In this roundup, we revisit posts from our archives that feature the keyword “thankful.” From once-in-a-lifetime hunts, to time spent with family, our writers and interview participants share their many reasons to be grateful.
JoAnna Anderson: My Sisters’ Keeper
JoAnna Anderson is a real estate developer in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, who occasionally pops in and graces us with a guest post. She wanted to let us know what happened when she decided to introduce her sisters to the possibility of becoming their own personal protectors – through concealed carry. But first, it required that she lead the way, as her sisters’ keeper, and guide them to the gun range. We think you’ll warm to this story, too. We did! ~ The editors
Sisters at the range
I am blessed to have a huge family. I have nine sisters and 18 brothers. Out of all of my siblings, I am the youngest. That means that I was well protected, loved and supported. We grew up very poor and sharing was mandatory. If someone even thought about picking on me as a child, they had to reconsider because my family always had my back. As I became an adult, the same still applied. If I was struggling, my family would step in to fill in the gap. The beauty of always being on the receiving end of things as a child is that it was great training for me to one day return the favor. Fortunately, I’ve been able to give back in many ways to my siblings. It’s so interesting how we all have the same beginnings, but find our own paths in life that are all different and beautiful. We accept and share and our differences and that makes us better as a family.
This was my way of giving back to my sisters by instilling confidence in them. They are now excited about owning guns, proper training and practice at the shooting range. This small event has also given them the correct path to protecting themselves and the ones they love. I’m very thankful to be able to share this bond with my sisters and be their keeper for once.
What draws people to South Dakota and keeps them there to raise their families? For many people, it’s definitely the hunting. We reached out to nationally known hunter Melissa Bachman, host of the TV show Winchester Deadly Passion, to answer those questions and a few more about her outdoor lifestyle, including some tips on hunting in South Dakota.
For those who have never been to South Dakota, especially hunters, what would you tell them about the people?
The outdoor culture in South Dakota is the most thankful and appreciative of hunters that I’ve seen anywhere in the country. Many communities benefit from the tourism that hunting brings, so almost everyone is touched by it in some way and, in turn, feels grateful. In our town, you’ll see “Welcome Hunter” signs everywhere: from the gas station to the grocery store to the hair salon. People here are very welcoming and genuinely enjoy having hunters visit our state.
When I consider my life and how fortunate I have been, it is almost as if I am in a play with a perfectly written script. My story has had countless hurdles and challenging times, but just when it seems as if I am in a situation I am not equipped to handle, someone enters my world who helps me along the way.
It is as if all the characters in my story come to me at just the right time.
The holiday season is a time for reflection, and a time for giving thanks. Around Thanksgiving, I began thinking about all the people who helped me at various stages of my life and contributed to my success.
Vera Koo is thankful for Jim O’Young
I did not come to this point in life by myself. I received a lot of help, especially during my shooting career. I was quite aware of it throughout every step of my journey. However, we need to do more than just feel thankful. We should express our gratitude.
I have expressed my thanks to friends and family throughout the years, but as 2019 came to a close, I wanted to be intentional about it. I made a special effort to thank those who most helped me during my shooting career.
Our Babbs whips up a gratitude pumpkin, perfect for inspiring prose about being thankful, in plenty of time ahead of Thanksgiving. Start noticing your blessings this way today!
I know many of you are focusing on the next big holiday, which is Halloween, but here’s an idea — why not start your “gratitude pumpkin” now while the pickin’s good? We began this tradition last year, when I found a scraggly old pumpkin that had some space on it for writing. I had seen this idea done before, and wanted to see what my family would add to such a canvas.
This pic was last year’s pumpkin — mid-season.
I was not disappointed. At that time, my daughter and her husband were living with us because of a major house renovation, and I also noticed sometimes words that appeared on the pumpkin sparked a conversation at dinner. “So, you like old Westerns? Which ones?” You know, gratitude pumpkins don’t have to be all serious and liturgical.
Jackie Baird Richardson is an interior designer, editor at The WON and avid junker. Watch for her design tips and occasional crafting ideas, bringing the outdoors indoors.
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