Simply, My Life

Let me tell you a story about decorations, menu-planning, slaving in the kitchen, carbs, too many potatoes, not enough potatoes, exhaustion, laughter and singing: Thanksgiving with the Ostermanns.

Life is family.

And it’s these simple things that mean the most, especially during the complicated holiday season, often overshadowed by merchandise and materialism.

So, Instead of a Christmas list, I made a what-I-love-about-my-life-list that goes something like this:

1. Jesus
2. Mummy and Dadders
3. My three sisters: Elise, Ariel and Kali
4. My three best friends: Kaley, Lauryn and Kate
5. Playing outside (mud pits, climbing trees and puddle-jumping)
6. My heater (just installed in my room, boo-yah)
7. Organic agave nectar
8. Frisbee
9. Singing at the top of my lungs
10. Dorky dancing

You have to hear the story to understand.

Once upon a time, two people married each other because they were ridiculously in love. When they felt they were ready for a new adventure, they had four daughters. Being good parents, they loved each other best and their daughters next best.

As a good father, my Dad taught all his daughters the essential skills of life: throwing a Frisbee and climbing trees. As a good mother, my Mom taught us how to make the best sweet potato casserole and how to eat healthy. As good sisters to each other, we were never without someone to hug, blame, borrow from, fight with, harmonize to or use for a dance partner.

Childhood was spent primarily outdoors, racing the neighborhood boys and singing in the rain. Winter was full of make-believe and dress-up and learning new dance moves from one of my mom’s Denise Richards exercise videos.

My teen days were spent actually learning how to sing, ruining expensive shoes by forgetting that muddy puddles were not created for jumping, and loving Jesus. College years began with learning how to wear make-up.

These years were shaped by my best girl friends and will end with them; I am going to live with one, I drove off the road when another one called me five minutes after her engagement and I still cry when I think about how Oklahoma is stealing another one away.

Life is full of change.

Now I give myself over to things like organic agave nectar. As a habitual treat-lover, sugar has always been something of a problem. After a life of high fiber cereal and an allotted hour a day where I “had” to play outside, I’ve lived a rather healthy life pattern. Now, as an adult, I stay in charge of making my own food and gym schedule. Shopping for low calorie and nutritious foods has become a hobby. My sisters and I are the first to swear by P90X and the last to admit that carob really is not as good as chocolate.

Life is full of adventure.

Although I am in the process of moving out, I enjoy the room my parents have willingly provided, and the heater they donated to me. Perhaps I have a poor constitution or perhaps a year in Los Angeles ruined me but I swear there is never such a thing as too many blankets. I have my methods for solving these problems, nothing like sneaking into my sister’s room at an unholy hour of the night and literally stealing the blankets off of her.

Life is funny.

The thing about this Thanksgiving is that I am older. I understand how many blessings are in my life. I understand exactly who I want to thank for them. Most importantly I do not want a single second to pass that I don’t treasure. Something about my family is simply amazing. And there is nothing like great food to remind us.

P.S. There will definitely be a dorky dance party to follow, complete with an air guitar contest and shooting a ridiculous home video in which we will all get drunk on sparkling cider.

I love life.