Thankful #5: People We Love

In May 2012, celebrating my 23rd birthday.

 In May 2013, at Allie's nursing school graduation.
 

I am so thankful for our friends and family spread throughout the world, from Houston to Washington DC to Shanghai. I am thankful for all the various forms of technology that keep us connected over long distances, like cell phones, email, text messaging, skype, and instagram. I am thankful to everyone who trekked to Seattle for a visit this year. I am thankful for our trips to Ottawa and Orlando this summer, to introduce Maggie to her great-grandparents. I am thankful for all the new friends we've made here, particularly those who came to our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday.

 

Today, I am especially thankful for our childhood neighbor and honorary grandma, Mrs. Spiering. (Claire is named after her!) We spent countless hours at her house growing up, having tea parties and dressing up in her old Red Cross uniforms from WWII. I will never forget getting to have a sleepover there all by myself - we watched the Sound of Music and she taught me how to play solitaire. Our dear Mrs. Spiering suffered a brain aneurism last weekend and her family has chosen to turn off the respirator today. I am very thankful that Claire got to meet her namesake twice, but I wish we could have introduced her to Maggie.