Death and Gratitude

I don't know if the title of this post is most appropriate, but it's what came to mind. In the last few months, young people I know have passed away, suddenly.
My friend Ezekiel had cancer, but it was treatable. Then, he was accidentally overdosed with pain medication at the hospital and died in his sleep. He was one of the nicest, friendliest person I knew. I was so sad someone so young had to leave this earth. I was grateful to know him.
Then, a couple of months later, my friend Julio died. He was in rehab for an addiction. His heart was weak because of the drugs he had taken, his heart could not handle it anymore and passed away in his sleep. He left behind two children and a wife. He always made me laugh. I was grateful to know him.
Now, Tanya. I didn't know Tanya very well. As a matter of fact, I think I only saw her twice. She was my cousin Juan's girlfriend, later on his wife. They moved in together, then they were expecting a girl. I heard Tanya was a very caring and attentive mother. Three years after she had this little girl named Emi, she was pregnant again, but she was having some complications at the end of her pregnancy. After she gave birth to another beautiful girl, she began to get very sick. So sick she couldn't take care of her beloved daughters. After a lot of tests, Tanya was diagnosed with cancer in the bones. My aunt went to Bradenton to take care of the girls while she was taken to New York with her mother to get treatment. That was about 3 weeks ago. This morning my mother called me and told me Tanya had passed away this morning.
I felt so sad. I feel sad for my cousin who at the age of 32 is a widow. I feel so sad for those beautiful girls who will not grow up with their mother. The baby is only 7 months old. Emi is going to be 4 in September. I know it was her time to go, but how do you help these little girls understand why their mother cannot bathe them, read them stories, take them to the park, hug them, kiss them, and just love them.
Tanya was not much older than me. Just two or three years older. It hit home. This could be me. Only the Lord knows the time allotted for us on this earth. He knows when it is time for us to go. I don't know why He took Tanya at this time. Those girls are so little, but I know He has His reasons. I am saddened this family does not have the Gospel to help them understand Heavenly Father's Plan.
As I've been thinking about this today, I've felt so grateful. I am grateful I am alive, today. I am grateful my body works, that I can hug my children. I am grateful for the plan of salvation. I am grateful for Temples. I am grateful I know I have a Heavenly Father who knows me and loves me. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.