Thank You Notes

Dear Friends,

There really is something extraordinary about having a group of friends that love you just the way you are, and that know you love them too; friends that will drive across town to pick up your kids, then bring them back to you just because they're yours, and that's enough; friends that will throw their own kids in your car without worrying, without feeling like they have to write a thank you note, or bake you a loaf of banana bread because the favor will be returned soon enough and even if it's not, it doesn't matter because it's just what friends do; friends that will listen to pregnancy woes or not quite pregnancy woes or I have way too much laundry and I just feel like complaining woes; that laugh when it's time to laugh, listen when it's time to listen, give advice when advice is needed, and shake in sense when there seems to be none. 

I'm glad I have you girls. You are all fabulous and make my life so much richer than it would ever be without you.

Lots of love and sugar shots,

Jenny
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Do you write thank you notes? I do. Not as often as I should, but often enough that I can tell you I do without feeling like I'm telling a lie. When I got married, my mother taught me good that every single person that gave me a gift deserved a nice thank you note - nothing generic, nothing rote. I was to mention something specific to the person that I was thanking, or I best not write at all. And so I did. While my brand spankin' new husband drove us across the country in a moving van, I wrote thank you notes.

It feels good to write a note - to say thanks when thanks are deserved. And it also feels good to tell you about my blogging and authoring friend Melanie Jacobson, whose second novel, Not my Type was just released this week. The book talks quite a bit about gratitude and how writing thank you notes can change your attitude in all kinds of ways. Wait, wait... that makes it sound like a self-help book, or something heavy and serious. And oh, how it is not. It's a fun, flirty, growing up and getting the guy kind of novel, that includes lessons of gratitude and humility. So you get to have fun reading, and feel good about it too!

You know what I think you should do? I think you should check it out. If you go to this link right here, you can read the first chapter.

Melanie Jacobson's Website

To celebrate Melanie's awesome new novel, I'd like to write a few more thank you's of my own...

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Dear nice man at the pool with five children,

Thank you for making it seem like going to the pool with five children is normal.

Sincerely,
The other parent in the pool that was surrounded with children
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Dear Caleb at the fitness center,
Thank you for making me the best Mango Tango recovery shakes ever, on the whole planet. The way I'm feeling lately, sometimes the only thing that motivates me to go the gym is the knowledge that when I'm done, I get to drink one of your shakes. Although, I really don't think it's nice that you threw mangoes at your brother when you were kids, especially since he was allergic. It might have been funny at the time to see him break out in hives wherever the mangoes hit, but come on... what a waste of a good mango. Someone could have made a shake with that...

Sincerely,
The one who might like her shakes a little TOO much

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Dear Ivy,

Thank you for folding your arms when we pray. I'm pretty sure it's the cutest, most adorable thing I've ever seen in quite some time. I love you so much it hurts.

Love Mamma

Who would get a thank you from you today? I'd love to know...