I want to close the year expressing my gratitude for these gifts.
1. Dylan, Brandon, Mia ---You give such meaning and purpose to my life. You have brought me closer to God. In early adulthood, I was an agnostic, but how can I be an agonistic when I look at your faces? When I feel discouraged, I just have to think of you and I am strengthened. You are the GREATEST gifts in my life.
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| Dylan, Brandon, and Mia - the greatest gift in my life |
2. Lance—You changed my life and resurrected my faith in the romantic Bronte notions of “love”. As deeply as I love you, I need you. You make life complete. You are my best friend, my kindred spirit, and my soul mate. I truly would be lost without you. I love you so much that I start crying when I think about you. I love you so much that it hurts. I love you so much that it scares me at times. I believe that God made us for each other. My life has never been this whole and complete, and I know it is because of you. You are everything to me. I know our love is one of the greatest love stories in the world. I love you with everything I am and will ever be.
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| Proposing to Lance with a "real" ring which he lost--he has had 4 or 5 wedding rings. I've lost count. |
3. Buddy and Bella—You make me feel unconditional love at times when I need it the most. I love how you monopolize our bed and force your dad and I to become contortionist as we try to find a sliver of space on the bed.
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| Our twins (not really)...Buddy and Bella |
4. Jesse, Lauren, Joe, Bron, and Don—you welcomed and accepted me so lovingly and openly as not only your dad’s wife, but family as well. Because of how much I love your Dad, your thoughts and opinions matter a great deal to me. You are and will always be very important to me. With or without this family bond, I like who each of you are as individuals...…I love all of you and will always be here for you.
5. Dad—You always make me feel loved .I know you will always be there for me. I feel very blessed that I have you as a dad. I love that you are completely unconventional, and a crazy nut. You are loud, obnoxious, and do crazy sh*t. You embarrass me, but oh, there is never a moment when I am not proud to be your daughter.
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| Dad geting love from Lance. |
6. Leroy and Yvette—I am very proud to be your sister. I enjoy sharing my passion of running with Leroy. Leroy, I am very proud of all that you accomplished, and I feel envious that you are running halfs like a 20 year old. Yvette--you have always had a soft heart, and I will forever be grateful for how you took care of Mom and also you have have been truly wonderful in taking care of my precious Brandon and Mia. You both are the only ones who love Mom like I do, and I know she is proud of all of us. I know you will always be there for me, and I hope you know that I will always be there for you. When mom was dying, I promised her that, and I will always honor that promise. ALWAYS.
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| with Yvette |
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| Leroy and I at the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half Marathon |
7. Susan—You have been incredibly supportive of my marriage to Lance. I also have not forgotten that you once said to me that you liked me the “best” out of all of your brother's past relationships. I am very competitive, and I loved hearing that. Seriously though I think it is because you can feel the depth of my love for him. I appreciate you trying to make me “understand” things I may not have understood. You have shown me love and acceptance. I love you.
8. Jed, Carter, Levi—my three grandsons. I became a grandma at a very young age, but I don’t mind because I have righteously named myself “Hot Grandma”. I love being around you, because you are just so adorable. I wish you lived closer so I could eat your cheeks and nibble on those fat thighs. You would be chewed upon and returned to your parents all slobbery and wet.
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| With Jed and Carter |
9. My In Laws, Nephews, and Nieces—who make me feel the warmth of an extended family and who make all the holidays much more enjoyable. I’m thankful that Mike does all the cooking on the holidays. I’m also thankful that Masha is also into running—it makes it a family affair.
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| My nices and nephews (minus Oliver) |
10. Keith, Mike, and Paul—who as Lance’s childhood friends accepted me into their circle. You were previously use to Lance always being available but now have to contend with a less available Lance due to his new commitment to me and an immediate family. I recognize it is an adjustment and can be inconvenient at times, but I also hope you know you are welcomed and embraced by me as well. You are now my brothers.
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| Lance with two of his brothers from another mother, Paul and Keith. |
11. Friends – I’m hesitant to say everyone’s name for fear I may inadvertently leave someone out, but you know who you are…Sherry, Cheryl, Roberta, Linda, Art, Bill, Liz...If I forgot someone, please dont take offense (I am just old and forgetful). I make friends slowly but when I do, I am profoundly loyal. I am grateful for all the laughs, the advice, and the support given to me.
12. Family – It seems after my mom passed, I don’t see some of my relatives as much, but the love I have is still alive and very strong.
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| With a few family members making fun of our Asian heritage...maybe its ok that we do this because we are Asian? |
14. Financial Stability, Food, Shelter, Employment
15. And last, but definitely not least, I am grateful to God. I can feel your presence surrounding me every day. It sometimes seems unfair that I have been blessed so much, but then again, I remember it wasn’t always like this and that I, too, have my own struggles. I know I will never take the gifts I have for granted, and I am eternally grateful. Thank you for enriching my life with love and beauty.
The meaning and purpose of my life will always rest with YOU, those that I love...
Thank you for making my life better.
The meaning and purpose of my life will always rest with YOU, those that I love...
Thank you for making my life better.
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