A Month of Gratitude: Day 28

Day 28: Thanksgiving Together

I'm so thankful that we were able to make it home to see my brother Dave and his family. They live in Arizona and don't come back to Michigan all the time, but when they do, we try to get home so we can see them. This year, they were able to come home for the month of November and we were able to spend Thanksgiving together.

We had a wonderful dinner and spent some great time before dinner talking and laughing and the kids had fun playing together. My mom wanted some pictures of all the grandkids and her kids so we did our best (Gus was not cooperating due to being exhausted from waking at 4:45 for the Turkey Trot).

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Thanksgiving together.

 I got to meet my newest niece, Zoey (my twin's baby)

 My niece Aine is the best... she loves babies and was loving her time with Hugh

 Hugh talking to Uncle Dave

 My niece Lily also loves babies and was really excited to feed Hugh

 Right before dinner, Gus passed out

 Some of us ate here, and the rest ate in the dining room

 Oh, Uncle Steve

 Hugh was not sure if he wanted to eat dinner or just watch everyone else

 My mom, Mary Breeding (family friend), my dad, and Francine (family friend)

 Hugh kept poking Charlie in the eyes, so she went and got her goggles so he couldn't poke her ;-)

 She's 2.5 and Hugh weighs more and is almost the same height as her

 My nephew Benton playing with Charlie and Hugh

 Hugh hanging out with Mary (Mary was my Grandma Ghrist's best friend and neighbor for YEARS and still lives on the street behind where my grand parents used to live)

It was getting late, so we woke Gus and then took some family pictures.

 All nine of the grandkids (and a screaming Gus)

 My twin brother Scott and his family

 My brother Dave and his family

 My family

 Me with Hugh and my SIL Heather and our niece Lily

 Sibling picture

 Trying to recreate this picture:

(If we had the picture to look at, we could have nailed it)

The spouses

It was such a wonderful Thanksgiving. Probably the best one that I've had in many many years. There's something so special about being around family and celebrating a holiday surrounded by your siblings. 

It's in these moments that I cannot understand what it would be like to be an only child. I'm sure only children think it's great to not have siblings, as you can't miss what you've never had, but I can't imagine not having my brothers in my life.

Not only do I have two brothers, but they have families and I love spending time with all of them together. I love watching Gus and Hugh with their cousins, and watching each of my brothers children playing together. It's one of the greatest joys I've ever known.

I can only imagine how much this Thanksgiving meant to my parents. To have all three of their kids home with their families to celebrate a holiday together... something that hasn't happened in YEARS... truly awesome.

I told Steve as we were leaving that I think I might want to go back home next Thanksgiving. I hated the cold, but I really loved the warmth that being around family provided.

My Twin Brother Scott

 

Dave (middle) with me and Scott

So one of the things that I tell as an "interesting fact" about myself, is that I'm a twin. I judge how intelligent someone is by their follow-up question to me stating that I have a twin brother. If they ask, "Are you identical?" I assume they're an idiot. If they don't ask, I assume they know the difference between males and females and know that it's genetically impossible for a male and a female to be identical twins.

The one word that I've always used to describe Scott is UNIQUE. There's really nothing else that needs to be said because the word unique encompasses so much. He's one of the most intelligent people that I've ever met. I'm quite blessed in that department actually... my parents are both hella smart, and both of my brothers are crazy intelligent. My dad was a chemist and is now a computer guru... my mom knows everything there is to know about the Catholic church and the history of the Church, she has her Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry... my older brother Dave graduated from Loyola with high honors, is a former Marine, and works as a detective in Arizona. Scott graduated from Ferris State University with high honors and is a member of MENSA. 

So, not only am I surrounded by Steve's giganto brain and smarts, but it's all around me in my brothers and parents.

Scott has always danced to the beat of his own drum. He's never wanted to be "normal" or be identical to others. He relished in being different, even if it was totally uncool to be different. When we were in elementary school and middle school, I couldn't believe that we were related, much less twins. We were so VASTLY different. 

High school wasn't any better. He was into the "grunge" scene and donned Chuck Taylor's and flannel shirts daily, while I was busy being a cheerleader and trying to find my place in the pecking order of high school. Most people in high school didn't even know we were related, much less twins. It was weird.

Scott has one of the most unusual senses of humor that I've encountered. I used to pray that there was a girl out there just like him... and she was deemed "weird" by others and was looking for her soul mate. I hoped he'd find her and she'd love him and appreciate him and "get him" and not want him to change at all. My prayers were answered when he met Christie.

Scott has always known how to make me smile and laugh. He was so good at breaking rules as a kid and getting me to take the blame for things. He'll counter this if asked and say he did no such thing, but he did. I never wanted to disappoint my parents and would do ANYTHING to not have them mad at me... and it was like Scott got off on pissing them off. He enjoyed watching them get mad and would grin and smile if he got any kind of reaction from them.

At the same time, he was a gentle, sensitive soul. All the years of being picked on for being different and "weird" were painful and difficult to endure. I thank God that he never did anything crazy like taking his own life, but there were things that happened during his years of growth and development that could have easily drove him to that point. He was stronger than that, and God was constantly watching over him.

Through 35 years, Scott has gone through hell and back and has emerged victorious with a beautiful smile to light up the world. He's a man of high character, integrity, and his word is gold. He'd do anything for a friend, and is there to help anyone in need. 

He's always had a very soft spot for older people. I remember having a snack at the Kmart cafeteria and he would go and sit with older people that were dining alone... and he'd strike up conversations with them. He even invited some to our house for dinner. He was genuinely connected to them and enjoyed making their day brighter.

He was there to take care of both of my grandmothers when they were sick. He did things for my Grandma Burney that no grandson should ever have to do... and yet he did it, and reassured her that it was okay and not to be embarrassed by it. He helped my parents take care of their parents as they grew old and eventually passed on. He loved them with every ounce of his being, and has become the kind of man that they'd both be extremely proud of.

He's a father to Alex, and has stepped up to fill the role of dad for him. He disciplines with a firmness that's so identical to my father, it's kinda funny. The boy that laughed at my parents when they tried to punish him, is now using their same techniques to discipline his own kids. :)

He's a dad to Lily and Charlie and loves his two girls more than anyone ever thought possible. He's a tremendous partner to Christie and works his tail off to provide for them. They're blessed to have Scott in their lives, and his world has changed because of them being in his life.

Scott is a fabulous son and always stays in touch with my parents. He moved out of the house later in life, and I wondered what would happen to my parents when he left. He's managed to keep involved with them and have them over to his house often and goes to their house often. I'm thankful that he's there to keep them company since I live in NC and Dave is in AZ. I'd hate for them to be alone.

And then there's Scott as a brother. He's been there for me through some of the darkest days of my life. He didn't judge, he offered support and advice. He held me while I cried and felt like my world was crumbing, and at the time, it was. He gave Steve a fair shot when he met him for the first time, and has had a wonderful relationship with Steve since the day they met. He's the God Father to Gus and loves Gus tremendously. 

He's just an incredible, amazing person, and I'm so lucky to call him my brother. Here are some pictures of Scott through the years. Enjoy!