Monday, November 1, 2010

Day 1 - 30 Days of Thanks: Sisters

Welcome to 30 Days of Thanks! Although I was tempted to start off my series by giving thanks for Halloween candy, I decided instead to kick things off by focusing on some of the most precious women in my life.

I am blessed to have two sisters. When we were growing up together, we often didn't get along, but today, Johanna and Ericka are my closest friends. We rarely see each other these days because we're spread out across the eastern United States, and sometimes weeks go by in between our phone calls, but we always know that we love each other. We are three very different women - in personality, talents, and life paths - but we have one major thing in common: our family. Our family has been through some pretty difficult and crazy times (whose hasn't?), and through it all, my sisters and I have coped and supported each other, usually with laughter.



I am so thankful for and proud of these two beautiful, smart, and kind women. Ericka just completed her Ph.D. in neuroscience and has relocated to another new city. Johanna is raising three brilliant boys, trying to give them the best opportunities in life in spite of many challenges. My sisters are resilient, strong, and two of the funniest people I know.

One of our family's Christmas traditions was watching "It's a Wonderful Life" (of course!) and "White Christmas." We used to quote from those movies a lot. So, here is one of those memories, in thankfulness for my sisters. :-)


I have also been blessed with several women in my life who are like sisters to me. What sisters (biological or otherwise) are you thankful for today?

Thankfulness in Action
In honor of sisters, friends who are like sisters, and all the other wonderful women in my life, I want to share two ways that you can support breast cancer research:
  • My friend City Girl, who is undergoing chemo now for breast cancer and who keeps her optimism, thankfulness, huge heart, and sense of humor through it all
  • My friend Christine, who has formed a team for the Komen Foundation 3-Day Walk to celebrate her 15th anniversary of being free from breast cancer in 2011

4 comments:

shaun said...

I love that part of white Christmas.. I think it's the best lip sync ever..

Kristen said...

LOL, Shaun. I agree. And, it sets up one of my favorite quotes: "What did you do? Leave it in your snood?" :-)

City Girl said...

I read this post and felt thankful that you and your sisters share this special bond. And, I also thought of how thankful I am to have friends who are like sisters. I got to the end of your post and had tears in my eyes. Thankful to call you a friend in every sense of the word. I love you!!!

Kristen said...

Love you, too, City Girl! I've been thinking about you this week and praying that the next round is going better than the last.