Days of Thankfulness #4

On this day of Thankfulness, I must write of my Sister in Law, Jenny. She and I have known each other for at least 20 plus years. She staterted dating my brother during my sophomore year in high school. Our first meeting wasn’t exactly a pleasant one. I was coming out of the shower and wrapped in a towel walking towards the laundry room. Apparently, I gave a dirty look and walked past her. I don’t remember this encounter, but she does. We laugh about it all the time. As the years went on, she stuck around. We included her in our family traditions and hers included ours. We got to know each other, but wouldn’t really consider ourselves friends. It was more of she’s dating my brother, so we’d see each other.

It wasn’t until she was in college and I was offered a job in the same town. We decided to live together to help with the costs of living, that we became close. Our friendship developed as we learned to live with each other. My brother and her would include me in their softball teams, college parties, and football games. I was just out of a very bad relationship, so I wasn’t keen on getting out or really making friends. She’d encourage me to get out, make new friends, and would help me when I needed it. We had fun playing Mario Kart, sitting on the back porch talking, or cooking supper. My brother and her became engaged and I was thrilled. I was gaining a sister!

We’ve had our ups and downs, but we always came back together in time as friends. Texts here and there checking in on each other, phone calls just to chat, Facetiming to include each other in activities due to being so far apart. She’s flown one way just to drive me and my children back home for holidays when my husband wasn’t able to. She’s included me in family parties when we couldn’t be there by video calling us, she’s called just to talk to my children and see what they’re up to. She is a very busy woman with her job and her child, but she’s always made sure to take the time to cal or text. Our children are very close, so many times during the week we’ll lose our phones due to the Facetime or texting each other, and for that I’m thankful.

To my Sister-in-law, I love you. I’m truly thankful for your friendship and love. I’m thankful that you love us warts and all. I know it hasn’t always been easy, but we never gave up. I cherish the friendship we’ve developed over the years and I look forward to many more. God has Blessed us with each other, and I’m so very thankful that He did.