Happy Thanksgiving

This morning I woke up (earlier than I would have chosen to, if it were up to me) in order to eat cinnamon rolls and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a long-standing tradition in my family, and I’m sure in a lot of other families, too. We paused a couple of times to watch some classic TV Thanksgiving specials: WKRP — “As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”, the Bill Cosby Show, Friends. Then, feeling slightly uncomfortable because I was going to miss Santa finishing up the parade (which is weird), I went up to get ready for the day because we’re hosting the family Thanksgiving party this year.

The family got here. I had some inspiration for a movie idea, ate a lot of bree (I kind of love bree); we gathered around the dinner table, prayed, and stuffed ourselves full of turkey, cranberry sauce, muffins, bread rolls, green bean casserole, and stuffing, and told funny stories and reminisced about childhood trips to California and Corpus Christi. And now I’m sitting upstairs on the landing, watching the credits roll for “Muppets from Space” — “Muppet Christmas Carol” is next. I need some Scroogies to get over here and watch it with me — blogging and waiting for someone to tell me that it’s time to stuff ourselves even more, this time with home-made pie.

It’s kind of surprising how little can happen on such a big day. We’re basically spending Thanksgiving talking, eating, lying around watching movies and football, and wondering why, oh, why did we ever eat that third helping of stuffing? We aren’t doing anything huge. No holiday trips. I didn’t even dress up that much. Thanksgiving could even be called a lazy day, even if the days leading up to it are anything but lazy. And yet, somehow, for some reason, all the nothings that we do add up to one big something — the traditions, the food, the laughter, the football games… it all adds up to Thanksgiving. And it isn’t America’s second favorite holiday for nothing.

I guess it’s just the fact that eating till we burst, yelling at the TV when our favorite team makes a huge mistake, and laughing over silly memories with our families just reminds us of how much we have. When we’re this happy, this satisfied, and this grateful for everything we have, we really do want to give thanks for everything and everyone we’re so blessed with. So here are some things I’m thankful for:

My parents, who have supported me through every whim while I searched and searched for what I wanted to do, and who have always made sure that I know I’m beautiful, talented, wanted, and loved.

My beautiful, talented sister who puts up with my little quirks, and maybe even likes them, and always listens when I go on about a story that’s been rolling around in my brain, and loves me even though I can be an annoying big sister. Love you, gorgeous!

My smart, creative, gift-from-God little brother who loves to listen to my made-up stories and hear about all my imaginary friends, and even plays along in my games of pretend sometimes, and puts up with all my hugs and kisses and “I love you, kiddo”s, even in public, and who finally showed up after seven years of praying to God to please, please, please give me and Anna a little brother. Oh, and I love you, kiddo!

My best friends Maddy and Julie. You girls are beautiful and valuable and you make me smile big-time. Julie, I love talking to you about theology and the Bible and lightning that strikes in rhythm with the music, and Maddy, I love that I can flip out about sock monkeys and toys that make music in front of you and you just give me a big hug ’cause you think I’m cute, and the fact that you can rap makes me happy. 🙂 And personally, if I had to choose between the Mona Lisa, the Sistine Chapel, or a picture drawn by either one of you, I’d pick y’all’s pictures. Just sayin’.

Jameson and Wil, who are the closest things to big brothers I’ve ever had (and also the best big brothers anyone in the world could ever ask for). I don’t think anyone’s ever made me laugh as hard as the two of you do every single time I see you. The inside jokes never stop. Thanks for always being affirming, caring, giving, and ready to pray for me whenever I need it. You guys seriously make me incredibly happy. 😀

Rebecca Roberts, Bekah Routzon, Cara Pignatelli, and Morgan Hoover, my big sisters in Jesus. I love that I can talk to any of you girls about anything. I can ask any of you for advice, and you ask me for advice sometimes, too, and I’m always more than happy to help any of you, because you deserve it. All four of you are beautiful, strong, powerful women of Christ, warrior princesses, and you rock hard. Thank you so much for being there for me.

Gramma Linda, who never minds listening to my stories and complaints and secrets and prayers and goings on about my crazy imaginings. Thanks for being my confidant all these years, Gramma.

Gramma Jill and Baba, who picked me up every day and always had a sweet snack, and never minded when I disappeared in front of the computer screen, and who always send me their latest issue of Reader’s Digest when they’re done with it, and always encouraged my creative instincts with packs of chalk and markers and crayons, and whose supply of construction paper and Linkin’ Logs has always been endless. Thanks for taking care of me!

Granddad — the fact that you love rock ‘n’ roll makes me happy! You got me into music even more than the music itself. 😀 Love you!

Mrs Roberts, my director and spiritual mother. I love acting for you, Mrs Roberts, and I’m so excited that I get to do it so often. Thanks for giving me so many rides to and from rehearsal. You’re the best director EVER.

All the students at JOY — Halsey, Mary, Wesley, Bri, Robert, Tony, Katherine, Brooke, and everybody else who has made me feel so accepted and welcome. You guys have no idea how much you mean to me. I can say it as many times as I want, but it’ll always be true that Jesus changed my entire life through you guys. Thanks for loving me just exactly the way I am, for actually liking me, liking being my friend, and liking all my quirks when I thought that nobody could. I knew that first audition for Music Man that you guys would be good for me. You have no idea how good you’ve been for me. I love you all soooo much!

David and Carlie Routzon. I miss you guys, and I can’t wait till Christmas when you guys come down here!

Madeleine, Morgan, and Stephen. Even though we may not be that close anymore, you guys were still there for me when I needed you to be. Thanks for putting up with all my baggage and being my friends, even when I wasn’t all that friendly. 🙂

Emily Crouse and Megan Coradino — love you girls to death! Emily, thanks for loving sci-fi as much as I do — I love geeking out with you! And Megan, thanks for being a girl who loves skirts, dancing, not caring what anybody else thinks, and talking about how beautiful the moon, the stars, and God are. You girls are huge inspirations to me. Thanks!

Emily Ludlow — I wouldn’t even know that I liked drawing without you. 😀

And last but the exact opposite of least, I am so thankful for Jesus. You saved my life, and love every single part of me! You lift me up when I feel like crud, and You even have a sense of humour (which must be helpful when You’re dealing with me) so You make me laugh. You’re so awesome I don’t even know where to start!

So, obviously, I’m thankful for a lot. Thanksgiving day just reminds me of them, a little more than I’m reminded every time I see these people. I know that it’s a long blog, but I needed to say all this. Everyone needs to know how grateful I am that they exist. Love you all soo much! Happy Thanksgiving, and now I can finally say, Merry Christmas!