I believe it was following the loss of my Sweetheart, Marcia Mandle, when i had such tears of gratitude and thanksgiving for the time she spent with me. During her living years I was thankful then, however death forces you to look at things in a different light. Over the next several months as I looked around and saw her gentle humble giving touch spread thought my home and my life, I was so overtaken with tears of thanksgiving for all she was to me. From the God we shared together to Estate Saling to traveling, working together, sharing our innermost thoughts. I realized how much of herself she gave to me and my tears of loss turned into tears of thanksgiving. Here was an entry I wrote about 4 months following her death that bests reflects my thanksgiving and gratitude.

Marcia - Thank you for the 4 years and 12 days we shared as a couple. I miss you every day honey and am soooo grateful for the love you gave me and all the many and beautiful things we did during that brief time. It was indeed a God thing that will never be taken away from us. You are forever in my heart.

In sadness and loss we can find great thanksgiving. Thank you Lord.