30 Days of Thankful: Day 10--Father-in-Law

Dear Mike,


Thank you for helping raise my husband to be a kind and loving man. Thank you for encouraging Chad to call me and bring me back into his and Darby's lives. Thank you for taking me into your heart as a daughter long before I was.

Papaw, thank you for always looking out for us. We give you a hard time about it sometimes, and I know you don't think we are listening. Please know that we hear you, we know you love us and want to take care of us. We love you and thank you for that.

Thank you for always providing a way for Chad to go fishing. As cranky as y'all get with each other, I know the times you spend on the water are some of the best for him. He loves you so much, Dad.

Thank you, Mike, for being a loving and doting Papaw for Darby. She really looks up to you, and I see some of you in her when she is creating some new project. Her attention to detail and frustration with imperfection seems slightly familiar. She loves you to pieces.

Thank you, Dad, for loving us. We love you so very much.

Your Daughter,
Jaimee

30 Days of Thankful: Day 9--Mother-in-Law

Dearest Kathy,


I guess the best place to begin this thank you letter is at the very beginning. First, I thank Granny and Roy for raising you in a home filled with love and for making you the center of their universe. I thank God for placing in your heart the strong desire to be a mother to Jason and Chad. I thank Him further for putting it on both you and Mike to bring Alicia into our lives as well. Your family has been my family for almost half of my life, and I  know I am a better person for it.


Thank you, Mom, for never giving up on Chad and me. You and Alicia taking me into your hearts when we were young and making me part of your family from the get-go is still amazing to me. Thank you for encouraging me to never give up hoping to marry my soul-mate and best friend. Thank you for having him call me even though he didn't think I would be open to him (both times!). Thank you for never giving up on either of us.


Thank you, Kathy, for sharing Alicia with me. Although it used to unnerve me that people thought she was my little girl, I am grateful that I got to be a part of raising her to be the beautiful, loving woman she is today. I am proud to call her Sister and look forward to Jesse being my Brother.


Kathy, I also thank you for all the times you and Alicia took care of me when I was ill or recovering from one of my numerous surgeries. Thank you for being my Mom even when you didn't have to be. Thank you for coming to my graduations and birthdays. Thank you for always making me welcome in your home.


Thank you, mom, for working so diligently to make my birthday wish this year come true, and thank you for supporting me in quitting smoking by bringing me that yarn. It is in dedication to Granny that I am making a granny square afghan for us to huddle under at the hockey games. I cannot wait to read all that you wrote. Also, thank you also for encouraging me to pursue teaching. Those were some of the best years of my life. I miss it and hope to someday return to teaching.


I love you, Kathy.


Your daughter,
Jaimee

30 Days of Thankful: Day 8--Nephews

 

 

Although I am sure their mama would save a letter of thanks until the boys could read it, I decided that I needed to make them a gift to show James and William how much I adore them and how thankful I am for them. This is really easy to do using Snapfish.com! The most time consuming part is gathering all the photos. Using drawings of things beginning with each letter of the alphabet, letters we created or took photos of, and pictures of the families, Darby and I put together a customized ABC Book. I had toyed with the Pinterest idea of taking photos of colors and making a My Colors book but decided maybe next time. Another idea you could use could be to purchase a recordable book from Hallmark and record a personal message for your little ones in addition to reading it to them. James III told me last weekend that the one we made for his birthday this year is his favorite book of all. Each idea will cost around $30 but will be priceless when completed. Say a prayer of thanks for all the little ones in your life today and every day. They are our future.

30 Days of Thankful: Day 7--Dana

Dearest Dana,

Thank you, Sister, for marrying that harry legged brother of mine and becoming part of our family. We are better people for knowing you, love. Thank you also for sharing those two little angels with us. James III and William are sunshine.

Dana, thank you for re-introducing me to the Girl Scout way. You improved me and my life by reminding me how to always be prepared. I will always be appreciative for the long drives to Mena where you and I would talk about anything and everything. Those were the times that I think bound us as sisters. Thank you for letting me be part of that part of your life.

I am constantly amazed by the neat and crafty things you do. Thank you, Sister, for getting me involved with card-making and scrapbooking, and thank you for continuing to encourage me to be creative. Thank you for always making me feel like I am talented and special. Dana, thank you for having us take all those pictures each year. Because of you, we have memories of Gayla that might have never been. You are a treasure.

Thank you, Dana, for teaching me how to be a "Cool Aunt Jaimee." By watching you with my Darby, I have learned how to shower those boys with love and attention. Thank you for loving her and making her feel so special.


Thank you, Sister, for taking care of Mama and Daddy these last few months. I will always be appreciative of the love and affection you have bestowed on us all. I find myself replaying that conversation we had the day after and all the love I felt from you coming across the line gave me strength to keep moving forward. Thank you. I love you, Dana.

Your sister, Jaimee

30 Days of Thankful: Day 6--Bubba

Dearest James II,


Thank you for being the best brother a gal could ask for. I know we spent our early years beating each other up and being mean, but I am so very thankful that we grew to be really good friends. Thank you for making me laugh when all I want to do is cry. Thank you for understanding when I cry anyway.

Thank you, Bubba, for taking me with you when you went hunting and for keeping me safe by making me sit against that tree and not move or talk. It taught me hunting was not for me. Thank you for helping to move me home from New Jersey in 2000, and thank you for making me go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, even though I was scared to death. Thank you, my sweet  brother, for challenging me daily in our Words with Friends battle. I like that we are evenly matched. Thank you for always being willing and ready to play games like dominoes and Phase 10 with me. Thank you for keeping me on my toes.

Brother, thank you for looking out for Mama and Daddy. I am a little more at peace knowing that you and your family are with them. I hope someday to be there with my little family as well. Thank you for continuing to look for a way to help us make that happen, even if only in jest. Thank you, James for marrying Dana and bringing her into our family. She makes us all better people. Thank you both for giving us James III and William. They are our joys.


I am thankful, Brother, that you have been my rock this year. You made it possible for me to take care of business instead of crawl into a hole. I was proud to stand up there with you and talk about our sister. Thank you for making me smile through the tears. Thank you for understanding this pain and not judging me too harshly for being a weenie. Thank you for hugging me so tight when you see me and for telling me you love me. You are the perfect brother. 

Thank you for being a good uncle to Darby and brother to Chad. We love you, James.

Your sister, Jaimee

30 Days of Thankful: Day 5--Daddy

Dearest Daddy,


Thank you for showing me how a good man behaves. Thank you for being the loving example of how fathers should love their children and husbands should love their wives. Thank you, Daddy, for being my number one man. Your example helped me wait for and choose the best man to be my husband.

Daddy, thank you for teaching me to fish and for instilling a love for the outdoors. Thank you for teaching me how to hit a baseball far and for taking me to the practice cages. Thank you for taking us bowling and camping. Thank you for not letting my crazy little ways drive you nuts.

Thank you for always making even my little accomplishments seem like a big deal. It's the times when you tell me you are proud of me that I really feel like a success. From the time I won you that German chocolate cake at the carnival to graduating with my master of arts degree, your pride in me always gave me a sense that I did well.

Thank you, Daddy, for holding my hand during all those surgeries and when you gave me a way. Thank you for quieting my fears when they felt like they would take over and run away with me. Thank you for taking me to New Jersey and thank you for bringing me home. Thank you for always believing in me.


You're a superstar, Daddy. Thank you for being a good daddy, a loving grandfather to Darby and a father figure to Chad. We love you so very much.

Your daughter, Jaimee Christine

30 Days of Thankful: Day 4--Mama

Dearest Mama,


Thank you for giving me life and for raising me to lead with my heart. Thank you for being my friend when I need a friend and for being my mother when I need a good swift kick in the tail. I owe you so much for making me the woman I am today and for the heck I put you through growing up.

Thank you, Mommy, for always being my number one fan growing up. Thank you for attending band and twirling competitions. Thank you for the dance lessons and costumes. Thank you for reminding me that I can do anything that I put my mind to. Thank you for encouraging me to move to New Jersey in 1999, and thank you for welcoming me home when I gave up in 2000. Thank you also for letting me live at home when I became a teacher. Thank you for holding my hand during all those surgeries and getting me back on my feet quickly. Thank you for crying with me when my heart was broken and for jumping for joy when it was mended.

Mommy, you and I have a special connection that I thank God for providing. We are both so much alike and yet uniquely ourselves. I consider it a complement when I am accused of being like my mother. I know I am your spitting image in every way and am proud of it.

Thank you, Mama, for the days we get to spend hanging out. I enjoy our lunches and errands and wish they were more frequent. Thank you for always laughing at my silliness and making me feel like I am important.

Thank you, Mama, for showing me how to be a good mom. Thank you for loving my little family just like they are your own. We love you and are grateful for you everyday.

All my love and admiration,
Jaimee Christine

Thursdays are Happiness Reports! 30 Days of Thankful: Day 3--Gayla

I think this is going quite well! That's the Happiness Report. In the last three days of writing about being thankful for the people in my life as part of my 30 Days of Thankful Challenge, I have toyed and tossed around when to thank Gayla. Although she was taken from us more than seven months ago, I will always be thankful for the 38 years I was given with my sister. I finally decided to go with it now rather than put it off. I needed a good cleansing cry to move forward anyway.

Dear Precious Sister,

Thank you for being my first and dearest best friend from the minute I was born. You may be the only person who could ever have put up with me that much. I thank God that He gave me you as my older sister for 38 years. I keep thinking about the choice we could have been given...only 38 years with you or none at all. I will be forever grateful for the years because they were the most wonderful, if not brief, years of our lives. I also will forever regret that two years we wasted being mad at each other over stupid boys. I want a do over! I wouldn't waste a single minute with you.

You taught me how to be a writer, sweet friend. You gave me those first words to copy from your paper so you could keep me out of your hair, but you inspired and influenced my life forever in that one moment. Thank you, Gayla, for always being my number one fan who believed in me...encouraged me. Your support was invaluable. Your faith, priceless. Thank you for never giving up on me even when I was at my worst. You were my savior.

Thank you, my love, for showing me how to be a good woman. Your heart inspired me to love with my all. You taught me how to give without expectation. I am who I am in part because of your influence. I love you, Gayla...I always will.

Your Sister, Jaimee




Thank you for continuing to support this little bit of crazy each day! Visit my blog each Thursday to see how My Happiness Project is going! Here's the plan by month so far:

• August--being organized
• September--eating healthier
• October--having energy (hang my head in shame at the failure)
• November--being thankful
• December--focusing on family and friends
• January--focusing on marriage
• February--focusing on parenting
• March--being creative
• April--being helpful
• May--working smarter
• June--being adventurous
• July--loving Jaimee

Write On Wednesday Moody Music 30 Days of Thankful: Day 2--Darling Daughter

Like I wrote yesterday, I am going to try, when possible to combine my usual schedule of blogging and the 30 Days of Thankful Challenge. Here are the instructions for this week's WOW from Gill at InkPaperPen. I chose a song that I have for Darling Daughter and Hubby Dearest, Keith Urban's "Only You Can Love Me This Way," but this is for our sweet girl.

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 22 - Select a piece of music that reflects the mood of writing you'd like to aim for. Press play. Start free writing. Write the first words that come into your head. When the music's over, so is the writing. I'd recommend finding out how long the song is before you start the exercise. You may feel cheated in your writing time if you pick a song by The Ramones. Of course, if you feel like writing a short, punky piece by all means, go for it!


Dearest Darling Daughter Darby,

Baby girl, you are the most precious gift ever shared with me. I am so thankful to God everyday (yes even the rough ones) that He put you in my life. You have made the last five years of my life whole, healing a part of my heart that I just couldn't see ever being whole again. Thank you for reminding me that when God shuts a door, he leaves a window open for me to sneak into...;-)

Thank you for sharing your Daddy with me, sweet child. I know it hasn't always been a walk in the park learning to live with another woman occupying some of his time. I thank you for encouraging him, even when you were so little, to bring me into yall's family. I thank you for the special way that you both protect and challenge my heart every day.

As you grow up and head out to the world, just know that you will always be my baby. Only you can love us in your way. Only you can make our lives whole. Only you are always in our hearts and minds. No one comes close to you, Darby. Thank you for being our girl child...our legacy to the world...our love...our peace...our daughter.

I love you, Darby.

Mama J

30 Days of Thankful: Day 1--Hubby Dearest

Welcome to November Readers Extraordinaries! My normally scheduled blogging is interrupted (or worked in where possible) in order to bring you 30 DAYS OF THANKFUL!

This is the month for being thankful! Thanksgiving is in 24 days and consists of only 24 hours. That's 24 hours to travel, cook a huge meal or two or three, visit with the family and friends, clean the kitchen, store the left overs, watch the games, take a nap, plan the next day's shopping adventure (NOT!) etc. etc. It seems like the point is lost so I invite everyone to take this challenge with me. Make a list of people for whom you are thankful. I am focusing on people, but if you can work in things, do share! Assign each person a day. Then on their day, create something (love letter, craft, photo collage, blog, etc.) in their honor and to show them you are thankful for them. Let's change the world this month by giving out our love and appreciation every day in every way!

Dearest Chad,

Today I thank you for being the love of my life and best friend. I thank God for His paths that He provided for us to find our ways in and out and in and out and back in to each others' lives. Ours is a connection of hearts and minds that can never be severed. With you, I have found my happily ever after.

Thank you, baby, for always taking care of our darling girl and me. Thank you for making sure we have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our tummies. Thank you for being our rock and our foundation. Thank you for the foot rubs and late night runs to the pharmacy. Thank you for the laughter and the joy. Thank you for making sure our family is first in every way.

My dearest husband, thank you for being you. We love your passion and dedication. Your obsession with fishing is admirable and "pick-able" all at the same time, providing both pride and amusement. From sinking the boat to getting stranded on that little creek, you have made sure almost every outing with you is an adventure. I look forward to the adventures that are still in store for us.

I love you, Chad.

Jaimee