Be forewarned: this post will probably be pretty sappy. Proceed at your own risk. :)
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I've been doing some cleaning tonight, which quickly came to a halt as I started flipping through photo albums and then going on Facebook and looking at more pictures and reading comments and the like. It all served to remind me how blessed I've been. To begin with, I have a wonderful family, both immediate and extended. I was lucky to grow up next door to my aunt and uncle and their kids, which made us more like siblings than cousins. We got to go on vacations together (how I miss Blue Lake!), which in some ways perhaps set the groundwork for my brother to marry one of my dearest friends. My parents really set a great example for me that I'm striving to pass on to my own child. And while sibling relations can always be a crap shoot, I know I have a great "little" brother. I mean, really, how many brothers would let their older sister tag along with them and their friends? I've also been lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents live near us and to have spent a lot of time with them growing up. And even though my other aunts and uncles are spread out through the states, I know they're always there for me and again feel blessed to be as close to them as I am.
I also was struck by what great friends I have as well. Some go all the way back to elementary school and again, I can remember scores of vacations taken with my best friend and our families. Camping, the cabin, the "Lakayskis" (how do we spell that name?) and more. One of the other things I came across as I was cleaning was my folder full of letters sent between myself and Emily, my now sister-in-law, starting way back when we were in 4th grade and going through all the years, up to her engagement to my brother. It's an incredible history. Other friendships started later but are no less meaningful. High school and jr. high were a blast almost entirely because of the friends I had - whether it was debate ("two feet? That wouldn't even knock out my sister!"), breakfast at Bruegger's, various retreats/camp experiences, or the almost endless series of sleepovers. Then I went on to college and grad school and met even more splendid people who made me laugh and helped me get through some very stressing experiences, like thesis-writing. I plan on relying on them as I go once more into the breach. Just a heads up. :)
But most importantly, I met a wonderful man who I've been with for over 8 years and married for 4. We have a beautiful son and it's been amazing to watch him grow and learn about the world around him. Likewise, watching Tom play and interact with him just reconfirmed how lucky I was to find such a great husband who's also a great father.
Since graduating college five years ago, I've gotten engaged, moved into my first apartment, got "real" jobs, got married, moved to a new state, bought a house, bought two dogs, got my master's degree, got pregnant, had a baby, and now am going back to school again. And those are just the big highlights. I can't even begin to imagine what the next five years will hold. I just wanted to say thank you to all my friends and family and that I love you.
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