THANKS.

FOR EVERYTHING.

I’ve been really enjoying this ‘Give Thanks’ personal project. But I missed two days, on purpose? I knew I was setting aside two days in a row. Since these are two people I wanted to thanks are very important but neither could come come first. {I didn’t want to hear you whine about which place you came in for the next 2 years…Dad!} So tonight I am honoring the two people I need to thank the most.

Collectively for all you gave me as a family. I am so grateful for growing up in a loving home. For all the privileges I may have taken advantage of in my lifetime. I especially want to thank you for the experiences you gave me through travelling. You both worked so hard to give us this gift and in the moment I never knew how much it would mean. You literally gave me the world. And I do appreciate it! It has also inspired a need to give my children the same. I cannot wait to one day see my kids playing on the beach in Sandpoint, riding the wooden roller coasters at Silverwood, and eating whatever they want on their birthdays at the panhandler.

As for individually:

Dad– For being the only dad, and my biggest supporter throughout my cheerleading addiction. Grade 10 through all-star. Calgary, Airdrie, Edmonton, even Vancouver. 5 years. I can’t even tell you how much those years meant to me and you were with me through it all. Thank You.

Mom– You didn’t get to come to all my cheerleading event’s because you made a commitment to be at Kimmy’s volleyball games and Mainstage performances. You can’t be in two places at  once and in order to make sure your kids got to be involved in their hearts desires, you put in hour’s, and heart and soul into your business. You worked hard so you could provide for your family. You gave up time with us, to provide us with the best possible life. Not something every mom does. Thank You.

Dad– For all the fun event’s through the hot rod club that you took us too. Valve cover racing, toy run’s, dressing up at every summer’s big show, {not every kid gets to chase their dad with light saber’s while he’s pretending to be Darth Vader!} Even dragging us along to all the ‘show and shines.’ It instilled my love for the 50’s and started my dream of owning a ’57 Bel Air. {One Day!} But you outdid yourself when you secretly got that Red Rag Top for my wedding day. It was the perfect gift and a memory I will treasure forever. Thank you.

Mom– For doing my hair for 25 years. The greatest gift for a girl. You give me confidence through my hair. From all the perm’s when I was too little to fit in the salon chairs. {Who knew that bone straight hair would end up in ringlet’s anyways} The incredible hairstyles no other mom could possibly attempt. Making my hair into a bow, every possible braid. Dying my hair every possible color under the rainbow in junior high. For my amazing hair at graduation, that got compliments from everyone in attendance. And then recreating it {4 times} for my wedding day. You made me look and feel like a princess on one of the biggest day’s of my life. And you made me feel just as amazing the day Sawyer was born, when I had my hair freshly colored and cut the same morning! For that and continuing to do my hair every time till this day. Thank You.

Dad– For taking us to every single playground in Calgary. Especially the Saturday’s that we spent hours riding our bikes up the longest hill in the world, just to get ice cream Slurpee’s. They were the best bribe of our childhood. Thank You

Mom– For introducing me to the love of scrapbooking, and eventually my love of photography to fill those albums. Both have been such a big part of who I am. I am continually growing in both hobby’s, and love sharing it with you. Thank you for taking me to Inspiration Unlimited this year, I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to next year with you! Thank You.

Dad– For having special Daddy/Daughter weekends that didn’t involve tea parties and care bears. Instead on those few weekend’s where mom and Kimmy were away, we rented the star wars trilogy and had bottomless orange pop floats. Memories that will last a life time. And also you must have been brave to take me on solo after that much orange pop 😉 Thank You.

Mom– For also having Mommy/Daughter weekends that did involve all the girly things. And bless your heart for trying to make that inking sewing machine work every time. You brought movie marathon’s into my favorite childhood memories too. I will always have to sing along with any song with Grease, {and Grease 2!} because of those special one on one times. Thank You.

Dad– For custom building anything and everything I find on the Internet. I can only promise more requests as your grandchildren grow. It is only your fault after letting us see all the amazing kids room’s in the magazines at home depot. For the past projects, and for all the future ones too. Thank you.

Mom– For using your time off to always visit me and now Sawyer. I am the luckiest daughter to have moved so far away from home and still get to see family as often as I do. It is a huge gift that I will never be able to repay. Thank You.

Time is the greatest gift. Something we can never hold, never collect, never get back. I am not thanking you for monetary gifts, because what has meant the most in my 25 years, is the memories. You gave me an amazing childhood, a safe and grounded {literally} adolescence, a responsible conscience in adulthood, and now the magic in a grandparent/grandchild relationship. Thank you for everything. Thank you.

{the very thanksgiving in 2003}

PS. and thanks mom for so many year’s ago making teenager’s sit down and write a list of thing’s we were grateful for thanksgiving 2003. Even if we spent more time laughing together about sarcastic answers than finishing your project. Some how almost 10 years later it still has stuck in my mind, and look at the project it has inspired! Thank you.

PPS. I guess I should thank both of you for also giving me a sister, and best friend. Though I know dad wanted a son, you got the best of both worlds with Kimmy 😉 Thanks for having a family. Thanks for being the best family.

7 thoughts on “THANKS.”

  1. Ahh Alissa you know how my memory is….thank-you for sharing all our wonderful family memories, we have a few! Our greatest gift is watching you and your family begin a lifetime of memories, and being a part of it! I love the fact that even though you are so far away, we haven’t lost the closeness we feel as a family.I miss you every day, but if I didn’t love you so much, I wouldn’t miss you so much!!!

  2. I don’t know what to say. That was just beautiful. I started reading it yesterday at work. Big mistake, my face started to leak. 🙂 I am so happy that there are so many things that we could do to make your pre-adult years so memorable. I can see with the way you interact with Sawyer and Brandon that you will do the same for your family. Some day when your kids look back at photo’s from their childhood, how are they going to find the time to go through 2 million photo’s to pick their favorite? 🙂
    Love you lots Alissa
    Daddio

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