Remembering With a Grateful Heart This Memorial Day

This past weekend we celebrated Memorial Day - the day we remember with gratitude the members of the armed forces who died while serving our country.  It is a tradition of our family to spend at least one day of the weekend observing the holiday - attending a service, visiting cemeteries and ending the day with a family picnic. 

Part of our annual routine includes trimming and cleaning the markers of all our deceased family members ... including Kitty's.

Just as we are grateful for the sacrifices made by the military, we are also thankful for family members who shaped us and influenced our lives.  It feels good to spend the day remembering them as well.

While my parents and ancestors made my life possible, no one has made a more positive impact in my life than my little Kitty Rose.  Her death provided a better husband for my daughter, a more nurturing father for her siblings, a more devoted and involved member of his church and a man who can contribute to his community by making it safer through public speaking and awareness.

Kitty's death has given me the opportunity to help others as a grief support facilitator and coalition committee member.  Losing her brought out a realization of what is important in life and has driven me to support others who suffer and mourn the loss of a loved one.  I have gained empathy, patience, understanding and - I hope - greater expression of kindness.  Kitty made me a more empathetic human being.  I lovingly remember her with a grateful heart.

On Saturday, our family served lunch at Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis.  Mandy and son-in-law were housed at this same facility while Kitty was in the PICU at Children's Hospital.  Twice a year we volunteer in Kitty's name to honor her life.  This year, our day just happened to fall on Memorial Day weekend and it could not have been more meaningful. 

I am grateful that as a family, we have found another way to turn 'Why?' into 'How?' as we use our loss to make things just a teeny bit easier for other families with ill children, who need a place where people care and understand.

Memorial Day ... we remember those who died in service to our country with gratitude, thankful for their willingness to die for country and to their families for their sacrifice.

We remember our loved ones with grateful and loving hearts.