Thank You, Grazie, Merci, Cheers

I know, I sound like a broken record. But we just don't say it enough. Thank You. Those simple little words can make someone feel like all of their effort was worth it, that someone noticed their hard work, that someone appreciated a little something they did. Thank you in my family is huge. Grandma and Grandpa have made it very clear, that those Christmas and birthday checks will come to a screeching halt if a thank you note fails to appear. I think that is a great policy. Even as my kids approach adulthood and spend less and less time at home, I still keep stacks of thank you notes handy for holidays and birthdays, and send a good amount of them myself.

As my daughter began Senior year, she came home with the paperwork for the Europe trip. This is a big deal. She and her friend had talked for the last 3 years about this trip, and I had every intention of going along. As I looked through the paperwork, the price, and the itinerary, I thought having been to 3 of the 4 destinations already, I could find something better to spend the money on. So we sent the paperwork in for Christina. As the trip approached, we found out only 10 girls were going and 3 very brave chaperones. Now don't get me wrong, these are nice girls. But 10 days with 10 teenage girls who will be without social media, getting up early and walking a lot of miles...it could get a little hairy. But the chaperones, they could not have been more suited for the job.

I really never worried about Christina traipsing around Europe. I knew the Dean was in the lead, and she told them to start walking before they left because their little feet would be tired. And the girls will tell you this woman can book it! Next was the guidance counselor who knows these girls so well as she helps them all prepare to go to the college of their dreams (Thank You for that too!) and the French teacher, who I wish had quizzed my 4-year French student all over Paris and made her chat it up with the locals! I know they were in complete control....and I am so thankful.

So I write thank you notes. And if you're me, you make thank you cookies. For the time in London, Cheers (their slang for thanks),
for the romp in Paris, Merci,
for the rainy days in Rome and Florence, Grazie,
and for bringing my sweetie home safe, Thank You.