I’m thankful for family … I often share about my own family, about Bob, our girls, their children, grandchildren. And I am so very blessed!! But, since my dad’s passing, I’ve thought about my siblings and how much I appreciate each of them. We are very different .. imagine that! And I can already hear the responses from them regarding us being different … Tim would just smirk a little, not saying much; Mark would laugh out loud so we all would hear him and he’d say, “Ya think?”, Joel would chuckle and sort of shake his head, Thad would be somewhere between Joel and Mark in his response and Rachel would smile at us all pondering what she might say and I would probably be accused of wondering how I could blog this all .. which I am now doing, go figure!!
We are a mix of all kinds of personalities … dispositions … reactions, etc. But we are a family and I am so thankful for each one. I think of growing up .. I was firstborn and not too thrilled when Tim came along when I was 2-1/2, I am told. So much so that I went into all kinds of antics to keep the attention fo
cused on me and not on my little brother. He must have learned about making faces from me because when he got a little older, he could make the funniest faces which sent me into gales of laughter! (Maybe that’s where the crazy photos started!) He still makes faces – and I still laugh!! He’s not one for a lot of words … but he can respond with looks and expressions .. so much like Mother! We were the only two children for a while so we thought we ruled the roost … and then along came Mark .. then Joel .. then Thad … and finally, I got a little sister I had waited so long for!! But, even though I had waited a long time for Rachel, it didn’t take away my love for my four brothers! Or more commonly referred to as Tim and the ‘three little boys’. I would be asked quite often by my parents, “Where are the ‘three little boys?” … ‘Linda, are you taking the ‘three little boys’ with you?’ … I did and made many memories and I’m sure Mark will remember one July 4th .. and he will not share that here!
As I look at our family, I am so thankful for the various qualities I see in each of them .. their work ethic, how they carry themselves in a mature manner (well, except when Mark launches into his jokes .. which is quite often and he is already laughing at this now!); their love for family – not just their own children but each other and their families. Thad may not have children of his own but he definitely holds a special place in the heart of all of our children! I appreciate how we stick together as a family – each of us is truly just a phone call away.
The night of Dad’s passing – it was after midnight but our phones were busy as we talked to each other, making sure that the others were okay and assuring them that we were all here together. I’m thankful for the time we had together at the funeral home when we stood in a circle, hand-in-hand, an evidence that nothing could break that circle. We were a family!!
I’m thankful for Tim with his quiet supportive manner … he doesn’t always say a lot, but I know he’s right there and probably one of the most special moments he and I will ever have is as we prayed together with Dad over the phone not long before he passed away. Tim, you probably will never know just how much that time meant to me .. we were the oldest two and had some special memories when there were just the two of us … when we lived in Monmouth and sat with Dad watching the high school band playing across the street. Dad reminded me of those days quite often! That night, we said ‘good-bye’ to Dad together and let him know that it was okay to go to be with Mother. Painful, yes, yet so much easier having you there beside me!
I’m thankful for Mark who doesn’t know a stranger .. of course, I’ve been accused of the same thing. Just ask my girls! They claim I know a person’s history before I get through a checkout line at a grocery store! But, Mark may have me beat in that area! Our telephone conversations are often filled with laughter since we seem to see life from a similar perspective many times! He and I probably remember the most from childhood and when we get on a roll, watch out. If Tim is around, he just wants us to shut up!! If you want to liven up a party or get together, just invite Mark!
And I’m thankful for Joel, his quiet manner and his steadiness. From the time he was little, that is who he was – steady, not rattled by much, predictable. He is still that way! He has a low chuckle that I love to hear! And while he doesn’t say a whole lot publicly, those one-on-one conversations are a treasure! I am so thankful he has been Rachel’s rock during the past few years with Dad. And Dad depended on him, too! I remember a few mornings when Joel hadn’t called Dad during his break at work. “Do you think something is wrong? Joel hasn’t called yet? What do you think?” I assured Dad that I was certain Joel was fine but because of Joel’s predictability, Dad was concerned! He spent many hours with Dad – many times late at night!
I am thankful for Thad and especially the past week that he got to spend here in Florida with me. He may be the youngest of the “three little boys”, but he stands much taller than me!! He loves us all deeply … he may not have any children of his own, but he can claim all of ours!! He was able to visit Dad quite often and he always had a nightly talk with Dad. There were times in the evenings when I knew not to call Dad because it was one of the boys’ times to talk. And Dad reminded me that I was the second mother and needed to make sure the boys were okay! I think that is why it was so special to have Thad here .. not only because he and I enjoyed it so much but I knew that it would have meant so much to Dad. He would have called during that time to see how things were going and would have told me again how much it meant to him.
And then there was Rachel … Thad was over 5 years old when Rachel arrived and I don’t think anyone was happier than me .. I am soo thankful for her, not just as my sister but as my closest friend (along with my girls)! From the time I got married and she wanted us to all live on one street and expressed that to my mother, she has been a close part of our lives. And I was able to be with her after the birth of a couple of her children. I am thankful for who she is .. perhaps I share a little more about her than the boys as obviously our relationship is closer. There aren’t many days that go by but what we haven’t talked .. about the good things, the difficulties and one of the things we will never be able to express adequately is our appreciation of how she took care of Dad over the past several years. Oh, he was in a nursing home but he called her several times a day, the nursing home was in contact with her at all times of the day and night … I don’t even know how she did it all! I am indeed so very thankful for having her as my sister!! While she was not yet 4 years old when I got married, it’s amazing how the age difference changes once you are adults! She is close to my girls and I am so thankful for that, also.
So, on this Thanksgiving week, I am thankful for family … I am blessed beyond measure!
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