Wisdom from a Wichman: Thanksgiving, Surprises & Engagements!

Since the minute I woke up this morning I thought,

"Today is going to be a great day to blog. I can tell the world just how thankful I am."

I wanted this post to be something spectacular.

I wanted everyone who was special to me to know just exactly how special they were.

I also wanted the world to know that this was going to be my families first holiday without a very important loved one by our side.

You see, people take a time out on Thanksgiving to stop what they're doing, enjoy their family, enjoy their friends and enjoy good food and great laughs together.

Some families only do this around the holidays.

For my family, I am thankful that we do this quite often throughout the year.

I have been incredibly blessed with an extremely tight knit family.

I have learned over the last 48 hours just how close we really are.

Some personal things happened the day before Thanksgiving that don't need to be aired.

But I will say that it involved a loved one needing their family.

And within minutes, several members of our family stepped up to the plate, without hesitation, and did whatever needed to be done.

And I know how incredibly lucky we are to have that.

Some people just don't get that.

And I am one of the few that can say, "Yeah, I GET THAT."

And then today, to wake up and know your brother is sitting on plane, traveling on Thanksgiving to go to his duty station and for the first time spend Thanksgiving alone is painful as a sister.

Painful.

You send your well wishes and sure maybe you get to FaceTime,

But it's not the same as having his face across from you at the dinner table.

Snap chatting saying he was on his way to Kentucky.

Mostly, today is a reminder to me to stay grounded.

To stay focused on what I hold so close to my heart.

My family.

Never have I been reminded of that more than today.

Let me explain how today played out.

Not once did I think I would get the surprise of seeing my brother standing out on the front porch in uniform. On Thanksgiving. Never. It NEVER once crossed my mind.

He made it very clear to me over the last 6-7 weeks that he couldn't come home.

I was sitting at the dinner table and had just finished my dinner when I heard a knock at the front door.

I assumed it was either Jakes girlfriend Amanda (as she planned to come later on after dinner with her family) or just a last minute straggler.

I heard my Dad yell "COME IN."

And I looked over to see my Dad with his camera out and recording.

I said, "Why are you taping the door?"

And he said, "I am just getting everyone at the dinner table."

And I see over at the door my husband just standing there, staring, and then I see my sister scream and jump.

And I knew it was Jake. I bolted through the dining room, living room and practically tore through the front door to get to him.

I sobbed. And made weird ass noises.

But I was elated.

And elated isn't even a good word for it.

Ask anyone there tonight. I couldn't stop dancing.

And sweating...

I sweat when I am nervous/excited.

Well, I will let you see how it played out.

A huge Thank You to my other little bro, Justin for standing out in the cold to record us swarming our brother!!!

I couldn't stop hugging him.

So, if you want to know what I am thankful for this year.

It's having my brother home for the holiday.

It's having such an amazingly wonderful, supportive, close and unconditionally loving family.

I am truly, incredibly blessed.
I know no matter where my life takes me, how hard it may get, how incredibly joyous it gets, I will always have the love and support from my family.
That's all I could ever need. Could ever want.