A THANKSGIVING LETTER

MOM
A thank you--
For being gentle but strong,
For letting me lean on you when I should have been there to let you lean on me,
For making me laugh about nothing in particular,
For our routine two-a-day phone calls and simultaneous sighs,
For shopping trips, lunch-dates, and late-night snacks,
A thank you for being my best friend.

DAD
A thank you--
For going through pain and fighting to be here,
For helping me pick a dress to wear for a big night out,
For drinking gin and tonics with me after a stressful day,
For teaching me how to be a survivor in many different ways,
For encouraging me to follow my dreams,
A thank you for calling me babe and making me still feel like your little girl.

JOHN
A thank you--
For holding our parent's hands while I can't be there,
For letting me curl up on your couch and listen to me spill my guts,
For sending me pictures of your dinner and encouraging me to be a more adventurous cook,
For sharing Amy with me and giving me a sister I cherish as my own,
For taking care of our family,
A thank you for making me feel insanely proud to be your sister. 

LUKE
A thank you--
For sitting in the waiting room for days on end and not complaining once,
For letting me collapse into your arms and picking me back up,
For forehead kisses, back rubs, tucking me in at night, and unconditional love,
For slow-dancing in the kitchen while we overcook the bacon,
For forcing me to take Pepto-bismal when my tummy hurts,
A thank you for changing our lives and choosing to share yours with mine.

KRISTY
A thank you--
For taking care of my father like he was your own,
For getting us chairs and letting us camp out in your work-space,
For the phone calls, messages, and big hugs,
For your bedside manner, calm voice, and reassuring words,
For getting excited with us,
A thank you for becoming a part of our family and keeping my father here.

ALAINA, CANON, ROSS, SARA, MIKE, KELLY, JAY, FABI, HOLLI, & TRAVIS
A thank you--
For being my home away from home,
For wine nights, oyster shooters, and early morning mimosas,
For being good people and inspiring me to be better,
For checking up on me when I needed it,
For sharing laughter and tears and holiday meals,
A thank you for this brief but beautiful period I will never forget.

ART, JEFF, JOE, UNCLE TOM

A thank you--

For finding time for a visit or phone call,

For sharing stories over hospital food and waiting for the doctor with us,

For offering to get me home when I need it,

For enticing my dad to get better with projects and fishing trips,

For all of your encouraging words and smiles,

A thank you for your dedication and friendship and sharing this miracle with us.

NIKKI

A thank you--

For answering your phone while I'm stuck in traffic,

For making the effort to make sure we stay close,

For growing into a girl I'm impressed by,

For caring about my family like they are yours too,

For reminding me that God works in mysterious ways,

A thank you for sticking with me through all of these years.

A million different thank yous to all of you for touching my life in so many ways.
Thank you for blessing my life.