As much as it truly doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving here in Belgium, I wanted to take today to sit down and think about the things that I’m really thankful for in life. I’ll try to break it down in categories. . . this will be a long post, but there are so many things that I want to say today. . . bear with me. . .
Family
First and foremost I’m thankful for the two people that I share my every day with. I am so deeply in love with my husband and daughter and cannot imagine sharing our beautiful Belgium experience with anyone other than them. They do their best to create an environment that is so loving and understanding and I am so grateful for that. I hope that there is never a day that they doubt how much I love and care about them. My sweet, charming husband – who never had traveled outside of the United States before this experience – I love seeing the world through his eyes! And my spunky, beautiful, daughter. . . who is so passionately excited about everything in life. In the words of the song that we’ve danced to since she was a baby “To the world. . . you may be just another girl. . but to me. . . baby you are the world!”
I also am extremely thankful for my parents. My strong willed, independent mom who has taught me that being a self-confident woman isn’t a bad thing. She loves my daughter from the bottom of her heart and has done everything in her power to shorten the distance between Belgium and Iowa. My dad who taught me how to work hard in the pursuit of a quality life for my family. . and who is SO proud of all of my successes. Both my parents were my biggest allies growing up – from piano recitals to tennis matches to softball games – they never criticized me for following a passion (no matter how fleeting that passion was).
I’m also thankful to my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who I love so very much. I miss you Grandma Ross, Grandpa Joe, and Aunt Cheri – I’m thankful for the contributions you made in my life and am sad we had to say goodbye too soon.
I struggle whether to mention my sister here or in the upcoming “Friends” section because she is truly one of my best friends. Who would have known growing up that the little girl that drove me bananas and copied my every movement would grow up into one of my most trusted confidants. It is amazing how totally different yet completely the same we are. . .she is truly a girl that isn’t afraid to follow the guidance of her heart. . .and I am SO proud of her. I’m so thankful that I have someone in my life like her who can pull me out of “career Mandy” for awhile and encourage me to relax and enjoy life.
I am thankful for my family by marriage. . who has welcomed me and accepted me without judgment. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have a big family after growing up in such a small one. There is something so special about family. . and I’m so grateful that Brooklyn can be exposed to all of it.
Friends
In the friends category I am thankful for my besties. Jill, Alissa, Sarah, and I have shared the ups and downs of life with eachother through the past fifteen to twenty years. We’ve laughed together, cried together, and had some spats together – but at the end of the day those girls would do anything for me and for that I am eternally grateful. At times I feel so undeserving of their friendship – they are such a blessing! I have had so many life defining moments with these girls – so many laughs – so many tears. God has blessed me in a way that I cannot fully explain with these girls. . . and I cannot wait for our children to grow up together sharing a friendship also.
In addition to those girls, I am also thankful for the girlfriends (and guy friends) that I have collected through my moves throughout the US. I’m thankful for Nicole and Brandon, Carrie and Brian, Lesley and Matt, Miss Patty, Dani, Abbie and Greg, Payton and Brandon, Justin and Ellie, Luke and Tiffany, Jennifer, Jan, and many others who I hope aren’t offended that I’m not mentioning them by name.
I am thankful for The Bass Family. . especially Kat who I have never met in person, but who knows way more about me than many who have met me. It seems like she’s always there when I need an ear to listen . . . and I’m so thankful for that.
Finally, I’m thankful to my friends who have made this crazy Belgium experience a lot more tolerable. I’m thankful to the Tuttle Family without whom we may never have survived our first year. I’m thankful for the families that we have met within the past year who have helped create a family like atmosphere in which we can truly feel comfortable and like we have friends to lean on. The international experience creates such a unique atmosphere in which you can get to know someone more like family than friends. It is something I wish everybody could experience . . it really is life changing. I am thankful every day for those that I have met here.
I have seen so many women in life that spend all of their time tearing down other women in judgment of their career aspirations, their clothes, their parenting decisions, etc. I wish those ladies would realize just how valuable an ally another woman can be. . . a girl friend that may not parent or live the same way as you. . but at the end of the day is fundamentally the same at the core . . . who just wants to live, love (and be loved), and laugh. Wake up ladies – life is too short to be the judge – there is truly only one judge in life, and He is much bigger than any of us and loves us for who we are. My hope for each of you is that you are able to find a friend that is as compassionate, loving, and accepting as my girlfriends are. . . we don’t tear eachother down, we build eachother up. We’re not dishonest. . we shoot straight. . but we respect eachother enough to appreciate our differences. . . and my family and my daughter are better people because of it! SO thankful for them.
Others
I have so many other things I’m thankful for:
My job – I work for an amazing employer who has made me feel valued in even the toughest of times. The company has truly given my family the world and for that I am so grateful.
Opportunities and Travel – I am thankful for all of the fun, exciting, and life changing things that being in Belgium has provided for my family. We have been pushed outside of our comfort zone in a way that I never fathomed. . .and have become better people because of it.
SkyTV, iTunes, Stone Manor, etc. – I am thankful for anything that can give us a little taste of English in this world of French speaking. I love being engrossed in the culture, but sometimes a little bit of a break is necessary.
Blogging – what an incredible gift blogging is! When I was younger I wanted to be a journalist. . . I think blogging gives me an opportunity (that I don’t always seize like I should) to write and get my thoughts on paper. If only I could stop caring about what other people think about what I write. . . then we’d be golden.
I have so many other things I'm thankful for. . but for now . . that will have to be enough.
"Whatcha waitin' for? That's all folks. . . "
