30 Days of Thankfulness Day 18-22

Wow, blogging every day is more of a commitment than I realized! I take that back. Blogging every day while packing for a move in only a couple of weeks is harder than I thought. There are boxes all over my house and we've taken several loads over to our newly acquired storage unit. The truck is reserved for this Saturday, so this week is full of last minute packing. We are supposed to have everything gone and clean by the 6th, so I am not worrying about cleaning. AT ALL actually. It's really hard to motivate myself to clean regular things, because I know I have to do a giant deep clean soon, so why bother?? No one can come to my house, the bathrooms and floors are disgusting. Anyway, here goes on 30 days....

Day 18: Today I am thankful for Kalaya's increasing vocabulary. I can't believe how many words she has picked up! Every day she says more and more. I can't even list them all, but some recent ones are: all done, there he is!, church, circle, apple, uncle and baby. She is such a talker!

Day 19: Today I am thankful for my Mom. My mom is truly amazing and I have nothing but respect for her. I love her so much! In the time since I left for college, our relationship has especially grown. Probably because we have so much in common now; teachers, education majors, mothers, and stay at home moms. We've had some amazing experiences to get to know each other even better, especially our 2 week tour of Europe in 2005 and teaching at the same school together in 2008. And, now we're going to be living together again, which I'm looking forward to, because we get to spend time together and walk our dogs together again. When we're together, we talk non-stop and no one else can get a word in. One amazing thing (of many) about my mom is how she has overcome, no CONQUERED cancer. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and it didn't seem to phase her in the least. (though, I know it did) She did all of her chemo treatments on Fridays and was back teaching Kindergarten every Monday morning. When her white blood cell count dropped, she continued teaching with a surgical mask on every day. She never complained and has been cancer free for so long know that I honestly forget she had it. People I haven't seen in a while ask me 'how's your mom?' with that look of sympathy and I get so confused, until I remember, oh right!! She's doing fantastic. I always remember my mom at every sporting event, every recital, every play or parent's night. My mom is the kind of woman I've tried not to be (as a teenager), but am so glad that I have become so much like her. I love our relationship and I love her!

Day 20: Today I am thankful for my brother, because today is his birthday! He is turning 26. I love my brother. He will always be my little brother, even though he is now 6' 6". We don't always agree on everything and we've had some good fights over the years, but overall, we have definitely had a great relationship our whole lives. I have so many memories of us over the years. We would never have admitted we were best friends as kids, but we always were able to get along and play together. We had some great experiences that we experienced together throughout childhood; camping in the redwoods, going to the lake and on the boat at Ma Ma and Pa Pa's house, making haunted houses in the bathroom, playing crossing guard, SPUD, pretending to pack and play 'going on the airplane', Tang sales, bike riding, playing Home Alone, and so many more. As we got older, we got closer and our activities got were a bit different; shopping together, late night talks in the hot tub, cheering for each other at sporting events, brudda and sista everything! Even though he is a grown man serving in the Army and who has a 2 1/2 year old daughter, he is still my little brother that I feel protective of. It's (very) hard knowing that he makes his own decisions and that he no longer comes to me for advice for everything from girls to clothes. I've had to let him go and know that he will do the right things and that everything will work out for the best. But, he will always be that little boy with the big glasses and the 3 cowlicks. Or the awkward middle schooler with glasses, acne and braces. (sheesh, we never stood a change, I had the same traits) Or sometimes I think of him as the uber-Christian track star who started gaining confidence in himself as he overcame those glasses and acne and got those braces off and started to reinvent himself with piano and singing. I'm really proud of the man he's become and I hope he knows that I love him.

Day 21: Today I am thankful for my Daddy. Growing up, I always called myself a daddy's girl. I have always had a very good relationship with my dad, even as I've grown older and we don't always see eye to eye on things in this world. : ) We've always been able to talk openly and honestly about almost any thing together. My dad has been a wonderful provider for our family and has accomplished a lot. He worked so that my mom could be home with my brother and I, which we are all very thankful for. He taught me so many things over the years; from how to throw a softball and shoot a basket to different lessons of the Bible and help with math homework. He always worked a fair distance away from home, but he made it to so many sporting events and other activities we participated in. He exposed us to music through his participation in church choirs (and still does). He instilled the trait in me that it didn't matter what others think, maybe too much some times, since both of us get in trouble for our mouths and tempers. But, I know that my inner strength and confidence in myself was from my dad and his positive words over the years. I'm incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities both of my parents have provided for me and I love them both very much.

Day 22: Today I am thankful for Elmo and Sesame Street, both of which allow me to get 45 minutes (not in a row, but it's better than nothing) of packing and cleaning. I hate that I'm using the TV as a babysitter, but it's not as though I'm ignoring her. And, it's Sesame Street, at least it's educational!! This habit will change after the move. : )