Gratitude Challenge Week 3! ~Growing Up Thatcher

I am so very thankful for my family. I took the challenge to mean any family, and since I'm all nostalgic and such, I figured I should thank my family for be awesome.

1. I am thankful not only that I grew up in a Christian home, but had parents who found it important to take us to church every Sunday, help us memorize Bible verses and pray with us every night. Because of that, I received the best gift of all. The gift of salvation. A chance to become a daughter of God. I'm thankful that even though I've wandered here or there, because of my upbringing I could never stray far.  Because of the way they made church a priority, it made me realize when I had stopped going, that I wanted my kids in church too, and I've been able to set that example for them too. I pray that they will know the Lord and be thankful that they were able to grow up in church as well.

2. I am thankful for my parents teaching me household responsibilities. My sisters and I HATED being given chores to do...and we weren't even given that many! Mostly just helping clean up the kitchen at night. But Saturdays could be scary if mom went on the cleaning war path. Sometimes if you hid out, you'd get lucky, but usually she'd have us vacuuming, cleaning our rooms or some other form of "torture". But, she made me see how important it is to make sure my home is clean. My dad set a great example too. He worked all week, and then did all of the yard work, random jobs around the house and he cleaned too. It was normal to see him washing dishes, folding laundry and making beds.

3. I'm thankful that my parents taught me the importance of being responsible with money. I was frugal even as a kid, but they taught me to budget and plan for things. I saved money from babysitting and then got a job when I was 14 or 15 one day a week to help save for a car. I paid cash for my first car and half of my insurance. While, now it's a lot harder to just pay cash, I at least am able to budget and set aside money to help pay things off.

4. I am thankful for my two sisters. I really can't imagine life without them. We had many ups and many downs. Having a sister (or two!) is a really special bond. We've laughed together, cried together, black mailed each other, and stuck up for each other. Growing up, Erica and I were the close ones and poor Kendra got pushed to the side a lot, but I'm thankful that in the past several years, Kendra and I have grown closer too. We "talk" every day. (Sometimes a message, sometimes a snap chat and other times just sending stupidly hilarious memes to each other). We get SASSY with each other and then get over it. Even though Erica is far away, I'm thankful for all the hours we spent together cruising First Ave. and taking the "byway or highway". LOL! I can pretty much tell my sisters anything.

5. I am thankful that even as an adult I still have a close relationship with my family. I LOVE going "home" to Iowa because that's where my family is and a part of my heart is. I've had to learn to cherish the time that I get with them. We can drive each other crazy...and I mean CRAZY. There can be yelling and bickering, but in the end there's almost always laughter. My parents love being a Mimi and Pa and my sisters loving being aunts to the boys.They know that I get exhausted and coming there always gives me a breather because I know they will help me with everything.

I couldn't have asked God for a better family and am grateful that I grew up Thatcher. :)