day 6

dear seester,

with six years between us, i know i was that annoying little sister that would never leave you alone and wanted to be just like you, but you know what, i’m not sorry. i still look up to my older sister and enjoy every minute that i get to be around you.

i am grateful…

1. that we totally both think of each other and get super emotional every time we see a movie about sisters, hear a song about sisters, or read an article about sisters (insert reba now… “my sister…my friend”)
2. that despite protest, you eventually were okay with me taking horseback lessons (aka your sport), i think…
3. that you bought me my very first journal as a gift when i was sick in fifth grade (who knew it would be the first of many, many, many more)
4. that you sat through the “boring” ballet half of my dance recitals to get to the good stuff like tap and hiphop that came after intermission
5. for that time you visited me freshman year of college and we took a random road trip that involved a selfie photoshoot with our wendy’s order???
   
   
6. that you ran my bookkeeping for me`free of charge when i first started my own business
7. that you are such an amazing adventure partner always up for the next snowboarding trip or wakeboarding outing or atv excursion
8. for the drunken bar phone calls i would get where you would tell random guys next to you how hot your little sister was (i think you’re hot too)
9. for loving karaoke just as much as i do and owning the mic whenever we go
10. that you play hockey and brought home a bunch of hot canadian freeze players to live with us for awhile
11. that i was there to witness you slashing that asshole and getting 10 minutes in the penalty box during one of your hockey games (you’re a badass)
12. that you potty trained me (or so mom says)
13. that people say our personalities are similar and i take it as a compliment
14. for that one time i stayed at your house and you cut up watermelon for me just like mom used to do
15. that you’re always there to help me pick up the pieces when my heart falls apart
16. for all the times you dropped me off or picked me up from somewhere because mom or dad couldn’t
17. for giving me a key to your house and all the times you’ve let me crash in your guest bedroom
18. for the incredible passion you have for learning new things
19. that despite all our sisterly fights, i know you always have my back
20. that you taught me how to summersault (and that there is video evidence of how awesome i can summersault)
21. that you would let me hang out with your cool, older friends around the bonfire when we were figuring out our lives post parents’ divorce (even if my habachi style massage techniques were slightly annoying)
22. for the times you’ve set me straight (everyone needs a little tough love sometimes)
23. for being the one who takes care of our parents when dan and i are thousands of miles away
24. for the fact that i have two of the most amazing siblings ever (not biased at all)
25. and that i got to watch you both and learn from your mistakes (benefit of being the baby)
26. that you found such a strong interest in technology and have crafted an amazing career from it
27. that you have always been such a positive role model to me
28. for that time you sent me like 10 birthday cards in the mail for my 30th birthday (oh how i do love me some greeting cards)
29. that you forgave me for cutting off all of your “my little pony” tails (i really thought they would grow back, i’m sorry)
30. that i have a built-in best friend to help me get through the hard times and celebrate the good times

day 5

dear dad,

it’s time to say thank you to the other half of the sara creation equation. after a quick week of snuggling up on the couch by your side, i miss you already. i am so lucky to get to pop back to chicago as much as i do to catch up my daddy time. now onto all the other reasons, i am so lucky.

i am grateful…

1. for friday nights country line dancing at the vfw honing my killer tush push, slappin’ leather, and two-step skills
2. for your frightfully loud yells to interrupt long periods of silence in the car on road trips (and how hilarious you thought it was every time)
3. and for your meticulously tracking of which gas stations and restaurants were at every highway exit along said road trips (before google maps)
4. that you taught me how to check my oil and are always there for calls about weird noises my car is making (seriously though, what is that cricket in my tire?)
5. that you are so proud of your three children (we are so proud of you too)
6. for your perfect comedic timing and dry sense of humor
7. that for several years, you spent 60+ hours cleverly hiding money into every day objects and turned christmas into an EPIC scavenger hunt (i still can’t figure out how you get a dollar bill inside a seemingly unopened can of tuna)
8. that i understand and appreciate that a smack to the gut or a tug on my ponytail means “i love you so much”
9. for all the long hours and hard work you put in to make sure i could take advantage of everything this life had to offer
10. that you always had conversion vans accessible to help move all my stuff from one college house to the next (and that you drove the five hours there and back to help me do it)
11. for your collection of amazing machines growing up… slushy machine, cotton candy machine, popcorn machine, hot dog machine, soda machine… what more could a kid want?!
12. for your incredible ability to make the biggest splash doing a can-opener off of the high dive
13. that you sat through every single one of my dance recitals, school musicals, and other performances
14. that i always knew when you had eaten the ice cream (no one else can make it quite as perfectly flat as you)
15. for the letters and poems you sent to me while i was at the new england literature program in college and disconnected from technology for six weeks (and your secretly amazing wordsmith skills)
16. that you still allow me to curl up next to you or into your lap even though i am a grown woman
17. that you are the only person i know who can make that weird hissing/spitting/puckering sound effect with your mouth (i won’t even attempt to try and spell it out, but you know the one)
18. for your siblings and everything that is “the schneider side of the family”
19. for your delicious recreation of your mom’s german pancake recipe (you’re going to have to give us kids a lesson one of these days)
    
20. for your extremely…long…drawn…out…way…of…telling…stories…complete…with…hand…gestures…
21. for your extreme attention to detail (ahem, perfectionism) and intensely creative mind
22. that you seem to figure everything out without ever asking me any questions
23. that you finally started to get out and see the world through your travels (and for the times you bring us kids along)
24. that you have a mailing address that remains the same for long periods of time (and that you allow me to use it as my mailing address no matter where i am calling home at the time)
25. for your outgoingness, charm, and wit
26. that you always let me ride in your big chief go cart when i was too small to drive my own
27. for the fact that your garage at old kirk was basically like getting lost in an “american pickers” episode (i think that old snow sled might be worth something nowadays)
28. that you know how to build the biggest bonfires i’ve ever seen and that we grew up in a place where we could do so
29. for the times i’ve seen you happy and the times i had to figure out why there was a photo of a panda on the wall
30. that i am your little weasel and always will be

bonus: for the days when you used to wake us up with “sin wagon” and the rest of that dixie chicks album blaring as loud as the speakers could go

day 4

dear ryan,

today i am feeling homesick, which is strange because i was just “home.” i just spent a week with my family and the friends who have been home to me since i was a child. but, nowadays, home is wherever i’m with you (not to steal edward sharpe’s words or anything). this list could literally go on for hundreds of reasons, but here are the first 30 that come to mind.

i am grateful…

1. for four years of laughter, friendship, hardship, and deepening love
2. that you decided to go climbing in maple canyon back in september 2013
3. for your impressive ability to ride the highs and lows of my dramatic emotions with complete stability
4. that you share my passion for adventure and travel, especially rock climbing and snowboarding
5. for your creative, problem-solving mind, always crafting or dreaming up your next project
6. that you know how to fix everything when it breaks (except your computer, which is why you have me)
7. that even when you don’t know how to make me feel better in hard times, you listen, and try
8. for airplanes and our ability to afford flights, because let’s be honest, without them, we are nothing
9. for your loving and thoroughly entertaining family and friends
10. that i am so proud to have you as my partner
11. that you are just so damn nice (and help me be nicer too)
12. that you are always willing to lend a hand when friends are in need (or even strangers broken down on the side of the road)
13. that you created a coffeeshop out of cardboard (complete with sounds and smells) when i was stuck in the australian desert and missing my portland lifestyle
14. that physical activity and good health is important to you
15. that you love my big butt
16. for all the times you have brought me ice cream, and not judged me for it
17. that you challenge me to try new things (kiteboarding is awesome)
18. that you don’t mind (too much) that i suck at “womanly” things like cooking and doing the dishes
19. for your written words and stories (when you give yourself the time to write)
20. for the life we have built together in hawaii and the life we will continue to create together
21. that we continually try to push the limits of what is “normal” even for us
22. for the moments when you need me
23. that you support my career even when it means lots of time apart
24. that you brought home two baby kangaroos to make life better in the desert
25. for your positive influence on my finances and spending habits
26. for your hot bod and head of curls (it had to be listed)
27. that you are independent and respect my independence as well
28. but that we basically do everything together anyways
29. for your horrible dad jokes (i might regret writing this after a few more rounds of hearing the same ones over and over)
30. for your acceptance of everything that is me

day 3

dear lala & tine,

every time that i hang out with you two, i cannot help but have a hilarious time. for the past 25 years or so, you have both been such huge parts of who i am. you’re sharing a day of gratitude because there is way too much overlap. thanks for being two fixtures that remain the same in my ever-changing life.

i am grateful…

1. that my mom decided to send me to copeland dance when i was six, and eventually made it into junior stars and into your hearts ❤
2. for your ability to make me (and everyone) feel included, even if they feel like an outsider
3. for your amazing and lovable parents (and siblings) who have always cared for me as their own
4. that you had bebe clothes you didn’t mind passing along to me
5. for your down-to-earth borderline raunchy dude bro personalities
6. that no matter how long it has been since i’ve seen or talked to you, i know you are always there for me
7. for your incredible love of animals (i don’t know anyone else with more pets than your two families)
8. that you support my crazy adventures and follow along
9. that you love ryan almost as much as me and immediately initiated him into our clan
10. for the way you go out of your way to make people feel special
11. for your extremely skilled ability to fart, burp, and just generally be gross
12. for an endless amount of ridiculous memories including lawnmower races, hillbilly jam sessions, peach smelling showers, poolside shaving, falling down (and up) stairs, fast food parking lot hangouts, and a slew of month long sleepovers
13. that you were still my friend even though i didn’t get an escape as my first car (and my name doesn’t start with a ‘k’)
14. that you are both as loud, outgoing, and tall as me
15. that you make coming home to st. charles something to look forward to
16. and that when i am gone, i miss you both… a lot

kayla, i am grateful…

17. that i got to ski aspen with you and the fam, and will smith
18. for our open door poop talks
19. for your beautiful eyes (seriously)
20. for how epic our high school locker was for all four years
21. that you honed my ocd organization skills at a young age (you can hire me in adulthood too)
22. for the incredible way you are able to keep in touch with your core group of friends daily (so impressive)
23. that you forgave me for spilling the beans about the screwdrivers (i think i’m forgiven…)

kristina, i am grateful…

24. you found such a quality husband who has always lovingly put up with our shenanigans
25. and for the beautiful family you are creating (and sharing with us)
26. for reminding me that you are stronger than me and can kick my ass (or just duct tape me to your kitchen floor)
27. for your stubbornness, sarcasm, and sensitive side
28. that you are so hardworking and motivated to help others
29. that you were there for my mom and i when she was going through treatment
30. for your steadfastness and honoring of traditions (i always know where you’ll be on your birthday)

day 2

dear mom,

you are the most logical choice for these early days of gratitude. without you, there is no me. so let’s begin with that.

i am grateful…

1. that you and dad had a happy accident back in 1986
2. for your never-ending, overabundant optimism
3. for the example you set as a strong, hardworking woman throughout my childhood (pretty sure you had 3 jobs at one point)
4. for every drop off and pick up from copeland dance studio (let’s see… 5 days/week for at least 10 years)
5. that you and dad always found a way to fund my activities and education even through financial hardship
6. that you opened your home to my friends and were a “cool” mom
7. that you sent me to chicago jr. school for an unique fundamental education that shaped my formative years
8. for your ability to see the good in everyone
9. that you taught me to sew the ribbons onto my pointe shoes by myself
10. that you made sure i took advantage of every opportunity life threw at me
11. for your desire to travel and explore new places (clearly genetic)
12. for your youthful appearance (bodes well for me since i’m a spitting image of you)
13. for your non-judgmental understanding of my decisions
14. for your overwhelming compassion and need to take care of others
15. that you put up with me through my teenage girl years
16. for your adventurous spirit (especially when it comes to amusement park water rides)
17. that you kicked cancer’s ass singlehandedly (seriously, don’t try to be superwoman again)
18. for every turkey that has “flown” across our kitchen on thanksgiving day
19. for your eagerness to continually learn new things (even if i have to deal with a slew of new books gifted to me because of it)
20. for your ridiculously narrated family videos from childhood, such treasures now
21. that you sense when i need you to be there for me without me having to ask
22. for your perfect baby back ribs, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob
23. for your slightly off key, but entirely adorable, renditions of celine dion and mariah carey
24. that you grew out of your perm phase (love you)
25. for your constant reminders of god’s love
26. that you passed so many things onto me: your love of youth and dance and nature and travel and horses and so much more
27. for your endless crazy business ideas (tacos in germany…)
28. for the freedom you allowed me as a child, to explore, get lost, mess up, and learn on my own
29. that you kept my shitty ceramics artwork on the fireplace mantel forever (and have always supported my pursuit of the arts)
30. that you are my mom and i am your daughter

november is about thanksgiving. and thanksgiving is about giving thanks. so, for the next 30 days, i am going to do just that. i have not made a list and handpicked 30 people for which i am grateful. i will take time each day to reflect and write what comes to me. but, to have some form of a template, i will write 30 statements of gratitude for each person, place, or thing (in addition to whatever else i want to write).

day 1

dear grandpa bird,

today, i sat alongside your hospital bed and could not help but sink into and sift through the uncountable reasons i am grateful for you.

i am grateful…

1. for your blue eyes that stare back at me in my own reflection
2. and your chubby german cheeks that sit upon my own face
3. that you set such an amazing example of love and companionship for me (married to grandma for over 67 years)
4. that you made every past boyfriend of mine feel super awkward as you told them a dirty joke as an introduction
5. that you always kept twizzlers in a jar for us grandkids
6. for your fishing lessons from the dock
7. that you had a pontoon boat to take us on rides down the rock river
8. for your entrepreneurial spirit (which i definitely inherited)
9. for your fascinating stories about being a milkman and a kiebler elf and a slushy man and a dolphin security guard
10. that you built the house i grew up in on a block of land perfect for adventures and exploration
11. that you lived above us during my childhood and got to experience me growing up
12. and that you always tell the story about how i would come running upstairs after getting out of the bathtub as a little girl, flash open my towel, and run back downstairs giggling
13. for your stubbornness
14. and for every smart ass comment you said that made grandma yell “david!”
15. for your thrifty spending habits
16. for your financial advice (my kids will have my life insurance thanks to you)
17. for always stocking the fridge with cream soda
18. for teaching me how delicious a “black cow” can be
19. for the giant wooden clogs you got from holland that i always slipped my tiny feet into and marched around the house in
20. for the times i got to crawl up into your lap while you relaxed in your favorite arm chair
21. that you and grandma drink milk out of a bag, and i have never met anyone else who does
22. for your endless travels and grandma’s meticulous tracking of them (i think you still have me beat so far)
23. that you’re the kind of man who brought gifts to mexico each winter to give to the hotel staff
24. that you told me to get creative with my tax write offs… goats = lawn care
25. for the love and support you’ve always given your family, starting with turning down harvard
26. for every game of rummikub and skipbo
27. that you raised our family with christian science
28. for every “grandparents’ day” that you attended at chicago jr. school
29. for every time you asked me if i knew the song written about me and proceeded to sing “que será, será, whatever will be, will be”
30. that today i got to kiss your forehead and see you at peace