When we were little, we'd have Thanksgiving dinner with my whole family. We don't have a big family but we would always get together, all of us- be it steps, halves, good friends, whatever. Family isn't only a blood line. Anyway, just before we dug into our meals, we'd go around the table and say what we were thankful for. Being younger and not really understanding why it was we did that, I was always dreading the moment it was my turn. I wanted to say something quick and to the point but without going on and on and on like the adults did. They were so boring and uncool to me back then. Plus, since I've always been quiet and not very touchy-feely when it came to this stuff, it was just uncomfortable.
As my sisters and I got older, for some reason, this tradition was forgotten. The last time I remember having a Thanksgiving dinner after saying what we were all thankful for was when I was about ten, which is unfortunate; I was finally old enough to know why we did that but I didn't have a chance anymore. Sure, I could've just said it anyway but I didn't. (Now watch...now that I'm blogging about it, we'll probably do it this year. Haha!)
So, I thought I'd write a few little mini letters here for those of you who wouldn't exactly benefit from snail mail so close to Thanksgiving.
Malorie, you were officially my first good online friend, good enough to trust my life with for two weeks that first summer I visited. You have no idea how refreshing it was to have someone who thought almost exactly like me and had almost everything in common with. I never thought I'd ever meet someone like that but I guess I was proven wrong. God totally has a sense of humor. I thank Him for you and your parents. I can honestly say I'm a better person for knowing you.
KAren, I'll never know what made you want to host five other crazy fangirls. And even more, I'll never know what made your husband agree to it. It's been amazing knowing you and being able to get sane motherly advice from someone other than my own mother. I'm so grateful for knowing you and getting to meet your family these past two summers. Like Malorie and the other girls, I don't know what I would've done without knowing you all.
Kim, you're amazing. I'm so blessed to have met and gotten to know you. Like KAren, your sage, motherly advice never ceases to amaze me- and I'm so, so, soooo thankful for it. You have no idea. Because of you, I've gotten the guts to do some things I only considered doing. Thank you!
Linda, BABE! Knowing you is like looking into my future...only you're waaaaay more creative than I'll ever be. You're amazing. I'm grateful for knowing you and for our boy conversations. You're the big sister I never had but always wanted. <3
Sparkles, you always make me happy. Even on the days I didn't know I was feeling down, you always found a way to make me feel better. Your constant sunshine is something that is totally you and also something I'm thankful for. The Lord blessed me when he let your sparkles into my life.
Ellen, what would I have to look forward to if we didn't have our plan to be in a nursing home together, constantly having fun throwing tennis balls at each other? I'm so happy I met you, even if it's never been in person. You're seriously one of the most clever people I've met and I'm honestly happy to be exposed to such genius...as well as the great person you are. Thanks for not giving up on this loser. :P
Angelica, I don't know if I'd be sane without our back and forth messaging on Facebook. Just so you know, you're one of the few people who actually gets all the nitty-gritty details. I'm so thankful for your encouragement on the days I thought I'd pull out my hair before entering my mid twenties.
With that, my ladies, I shall depart with some words we all know and love.
Some days we forget
To look around us
Some days we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Keren
WEll, it's 7:41 in the morning and I am in tears. Well done! :) The last thing I expected was to see my name up there and you thanking me. I hope you know how much I adore you, Keren. Maybe you don't. So I'm taking a page from your book and doing this very thing on my blog today. And then tomorrow when my family is here? We're starting a new tradition. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLike Kim, I'm shocked to see you personally mention me. I feel the same about you - you are the daughter I never had, and I am so happy to get a taste of having one through you. Your parents raised you well and I hope I am as lucky raising my 2 boys. As far as the annual convention - I'm blessed to have friends like you that want to make the trip. I'm thankful and blessed to have you in my life as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet! Haha I loved the one about Karen.. Or Karen's husband.. I'm sure it must be crazy to have all you girls over at her place.. Good thing she has such a big basement. Hope I can make it to the convention someday..
ReplyDeleteWow! This is super special. =) I've always wanted a female sibling, and I'm honored you see me as your big sister! Thank for the kind words, Miss Keren! Hopefully your road to love & happiness is less bumpy and waayyyy shorter than mine! You deserve only the best... in ALL things!
ReplyDelete~linda