Today I am thankful. I
am thankful for all the wonderful people in my life amongst many
other things. Everyday I wake up and am thankful to have another day. Another day to spend with people I love, doing activities I love, and doing a job that I love. Sometimes it is easy to forget how truly lucky you are when the daily tasks can cloud our hearts and mind, but today, today I am thankful. Thankful for all the wonderful things God has given me and continues to give me with each passing day. Today I am spending my Thanksgiving with my family and eating food that is meaningful to us. Holidays are a time where we get to remember loved ones that have enriched our lives, create new memories with loved ones and help carry on family traditions. One of my favorite family tradition is our big family euchre tournament. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents participate and our tournaments are known to go into the late hours. No matter what comes our way, life is all about the people we love most in this world and cherishing the time we have with them. My life would not be complete if it wasn't for my family, friends and my boyfriend. They make me a better person and fill my life with joy.
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy this special day with loved ones.
What are you thankful for today? What are some of your families traditions?
Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays of the year. I love everything about the holiday- the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, the delicious food, autumn weather, and most importantly, being with the people I love.
I come from a fairly large family so every Thanksgiving and Christmas is a full house, and I wouldn't want it any other way. When I was younger, my house sometimes felt like it was always having parties because my cousins were staying with us or we would always be gathering at each other's houses eating and hanging out for multiple days. They were the best and even now still one long party.
Especially with my siblings growing older, my brother living in Cincinnati and my sister in her 2nd year of college, it is rare for all three of us to be home in Michigan all at once. Before I came home, my mom said to me that soon these holidays will get harder and harder to have everyone together. At first I was in denial and thought she was just being her sentimental self (which is where I get my side) but after I did more thinking about it, she was entirely right. Soon my siblings will have their own families and we will only get to see each other for one of the two main holidays and not both. Even now I find that hard to grasp but I know it will be true down the road.
This year's Thanksgiving was fantastic. I had my aunt and uncle in town from the east coast, was able to see cousins that we rarely get to see and my great aunt who is 74 and still kicking!
One of my families Thanksgiving traditions is having a euchre tournament. My family happens to be very competitive so our games tend to be full of heckling, smack talk, and table talk. While the games are intense, my Dad likes to take a break in between rounds for everyone to do a family shot of Goldschläger. Yes Goldschläger. We take this shot every Thanksgiving and Christmas (Christmas tends to have more than one shot because we say Merry Christmas in German when we cheers). Nonetheless, this happens to be one of my favorite parts about my family. We make each other laugh, tell lots of jokes, share stories and are not afraid of getting competitive with one another. Our holidays are always full and I wouldn't want it any other way.
One thing that I look forward to is having my boyfriend join me one day at the Thanksgiving table with my family. I can't wait for him to see how my holidays have made me who I am and what it is like being a part of a big family.
Every family has their traditions and things that make them special. I know that I will carry on some of the family traditions I have grown up having since that is what life is all about. To celebrate our family and our traditions, my mom and her sister decided over a year ago that we would make a family cook book with recipes from family members from my mom's side of the family. The recipes that went into this book were recipes that have been handed down from my great great grandmothers all the way to my cousins. This family cook book will be a family treasure and is what helps make traditions carry onto future generations.
I have so much to be thankful for and the thing I give thanks to everyday is for my family. I am so fortunate to have such loving people in my lives. What did you give thanks to this Thanksgiving?
Being an older sibling, I have the privilege and opportunity to be a role model and supporter for my younger siblings. Of course I get to be a full-time Guinea pig for the most part but I also get to be so many other things. Being older I have insight, experiences, and advise to share with my siblings and during special occasions, the feeling of pride.
Friday, May 13th was a big day for the family. My immediate family and my Grandma traveled to the city of West Lafayette, IN to watch the only boy of our family walk across the stage to receive his diploma. Our Eric was becoming a graduate of Purdue University! As I was driving to Purdue, so many emotions and questions ran through me as I drove through little towns in between acres and acres of farmland. Feelings of pride, joy, happiness, excitement, worry, denial, sadness. Questions like: is he ready for the real world? Will he find a job that he truly loves? Where will he live? I know time will eventually put my worries to rest but I just can't help but be the big sister with her sisterly worries.
I had driven down these roads many times; both alone and with my family to see my brother. This drive was the final drive that I would be making to this town. That is when it really hit me. My baby brother is onto the next chapter of his life! (One of my favorite parts about the drive to West Lafayette if you take the IN-43 you will pass rows and rows of wind mills. They are unique and beautiful.)
It was almost hard to believe that five years had gone by and he would be entering into the real world. No more textbooks, late night's studying, or group projects for him to tackle. No more meals at the cafeterias, professor office hours, and college parties to attend. Instead he is journeying to the next chapter in life- adulthood. How quickly time has gone by and even though I know how fast I am growing up, I find myself forgetting at times that everyone else around me growing up too. When I think of my little brother (who is not little anymore), so many words and memories always come to mind. Even though he may be bigger and taller than me, I will always and forever be his older/big sister.
My brother and I are very close. Growing up and being only two years apart, we were each others playmates and at times turn into troublemakers. We were busy bodies together- always doing something and/or going somewhere. Being the big sister, I would entertain my little brother and spend countless hours by his side. From the day he was born, I was obsessed with him and knew he was someone special. I will never forget the hours we would spend playing and building with his LEGOS. Hours spent coloring on top of his bunk bed, laying on the couch watching our favorite Disney movies, building our legendary forts, and playing outside until dark. The memories with him are endless.
Looking back on those times, really makes me realize how lucky I am. I am a part of my brother's upbringing and contributed to him becoming the man he is in addition to watching him find his passion in life. His interest in building things was evident from the beginning and here he is, the little boy who would escape to his "work room" to build/fix anything and everything; that little boy is now a grown adult with a degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University under his belt. I could not be more happy and proud of him.
To my little brother, Eric: I am so incredibly proud of you in every way. It has been such a joy watching you grow up and become the man you are today. You have so much to look forward too in this next chapter of your life. I cannot wait to watch you flourish in the real world and see what amazing things you will do. No matter what bad times and good times that will come, know that you will always have your family by your side. Congratulations little brother, I am so proud of you.
I love you always and forever, Your Big Sister- Jeekaka. xoxo
Today is a day we celebrate all Mothers, Grandmothers and Godmother's around the world. It is a day for us to give thanks to the woman who brought us into this world and helped us grow into the people we are today. It is days like these that I am truly reminded of how lucky and blessed I am. My mom is one of the most important people in my life and I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for her.
Being a mother is one of the hardest and most rewarding roles in life. You get to be a teacher, a counselor, an enforcer, a cheerleader, a lawyer, a doctor/nurse, a therapist, a superhero, Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, a shoulder to cry on, and a friend to tell your secrets and life dreams too. These are only a few roles a mother plays throughout motherhood.
My mother is all of these and so much more. She is a woman of strength, heart, love, kindness, ambition, generosity, and sincerity. My mother is my best friend and even when we have our moments of disagreement, I am thankful for her each and every day. She is my role model and inspiration and I am forever grateful to have her in my life.
My Mom, Me and My Sister
I hope when my day comes and I am blessed to become a mom, I hope that I will be half the mother she has been for me. Motherhood is an amazing thing and I will continue to take in every phone call, email, text, card, laugh, cry, hug, kiss, and moment that I share with my mother. Life is short and it is important that we cherish and take in every moment we have with our loved ones, especially our parents who gave us our life.
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving
The best weekend as a college alum is homecoming weekend. Despite only occurring once a year, this event gives alumni the opportunity to escape from the real world and return to their former "stomping" grounds. The perfect excuse to make the trip back to the place where you grew not only as a person but to the place that helped you discover who you want to be in the world.
My school lies on the banks of the Red Cedar river on one of the largest and most agriculturally diverse campuses in the world- Michigan State University. Land of the Spartan where students yell with pride "Go Green" "Go White" and are not afraid to wear their school colors. Now being an alumni, my pride of being a Spartan grows deeper and deeper with each passing year and I continue to see the value in it.
Last weekend was my third homecoming as an alumni of Michigan State. The one event a year that brings old friends and roommates together for a fun filled reunion. Coming from a family where both parents are alumni of Michigan State in addition to other relatives, I have had the Spartan pride in me from the very beginning. Having my little sister in her freshman year, I was even more ecstatic to go this particular homecoming because I could finally celebrate being a Spartan with her. My weekend was full of nostalgia. Seeing the people who were such a large part of my college experience and revisiting the places that are meaningful to me, reignited the pride I have for my school. Sometimes I really miss my college life and cannot believe I graduated over three years ago. But of course that chapter of my life was going to end regardless but keeping the tradition of revisiting the school and maintaining the friendships helps keep those college days alive.
While in college it is so easy to be distracted with classes, activities, and having a social life that you do not realize how lucky you are to be apart of such an amazing place. The years spent in college truly mold you and prepare you for life after college. Without the late nights studying, challenging classes, deep friendships, and countless learning experiences, I would not be the person I am today.
With my sister only months into her Freshman year at State, I can already tell that she is on the path for an unforgettable college experience. I am so excited for my sister to experience and live each year of college to the fullest so that she can return back (just like her big sister) and feel what school pride truly means. She will learn what it means to be an alumni and how much of a community Michigan State has. No matter where I go or what I do with my life, the one thing that I will always have is the pride and appreciation I have for my school.
Do you have school pride? What is your definition of school pride? What is a meaningful place at your college?
This Saturday marks a very meaningful day not only for me but for my mom as well. When I first moved to Chicago I immediately started looking for charitable causes I could become involved in. Cancer and Alzheimer's are two diseases that have hit incredibly close to home and I am fervent on helping raise funds for them. Seeing loved ones of mine affected by these diseases has inspired me and motivated me to DO something. When I knew I was moving to Chicago, the first thing I wanted to do was to join a few charity boards and start participating in fundraising events.
So after a few weeks into my new life in the city, I started researching fundraisers for Alzheimer's disease. When I saw the Alzheimer's Association's Chicago Memory Walk, I immediately contacted the chair and requested to join the planning committee. Within two weeks I was on the Memory Walk Sponsorship Committee in charge of obtaining corporate sponsors to participate in the event. This was an eye opening experience because I was able to see how much people truly care about funding this worthy cause.
Today more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Learn more.
Sadly, my beloved grandmother Rhoda passed away from Alzheimer's disease three years ago come this December. She was an incredible women. A women who I not only adored but idolized in every way. Rhoda was a women of strength, beauty, and grace. She was not my Grandma or Nana, she was simply "my Rhoda" which made her all the more special.
Rhoda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was only 15. The first stages of Alzheimer's are hard to catch since they are sometimes mistaken for common signs of aging, and unfortunately it was too late when we caught Rhoda's signs. Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease and every year the disease would advance in her. Not a day goes by where I do not think of her and wish she was still here. I miss hearing her sing and dabble on the piano. I miss listening to her talk in her scottish accent and pinching my dapy every chance she got. I miss having my Rhoda sneak me a piece of her bundt cake even though we hadn't eaten dinner yet and playing dress up with her clothes and make up. The list is endless of the things I miss about her and I would give anything to have her back. Losing her to Alzheimer's was truly the longest goodbye I have ever had to experience.
In Memory of Rhoda I will be participating in my 3rd Annual Chicago Memory Walk. Every year I have raised nearly $1,000. I cannot even begin to explain how much I appreciate my friends and family who have donated to my walk throughout the years. With all the worthy causes there are that need help and support, I am incredibly lucky to have such charitable people in my life.
As I walk this Saturday with my mom, our 5k will be spent sharing favorite stories and memories of her. Remembering Rhoda all the while continuing my new tradition of walking to keep her fight going against Alzheimer's. Hopefully one day this disease will be preventable and/or stopped. Every step on Saturday will help make that happen. Here's to you Rhoda. Always and forever in my heart. xo
"May God bless you to live as long as you want to; and want to as long as you live!" ~Scottish proverb
There is so much for me to be thankful for in my life. I find myself reminded of how lucky I am and a lot of it is because of you. Around this time of the year, I am especially reminded of how much I appreciate you and how important you are to me. Growing up, I would sometimes take you for granted (especially during my stubborn teenage years). I always depended on you to do things for me, being there for me, all the while juggling two other kids, a career, and a family. Looking back, I don’t know how you managed to do it all. Never missing a diving match, a volleyball game, choir concerts, school assembles, sports practices, dance recitals, classroom parties, and so much more. You were SUPERMOM and always have been.
It took for your scare to wake me up and realize how much I truly need you in my life. To think cancer was taking over inside of you when you were not even aware and when it was discovered you immediately went into battle. You are truly one amazing women. Ever since I was little, I have looked up to you, idolized you, and wanted to be just like you.
I remember going to work with you. Spending days sitting at my own big girl desk in your office busy coloring you pictures and practicing my handwriting (pretending to be working hard like you). I would take breaks to chat with Jennifer in your office and visit my friends in the shops on your floor just like you did, talking to them about who knows what. I loved spending those days with you at the office and remember feeling a sense of pride despite being so little. But then I became an employee for a few summers working with you, except no coloring books would be out, I was there to work. I loved spending those summers helping you prepare for your Annual Dinner’s and helping around the office, being able to see “working mommy” in full action. People would say I was the mini-you and I couldn’t help but feel pride inside. I may look just like you, but I want to be just like you.
Not only do you know me better than anyone else, but throughout my life you have taught me many vital lessons, even lessons that were hard on me. You play so many roles in life and you are always there for me for everything and anything no matter what. You have taught me the value and importance of family. How to find balance everything in my life. You are the person I share my secrets and triumphs with because I know you will never judge. You have been a shoulder for me to cry on when times were tough and a listening ear when I needed to vent. You are the person I turn to when I need advice and help solving my life problems.
I am so grateful to have my Mom as my best friend. Even when we don’t see eye-to-eye you still love me with all your heart. How lucky am I to have a mother who will love me no matter what! I hope you know Mom how much I adore you and appreciate everything you have done and do. You are not only a joy to be around, but you have a heart of gold that is filled with love, compassion and ambition. Your passion for life is contagious and seen by everyone who is around you.
The bond we have is special and unbreakable. We are connected in ways only mothers and daughters truly understand. You fill a part of me with something wonderful and I cannot imagine it every going away. Time goes by so quickly and I want to make sure I am always cherishing every memory, moment and phone call with you. You have done so much for me mom and I know one day my time will come to be what you are to me for my own children.
Thank you for everything. I could not ask for a better mom. I love you with all my heart.
