21 Years of Thank You's!

So somehow I have survived 21 years in this mixed up, weird, beautiful, temporary world.  But not without the help of some really special people.  I want to thank them here.  Maybe this sounds insincere or not personal since it's not being spoken out loud for in person, but I speak more comfortably on paper (or digital screen) and I often am able to convey how I feel much more accurately without all of the "uhms" and "likes" and "you know's".  So here is my attempt, we'll see where it goes...

First, I want to thank my Dad. I didn't write any facebook post for Father's Day this year or post an instagram throwback from 1998.  As much as I loved seeing all of the posts and instas and blogs about Dads, I couldn't bring myself to add mine, because it just didn't feel special.  His dedication would just get lost in all of the news feeds and probably only skimmed over.  And my dad deserves way more than that.  Now, that's not to say that I didn't have anything to write about.  In fact, I knew I couldn't write something short and concise and still give him the credit and honor he deserves.  The past few years I have really grown to appreciate my dad in all the areas I had taken for granted in years passed.  I never realized how much work goes into filling out the FAFSA, for example.  I never realized how much work goes into fixing one part in a car (and then realizing that it actually wasn't even that part that needed to be fixed but three other parts).  My dad has taught me the value of hard work and hard work I have had to do these past 3 years of college.  He stays up late to talk with me and my brother even if he has to get up early to lead our church in worship.  He listens as I gush about my boyfriend, rolling his eyes but with a smile on his face.  He has never stopped loving my mom.  He's shown me how to be patient when those around me are doing the opposite of what I need them to do.  My dad makes me laugh when I want to be moody and he acts like a 4 year old when I need him to.  He holds me when I'm crying because the other half of my heart is sailing the seas.  My dad is strong, he is safe, and he loves Jesus.  One of the things I am most thankful for is the sense of hope and calm that I have after talking with him about something I'm stressing over.  He reminds me that I am loved, I am special, and I'm not doomed.  So, dad, thank you for teaching me what to look for in a man, for teaching me my worth, and for showing me through your incredible example the value of hardwork and trusting Jesus. I love you!

Next up on the "Thank You!" list is my lovely mom.  I'm already smiling writing this :)  Mom, I trust you with everything.  You're beautiful and witty and so smart and so REAL.  For those of you who don't know, my mom has been a stay at home mom from the time I was born up until about 3 years ago when she took a part time job working at Country Curtains (special shout-out to all the ladies there who have brought such joy into my mom's life.  She always has stories about you all and I feel like I know at least 3 things about everyone).  She was also diagnosed with a nerve disorder around the same time as the start of her new job.  One that uprooted our family and cause us to reevaluate what was really important in our family.  Throughout all of it, she was always real about how hard it was, how frustrated she was, how she was trying to trust God.  All of that was so valuable for me to see.  It killed me to see her struggle (still does), but it showed me that life sometimes sucks and you can't rely on your mind, your body, or your heart.  You have to rely on the One who made those things.  I have only grown increasingly thankful for her choice of staying home with my brother and I as we grew up and went through school and friends and clothes and bad decisions and joyful laughs.  She sacrificed a career for me and she threw herself headlong into teaching me and my brother to be honest, silly, faithful human beings.  It's actually really hard for me to write this with any sort of rhyme or reason because I honestly don't know where or who I would be without her.  God gave her a heavenly voice and He decided to pass on some of those genes to me.  One of the biggest compliments I have ever received (from my dad, thanks dad) was that I sound like my mom when I sing.  She has taught me that one of the most important things you can be is transparent.  She might give a little guffaw at that statement.  But I don't mean transparent to everyone (that's something I have been too much of ever since I was little), but transparent to the ones you love and the ones who you know love you.  Throughout elementary, middle school, and even a bit in high school, my mom and I wrote notes to each other.  Actual, hand-written, paper notes that were folded in intricate ways and left secretly on each other's nightstand.  I still have those notes and I genuinely think they were a huge part of the reason I cling to my writing as an outlet and easier way to express myself other than speaking.  No matter what the topic of the note was (and they were usually pretty important topics), she always ended them by telling me, "you're normal, you are beautiful, and I love you so much!", or something along those lines.  The message was always felt.  Mom, you are my biggest confidant, my favorite person to play hidden object games with (I just played one last night by myself, it was boring without you), and the mom I hope to be like someday.  Thank you, I love you!

Little bro.  Wuzzup?  Okay I know you don't talk like that (well no one does anymore).  You're one of the few people who I actually think I talk to better than write to.  Not sure why...  I often forget how lucky I am to have you in my life.  We lost two brothers, but God decided that we shouldn't be alone under Mom and Dad's parenting (probably for our sanity).  I'm so proud of you, even if you might not be proud of yourself sometimes.  That doesn't mean you don't do dumb things sometimes.  YOU aren't dumb, but your schemes, sometimes they are!  I believe in you, even when you think it's dumb to believe that you can do more than you think you can.  I want so much for you.  Nate, thanks for being a dufus.  A really smart dufus, though.  Thanks for that.  Thanks for reminding me that I can relax a little bit more and it's alright to lounge around all day sometimes.  Thank you for being so different from me.  You've taught me how to relate to some of my best friends without even knowing it.  I have no doubt that you're going to be just fine, no matter what other dumb stuff you have to go through.  I love you so much.  I wish we got to spend more time together.  Thank you for being my little brother.

Lindsay. Oh how do I write this?  This girl.  This girl has made me realize things about myself that I never knew before.  She has opened up my heart to see some ugliness inside and then has chosen to pick up a shovel and dig it out with me.  She has inspired me with her love of all things pure and simple.  She has astounded me with her ambition and her drive.  She has gone after (and captured) things I would only dream of or read about in magazines.  The coolest part is that she's got 3/4 of her life ahead of her!  She has loved me through my flaws and she has laughed with me through my most ridiculous moments.  Pretty sure you're the first person I've met who is weirder than I.  But I've also never met someone with such a LOVE for LIFE.  You have battled terrible things.  Things that no one should ever have to even see a hint of on their battlefield.  In your weakness, God has been so strong.  Lindsay, even though I've only had the privilege of knowing you for the last three years, you've impacted me.  So very much.  I can't thank you enough for loving me the way you do.  I can't wait to be in each other's weddings and have our kids meet (and be best friends, we'll make them).  I can't WAIT for our senior spring and all the shenanigans we're going to get into ;)  You are more than a friend, you are family, and I love you!

Speaking of best friends, Ashley, you were my first!  Sure I had other friends who I thought fit that role, but it wasn't until the 3rd or 4th sleepover that I realized that you were the first one to truly fit that position in my life.  I did all the girly, stupid things that two best friends do in movies and silly pre-teen magazines.  All the sleepovers, dances, junk food, fun trips, and late night tv until we fell asleep were so important to me.  Thank you for never giving up on me when I made dumb choices and dated dumb guys.  Thank you for being honest and loving me enough to tell me that he was a dumb guy.  You saved me so much heart break and you saved our friendship.  Thank you for always reuniting with me after the months of being apart!  I look forward to many more reunions!  I love you!

And now I come to a different kind of friend.  A friend who has made cardboard sleds with me and smushed mud in my hair and called me pretty; a friend who has hung ice cream out of windows with me and has run intervals in the pouring rain with me; a friend who has made me smile wider than I thought possible and has made my heart explode with joy... a friend who has made it so easy to fall in love with him.  I'm pretty sure you all probably know by now, but I'm referring to my wonderful boyfriend, Ian.  This man has been in my life for only a short year and a half and yet, he has had one of the biggest impacts on my life.  Even the parts of my past that he has never seen.  Even the parts of my life that have not yet been determined.  His determination, focus, and diligence in almost everything he does is inspiring.  He leads me towards Christ and my heart just leaps knowing that he will continue to do that.  He has taken care of me when I've been sick, he has sung to me, has danced with me, and he has given me a whole new sense of what sweetness is.  He is one of the silliest people I know and I genuinely think he might be goofier than I am, which is saying a whole lot.  Ian, you are the kind of man that I have dreamed of and my dream is slowly but surely becoming a reality.  Watching you go through the trials and frustrations and joys and pride moments of being at the Coast Guard Academy brought tears to my eyes on many, many occasions.  Not always tears from missing you (although that made up the majority), but tears of pride and tears of joy and tears of love.  Thank you for instilling in me a deeper desire to actively cultivate my relationship with Christ.  Thank you for forgiving me when I've hurt you.  Thank you for always being honest with me.  Thank you for thinking about the little things and thank you for planning.  Your companionship has made my life so full of joy!  You know exactly how I would end this little paragraph...but I'll let that be between us :)

Gram, thank you for always being up for anything.  Even if your body said no, your heart has said yes.  That doesn't always mean that you have been able to do everything you want, but you have tried!  You taught me so much about God.  All those Saturday nights of rolling my hair in curlers and painting my nails for Sunday School.  All the hours spent on dance hair and dress trims... I love telling people about you!  You're such a special, rare person and I love you so much!  Thank you for making such a huge mark on my 21 years!

And now for a few I just can't forget!

Mrs. Hopper, thank you for your words of wisdom as I learned how to manage being a leader on my team!  I'm sure there will be many phone calls to come :)  Thank you for being so easy to talk to and for showing Ian what to look for in a woman.  You have blessed my life in little ways I never expected!  I can't wait to see what's next, thank you!

Miranda, although our relationship is just starting to grow deeper, I have always appreciated your kindness.  Recently, you have shown me such love and acceptance and I can't tell you how much hope you have brought to my life.  You are such a wonderful example of someone who loves the the Lord, loves her husband, and loves her children. Thank you for your words and for your love!

Mrs. Mac, Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Galda, and Mr. Harrison,
You were all pivotal teachers throughout my young academic years.  You each taught me different things: Mrs. Mac - you taught me how important it was to have integrity and to stand up for what I believe in.  Mrs. Patterson - you taught me that I was not going to just skate through my classes for the rest of my life!  You taught me discipline and how to love learning.  Mr Galda - you taught me the value of being myself!  You taught me the value of being kind to those I don't always get along with or those who I wouldn't necessarily hang out with.  Mr. Harrison - you taught me how to push myself even when I really didn't want to.  You taught me how to be better than I thought I could be.  You taught me that every choice matters and that I can always give more effort.  Thank you all for pouring your lives into mine and all of the others students you have taught.

God has been faithful to me every moment of these past 21 years.  He has been faithful when I have doubted and when I have hated and when I have wanted to give up.  He has been faithful and merciful when I have disobeyed him and when I have refused to listen.  My God has continued to pick me up and show me that HE is love.  I have so much to be thankful for, but His love and the salvation I have received because of his Son are the things I must put on top.  Oh how different my life would be without His gentle, ever faithful hand holding me.  God, my God, I cannot give you an ounce of what you are worthy of.  So I give you my life, all that I have, all that I ever will be.  I love you!

Sovereign

I've toiled and sought

I've wrestled and fought

A master of none,

 not even myself

Do I own trophies in you? 

Do they have their own shelf?

Every branch that breaks

There you are

Every wave that wakes

You can't be far

Every petal that blooms

There, that's you

Every bee that zooms

That's you too

I'm trying to learn how to love you best

Trying to discern, when I'm put to the test.

Nothing goes unnoticed... 

no, not a blink.

Every action has been seen...

yes, every wink.

Help me, God, to know your true delights

That I might skilfully use them to show your might.

Help me, God, to love you better

With each word that leaves my mouth,

Help me, God, to spread your love letter

East and west, north and south. 

And in the end I want to be 

Lying exhausted at your throne,

At last to be completely free

To know you've finally called me home. 

This, my God, is what I'm learning:

That you are worth more than I will ever know, 

Your priceless blood keeps my soul churning,

And to you, my life, I eternally owe.