Being grateful

http://www.myatltv.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=108901


I just found this out a few hours ago. Renee was my favorite trainers' wives. They were together for over 25 years, high school sweethearts. He loved her more than anything, she was his world. From what I knew about her, she was kind, hard working and humble. She had a body that could stop traffic and a face to match. She hid behind a visor and baggy clothes. She worked with morbidly obese people and didn't want them to feel bad about themselves.


http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/01/06/newmissing0106.html?cxntlid=inform
This woman I never met. Her boyfriend Steve is the EMT at all SNBF shows. He is a wonderful person and he's suffering so much right now. He called into a radio show speaking of "My Meredith". Her body was found on a friend of my husbands property that backed up to a National Park. She was held by this sick bastard for 3 days having God knows what done to her before he killed her via blunt force trauma to the head and then decapitated.
There's a special place for people like him. Jail's too good for him. He should suffer the same fate. Hopefully there's a 400 pound man named Bubba waiting for a new piece of meat set aside for him.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307896,00.html
I read the latest Runner's World and there's an article about Ryan Shay. He's the man who died during the Olympic Marathon trials. The story touches on his wife of 4 months' point of view. They went into detail- the wife was in such shock she kept hugging him and held his hand for over an hour after he was pronnounced dead. I didn't sleep a wink that night. Earlier that day they found Meredith's body, and I thought about how terrible her friends, family and Steve must feel.

I don't know what I'd do if something happened to my family. Xavier swallowed a penny and going under anesthesia rocked my world.

This morning, we all woke up at 7:40- late. Xavier and I had just woken up, and I snuggled with him, he gave me a bunch of kisses, a tired smile and said "I'm so glad you're here" Xan walked into our bedroom, joined us all in bed and I said "This is heaven, my three boys in bed". Xan gave me a bunch of kisses, Xavier was giggling with Jon and I felt such gratitude for being able to have moments like that so often. At the end of the day, it's not about how much you have, what you look like, or who you are. What matters is the people you love and those people loving you back.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

Say your prayers tonight and be thankful for all the wonderful people in your life. Wake up and a take a moment to drink in the beauty that is your life. Appreciate each second.