Gratitude Month 2026: My Little Brothers

 

My family dynamic that I was born into is complicated, but to simplify a bad situation that I did not create, I am the oldest of my siblings, the only girl, and I have five younger brothers. This pack of brothers of mine have meant the world to me since I have been able to have a recollection of our time together. Growing up, we had good times and bad times and everything in between like all siblings, but something that has always been dear to me in my memory of them is how we had so much fun together playing outside in our backyard, swinging on the swings, running around chasing each other, giving and going for rides on the riding lawn mower, sword fighting with sticks, climbing on the wood pile, and so much more. 

The first of two of my favorite memories where I was the leader of the pack in our backyard is when we were pouring any and all cleaning agents from under my parents' bathroom sink in and around a giant anthill we had discovered in the way back of our acre property and trying to light it on fire. I was pretty young, but I knew how to read and was scanning the containers for the word flammable. I made sure my little brothers kept a safe distance because, while we did want to destroy the ants, I did not want anyone to get hurt. We did not meet much success at burning out the anthill, but a bit of flame did happen probably after the bleach, I think. And everyone was safe from the chemicals I felt for sure were very dangerous since they had the word flammable on them. I remember feeling so big and responsible for keeping my little brothers safe from getting burned. 

The other favorite memory with my little brothers in the backyard was when I had a friend over and our dad gave me permission to make a tiny fire with twigs on our concrete slab that ended with me cooking bacon and eggs for everyone (including my dad who never questioned why he had a plate of bacon and eggs delivered to him by one of my brothers) over what turned into a large fire and my little brothers running around that fire and being handed pieces of bacon from the pan as they finished cooking like a wild scene with the Lost Boys from Peter Pan. We were having the time of our lives. And then—mom came home. I do not recall her being angry that a bonfire was lit in her backyard by her approximately 8 or 9-year-old daughter who was encouraging her sons to run around a fire like maniacs but because I had used her good frying pan, and she was livid about that. I was so busted. Her good pan was a stainless steel with copper bottom Revereware, so anyone who knows what that is knows full well she had every right to be ticked. Now that I know what that is, I would have gone ballistic on my children! But I digress. 

I share these two top tier moments in time to show how I have loved being the ringleader of my little brothers who are not little anymore. In fact, we are all so grown up now that we hardly have a moment for adventure and have not all been together in the same space for many years. Each of them have special gifts and talents they bring to our family and in the world where they have shared them, and I am thankful to be alive long enough to look back and see how far we all have come and what a difference they have made for so many including myself. Each of my little brothers have taken turns being there for my children as they were growing up, and I am extra thankful for those times when we needed their time and presence. 

Their presence in my life has made me who I am as the oldest of our pack and the only sister. Their love and trust have pushed me to be brave and strong. Their kindness and forgiveness have pushed me to be my better self at every turn. I am thankful for these five now grown men who have blessed me and my children more than I can find words to express it all. 

Gratitude Month 2026: Good Food

 

Just before sitting down to write about something I am thankful for, I finished a bowl of homemade cheeseburger soup that I had prepared for us today. And my thoughts are overwhelmed with gratitude for my full refrigerator and pantry and the crockpot full of delicious, warm soup that we will be working on over the next few days. I have been so fortunate my whole life to never have gone hungry and never to have to watch my children go hungry either. My dad knew destitution and hunger as a child, and he would share stories to teach us to be thankful and to take care not to waste what food we had. I hope I always remember the lessons he taught us about being grateful for something as basic as food because not everyone has their basic needs met. Food is basic but a blessing, and I am so thankful for it. 

Gratitude Month 2026: America 250

 

This semiquincentennial year for the United States of America has been a time of gathering friends and family for celebratory times, experiencing its history and present innovations, and reveling in all the good that is America. I am grateful for my ancestors who sacrificed greatly to leave their homelands for an unsettled wilderness and all who kept coming as they were beckoned by the hope of liberty. I am thankful for my American roots that anchor me to this land. I am thankful for all the freedom that has been fought for and won because people have believed we could have something different, something better. I am grateful to God for watching over us, and I pray for His holy protection as we move into the next two hundred and fifty years. 

Gratitude Month 2026: Deep Conversation

 

Anyone who knows me knows that I could talk the ear off a horse—or whatever that saying is. I talk small talk, big talk, and everything-in-between talk, but my favorite kind of talk is deep talk. Not everyone revels in argumentation, complex concepts, and random trains of thought that bring you to truly contemplate the important and eternal things in life. I will be friends with anyone and everyone, yet I tend to gravitate toward those individuals who appreciate and enjoy deep conversation. It is usually self-professed nerds like myself who love deep conversations, and I am here for it. 

The other day, I was part of one of these treasured talks, and I was asked how I would define love. My first response was that love equals loyalty, and I gave evidence to support my claim. The talking kept going and even weaved into other conversations, then, something someone said provided me more clarity on how I could describe love, and it is affectionate loyalty. This description can apply to any form of human love that we share. I give affectionate loyalty to my children, my brothers, my parents, my extended family, my friends, my coworkers, and my employer even. Each iteration of love looks different, but the definition stands true to how I live life. 

I would like to give affectionate loyalty to a romantic subject again someday, God willing. I must say I am not grateful for the realization that I have never received genuine affectionate loyalty in this form, but I still seek it, so I guess I am thankful I still have hope that I can find someone capable of reciprocating romantic affectionate loyalty for me.

So today, I am thankful for the deep conversations I have had in my life and the recent one that got me thinking about something that brings me hope. And I am thankful that I am someone capable of loving the intellect it takes to hold these types of conversations.  

Gratitude Month 2026: Good Music

 

I was raised around good music. Between my parents' wide range of musical tastes and growing up in the 1980s and early 1990s, I have experienced the best of the best throughout time, so whenever anyone asks me what is my favorite type of music, I literally say one word—good. Not all music is good, but you can find good songs in just about any genre. Some of my favorite genres with many good songs in them include classical, classic rock, new wave, alternative, country, and gospel music. I enjoy songs in other genres as well, but these are what I probably listen to most as they bring happiness, understanding, and light to my days. 

Going to live musical performances is another facet of my gratitude for good music. There is nothing like hearing a live orchestra or a choir singing in front of your very eyes, and I will add how much I love watching a marching band competition played outside on the football field. It is all so good to me! 

I am so grateful for the gift of music that has been ever present in my life.