Procrastinating putting pen to paper for purposeful prose

Thankful on Paper officially began yesterday. I was supposed to write a letter to one person I love in my life telling them how grateful I am for them and why. Let me be honest with you. I have not written my letter. Yet. However, I am going to (either tonight or tomorrow morning). 


When I decided at the eleventh hour to participate in Thankful on Paper, I immediately began obsessing over how I was going to whittle it down to only four people in my life. Who would I choose? Would anyone be offended if they weren't included? In true Miss K fashion, I have over-analyzed this task and picked it apart to a point where I've almost sucked the joy out of even doing it. I tell you, sometimes it's downright painful to be in my head. 


Alas, I've since worked myself back out of my overly analytical tizzy and settled on starting at the beginning, with those who created me: my parents. I'll call them "Ma" and "Pa" to protect the innocent. ;) Yes, I chose two people because I couldn't thank one without thanking the other. They both raised me to be the woman I am today. And I like to color outside the lines just a little bit, so two instead of one satisfies my rebellious streak. 


Here's what I will say to my dear Ma and Pa:


Thank you for, at the ripe young age of 18, deciding you loved me enough to keep me. You could've taken many other avenues, but you didn't. You chose me. You chose to start a family, to be responsible, and to settle down. Without that choice, I surely wouldn't be here. 


My gratitude for you grows as I get older. It's been heightened since I became a mother and can now see through your eyes a little more clearly. A short, and not nearly complete, list of my gratitude follows:


~ Working tirelessly through the years to give us a home and everything we wanted
~ Establishing and maintaining a close family connection that never wavered as we toured the States (and then some) as a military family
~ ALWAYS supporting me in my endeavors, no matter how outlandish or short-lived
~ Teaching me manners and the difference between right and wrong
~ Nurturing and developing our relationship with extended family, no matter the distance between us all
~ Passing on a love of literature and poetry (Ma) :)
~ Passing on a love of classic rock and cars (Pa) :)
~ Giving me my twin brothers, who I first thought wrecked my world, but now realize sweeten my world
~ Loving my husband like he's your own son
~ Loving and spoiling my son like only wonderful grandparents can 
~ Loving me unconditionally despite all my thorns, which are many and sharp at times


Lastly, and most importantly, thank you for giving me the genes of really, really ridiculously good-looking people. ;) In all seriousness, thank you for giving me a strong sense of humor, without which I would've surely shriveled up and died at least a few times in my life. 


I love you both to the ends of the Earth, and thank the Lord for you. 

Let's practice purposeful prose

It's November now, and Thanksgiving is upon us. I love Thanksgiving, but I often feel like it is just one day that fleets by before the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season begins. It breezes through our home in the aroma of stuffing and pumpkin pie and leaves only remnants of full tummies wishing they were housed in elastic-waist pants instead of jeans with buttons and zippers. It should mean more. It DOES mean more. 


What if we left Thanksgiving with more memories than grandma's mashed potatoes and grandpa's blessing before the meal? 


What if we were Thankful on Paper? This is a grand idea cooked up by my fellow blogger, Rachel, over at No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane. I think it's a splendid idea, and do wish you would join me in showing your gratitude to those you love this way for Thanksgiving 2010. Basically, every Wednesday in November, we're going to write a letter to one person we are grateful for telling them all the reasons why we are thankful for them. Then, every Thursday in November, we are going to blog about who we wrote to and why. We can use our discretion on the blog posting part if we choose to keep it private. :) 


Check out the link above for further details. Here's a button to get you excited.

I'm very excited to do this, as I am one who loves to write and loves to receive letters, even though I don't do it as often as I'd like. I know, we're talking real, handwritten letters here, folks. Who knew you could even do that anymore? You can, and you will touch the life of your loved one with your letter of gratitude. Won't you join us?


"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~ William Wordsworth

Rock the ...

VOTE! Get out there and do it! Please don't say you don't know what's going on or who to vote for. Do some quick research today if need be and make your voice heard, please. It is such a privilege to live in the democracy we do. :)


I'll leave you with some words from my one of my favorite writers, Mr. Henry David Thoreau, in his essay Civil Disobedience:


"The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to — for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better than I, and in many things even those who neither know nor can do so well — is still an impure one: to be strictly just, it must have the sanction and consent of the governed. It can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it. The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual. Even the Chinese philosopher was wise enough to regard the individual as the basis of the empire. Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. "


"That government is best which governs least."


Do your civic duty, be ye obedient or disobedient, and go VOTE!