Thankful Letters

(I usually like to keep it real and portray the chaos that is our house, good and bad together, but I'm going to get sentimental and try very hard to keep my sarcasm to myself on this one -even while in the background Claire is crying about something Brooke did and Sophie and Janelle are arguing about the rules in Monopoly. We're just focusing on the positive here and being grateful for the good things about each other.)

Brooke and Janelle wrote thankful letters in their class last week. Brooke wrote to Janelle, and Janelle wrote to me. I thought the letters were precious.

"Dear Janelle,
Thank you for being a nice twin. I love you . I remember the time when we performed three plays for mom and Sophia called 'The Giant and the Kid', 'The Lady, the Owner, the Dog and the Monster', and 'The Cat, the Owner and the Monster'. Those plays were soooo fun. I also remember the time that me, you, Sophia, and some friends dug a huge hole at the beach, but then it got ruined. Thank you for being a good sister and twin sister and I love you very, very, very, very much. I will never ever forget those memories. I was thinking about cutting my hair so we would look more the same like you want but I decided to not do that because dad likes long hair better. So I'm just letting you grow your hair long. I love you very much.
Sincerely,
Brooke Linda Bevans"

"Dear Mom,
I am writing this letter to tell you how much I apperciate all that you do for me. Thank you for giving me food and clothing. Thank you for teaching me about the church, having fun with me, and letting me have a good education. I love you a lot and I appreciate what you do for me. I remember the time when we went to the beach. I had fun. I remember that after we went to the beach, we got to get salt water taffy. I also remember the time when you and dad surprised us by giving Phoebe to us. I love Phoebe and I will try to take care of her as good as I am able to. Thank you for giving me all those memories. Thank you for loving and caring about me. I love you.
Love,
Janelle Bevans"

I think they deserve a thankful letter back (Sophie included because,while she had no assignment to write a specific letter, she expresses her gratitude daily in word and deed):

"Dear Brooke, Janelle and Sophie,
I want to thank you for the qualities that make you guys special and add love and joy to our family. I appreciate how helpful you all are with cleaning and housework. I appreciate when you do the things that are expected of you without complaint and without delay. I love the massages you give me when you know I'm tired and achy. I'm thankful for how nicely you play with little kids when they come over to play. I appreciate how hard you each work to do well in school, and I'm grateful that you love each other so much. Sophie, thank you for being so steady and reliable. I know I ask a lot of you, and you are consistently helpful and obedient. Janelle, thank you for being the generous, unselfish, considerate person you are. You must be the best person to have as a twin sister! Brooke, thank you for being my snuggler. It really is a talent you have - I just wish you'd stay little a little longer. And thank you for being the spider destroyer when dad's not home. I REALLY appreciate that! I love each of your individual senses of humor and the silliness you add to our family. I remember all the times we've gone to the Gilbert House, Omsi and places like that and watching you learn and discover new things. I remember watching you play in the sand for hours on end when we go camping making elaborate constructions with all your cousins. I remember all the times you bring home your writing and artwork from school and I marvel at your creativity. I love watching you all learn and grow. You astound me often, and I look forward to watching you develop into lovely little ladies.
Love,
Mom"