (I do apologize if that is too sappy for some of you but it has to be said) May we share many more! Thank you all.