Thanksgiving, a time to be thankful

My last post was a bash on how Chicago has totally skipped over celebrating
Thanksgiving but I want to take part of that back by telling you my Thanksgiving
experience in Chicago although the Christmas decorations are still up and have now
multiplied since my last post. As mentioned before, Thanksgiving is a very special
holiday to me and perhaps in my top three favorite holidays (Christmas and my birthday
are up there too :) ) so when I found out that I wasn't going to be able to go home this
year for Thanksgiving I was bummed but also excited to spend the holiday with my
family and community here in Chicago, including my roommates and our neighbors.

A week before Thanksgiving Day, the Doulas at my Catholic Charities office hosted
a Thanksgiving dinner for all of their clients and their families to come and celebrate
together. Griffin was on Kairos that week but Molly and MC came to my office that night
to help me and the other staff serve the dinner. As we all gathered in the dining room,
one of the girls gave a wonderful blessing and Ms. Wilson, the Director of the Doula and
Teen Case Management programs, explained the activity for the night. She had set up
a Tree of Life and cut out a bunch of leaves for the girls. Each girl was given a leaf and
asked to write what they are thankful for. Then each girl stood up said what they wrote
and brought the leaf up to the tree and taped it on. Here are some of the responses
from the teen moms:
"Hi My name is _____ and I am thankful for my family."
"...I am thankful for my son."
"...I am thankful for life."
"...I am thankful to wake up every day."
"...I am thankful to find out today that I will be graduating on time."
"...I am thankful for my education and all the support I have in my life"
"...I am thankful for my daughter and the baby that is on the way."
"...I am thankful to be alive!"

With each of these responses, my smile grew bigger and bigger. Everyone in the room
was clapping and smiling knowing that even though these girls may not have planned
to get pregnant and be a mom at this age, they are thankful for the life they are living
now and the child they have. As this exercise went on, I looked around the room to see
the smiling and loud cheers of the Doulas and staff that supported these clients and
helped them to become the women and moms they are today. It was a pleasure for
my roommates and I to experience this exercise and be able to see the great work of
Catholic Charities. After all of the leaves were on the Tree of Life, my roommates, my
coworkers and I lined up behind the buffet table to serve out Thanksgiving dinner. It
was great to see how many people we fed and to be able to do some extra volunteering
during this great holiday. I really enjoyed serving and sharing a meal with my co-
workers and were glad that Molly and MC were able to experience this time at Catholic
Charities and its amazing staff.

As the dinner went on and as I drove home, I thought to myself, how can people that
are struggling always be so positive and thankful? I know this may seem like a silly question to ask because everyone deserves to be positive and thankful but I
cannot imagine the hardships these teen moms have gone through in the past
and maybe even in the future. My favorite part about this night was seeing how
blessed and happy the teen moms were. Maybe the best gift of teenage mothers
is their baby. Over the months I have worked as a Case Manager, I have met
moms of all ages and all of them love their children very much. Some are more
scared then others; some are a little depressed because of other things that are
going on in their lives but all of them love their babies and want to do everything
they can to give them a loving and beautiful life. After I came home and again
on Thanksgiving Day, I prayed for my clients and all of the single moms in the
Chicago area that they will always be safe and healthy no matter what life brings
them.

Thanksgiving Day for me was another great day in Chicago. Even though I didn’t
wake up to the smell of turkey cooking in the oven, I did get up and watch the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade with my roommates as I called and talked to my parents on
their way to New Jersey. I also did make ambrosia to bring with us to our Thanksgiving
dinner which everyone enjoyed. It was definitely a bittersweet day for all four of us at
times but we had each other and helped each other through the sad times. Molly and
I got to Skype with our families which were quite the situation to figure out but it was
great for all of us to meet and see our families over the internet. Even though it would
have been nice to be home, it was still a great day filled with food, laughs, love, and
family.

After watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Skyping with our families, JBird picked
us up and brought us to his brother Bob’s house who graciously welcomed us into their
house with his wife Carol and their son Bobby. All four of us, JBird and his son Paul
spent the day with their family lounging around the house, eating, drinking wine, and
watching football. It wasn’t the typical loud, Moretti/Burns family Thanksgiving but it
was very nice to be with family and share in their traditions. After dinner which included
delicious stuffing and turkey but no brussel sprouts or the other 10 sides Mom makes,
my roommates, Paul, and his cousin Bobby all took a nap beside the fire in their living
room which is a tradition I would like to start at our house Mom and Dad although our
couches are really comfy in the living room! After our cat nap, we enjoyed another
glass of wine, watched TV and went home to go to bed. It was sad not to be with the
family at Uncle David’s house but it was great to have a family Thanksgiving in Chicago
with our community and family here. The rest of the weekend included watching Elf,
relaxing, and going ice skating in Millenium Park which was a lot of fun. So the holidays
are here and I can’t wait to go home to see all my family and friends. Sorry Mom
and family that I wasn’t there for Thanksgiving but thank you to JBird and his family
for having us as part of their family for a great Thanksgiving meal and day with great
people.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to take time to thank God for
all of the wonderful people and things in your life this holiday season. My roommates
and I are truly blessed for all the amazing people and opportunities God has given us
and we thank Him every day for all He has done for us, all He is doing and all He will doing in the future.

Chicago fact: The game of softball originated in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, 1887

Tis the.....umm not yet!!!

For many people the Christmas season is a time of joy and love shared with family, friends, and loved ones.  Don't get me wrong its the same for me but in December, not November, not before Thanksgiving.  The stores are already playing Christmas music (I'm sure Price Chopper is) and there are already decorations going up around town.  As I drove down my Michigan Ave the other day on my way to a home visit I saw Christmas Candles and Candycanes hanging from the street light. "You have GOT to be kidding me!!" I said as I stared in confusion.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm no Scrooge but honestly Christmas in November and before Thanksgiving?! Not ok in my books.  I feel like these premature Christmas and holiday decorations are taking away from the great feast day that is Thanksgiving.  I would understand if they were doing Christmas early in Europe, Africa, and any other place besides the U.S. because they don't celebrate Thanksgiving but for us to overlook Thanksgiving, I think its rather rude!  Maybe I'm being way to overdramatic but I don't like to do anything Christmas or holiday related until December 1st.  

Thanksgiving, in  my opinion, is just as important of a holiday as Christmas is because you get to spend time with family and friends in addition to eating delicious food.  I really enjoy Thanksgiving and am sad that I'm not going to be able to be home with my family this year but I am thankful for J Bird and his family for inviting us to their dinner.  Thanksgiving is really a time to give thanks and be grateful for what you have in addition to helping others in need.  My roommates and I have talked about doing a soup kitchen or dinner of some sort around or on Thanksgiving day to serve people in need and enjoy the company of other people in addition to the ones we will be eating with.  Also Catholic Charities is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday at our office that me, Molly, and MC are going to go to.  I don't think many of my clients are going to be there but there will be many other pregnant women, babies and other people there to share in a great dinner together.  I am excited to be able to show my roommates more about my work site and to get to know more people that I work with in addition to the clients we are serving.

Christmas is a special time of year as well where everyone gets to spend time with family and friends in addition to eating meals and giving and receiving of presents.  Since I can remember I have always enjoyed the giving of presents more than the receiving.  Giving involves thinking about that person and finding something special for them that is both meaningful and significant to both you and the person you are giving the gift to.  As most of my family and friends know, I love to give gifts no matter how big or small.  Christmas is a time of giving and I think many people forget that sometimes because of all the hussle and bussel of having guests and making sure everyone gets what they want.  As time comes closer for me to go for Christmas I have been thinking about what I want my Christmas to be like and if there is anything I want.  Honestly the word want is one that is both significant and challenging in many instances.  Want can mean a dream or something that you desire whereas need is something that is closer to a human need or necessity like food, water, shelter, etc.  So the only thing I want or would like for Christmas are some TOM shoes other than that I honestly don't need anything else.  I really just want to spend time with family and friends and talk with them about my AV year and the service I have been doing.  

A challenge: Take time this holiday season both Thanksgiving, Christmas, and whatever other holiday you celebrate to volunteer and give back to some part of that community.  Whether that is donating to a toy drive, donating can food, helping out at a community dinner, singing Christmas carols, or just spending time with family and friends who you haven't seen in a while.  Take time to reflect on your life and the things and people that matter the most.  I can almost guarentee that it will make your holiday season that much more special when its all over. 

Chicago Fact: Chicago also has a tree like in NYC that they will be lighting November 24th.  At least they wait until the end of November to do the major decorating!

Why...

Why is a big question to ask.  Take some time to ask these questions to yourself, to others and to God.  Ask yourself Why.

Why are there so many injustices in the world?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why are some kids forced to grow up so fast?

Why do some teenage girls get pregnant?

Why do some people have no support system at all?

Why do we have daylight savings?

Why are so many people unemployed?

Why are so many people living below the poverty line?

Why are there child soldiers in Africa?

Why do some people get a second chance when others don't?

Why am I so blessed?

Why am I here?

Chicago Question: Why do Chicago public schools have to suffer from budget cuts when they are the ones who need the most time/resources?

 

Friends and Family are amazing

People say that you can pick your friends but not your family.  This is true but I wouldn't change anything about the friends and my family today.  Even though I am far away from them, they are still a big part of my life and I try to keep in touch with them as much as possible.  Whether its a phone call, an email, a Facebook message, a text or this blog, I have tried to keep up with as many friends and family members as possible. (Side note: I know I am slacking on keeping in touch with some of you so I will try my best to get better at this)  While these ways of communication are good at times nothing beats seeing your friends and family in person and getting a huge from them.  This exactly what has happened to me the past two weeks and what is going to happen again this weekend.

Two weekends ago, so Halloween weekend, my parents were in town for a conference my dad attended and of course to visit me and meet my roommates.  They arrived on Friday evening and I picked them up, drove them to my house, gave them a little tour and then headed to dinner with my roommates.  We went to a family owned Italian restaurant called Franconello's which is right down the street from our house.  We all enjoyed a delicious dinner and was joined by J-Bird and Julie at the end of our meal.  Then it was time to hit up Western so we went to Rhino bar with all the St. Rita people.  My parents got to experience Rhino bar first hand.  They met all the people who work at St. Rita and my mom  yelled  "Oh my goss This place is so fun!" as soon as she walked in the door so I think they had fun haha.  After the early night at Rhino we went to our hotel in the city for a good night's sleep before our big day in the city.  Saturday morning we got up and did the grand tour of downtown Chicago.  Mom thought it would be a good idea to do her hair as she does every morning until she stepped outside to The Windy City and there was no fixing it.  The tour included a lot of walking to the Bean, Millenium Park, Navy Pier, Michigan Ave, deep dish pizza at Giordano's, and the top of the John Hancock building for an expensive martini.  Then it was back to the Palmer House hotel to rest till dinner at this amazing seafood place called Hugo's Frog Bar which was amazing food but a long wait past our reservation time.  After dinner we met two of my roommates, Molly and MC, at the hotel so we could change into our halloween costume (Ghostbusters complete with backpack :) check out the pictures on facebook!!) and head out on the town for a fun halloween night.  The night was fun and very entertaining, including eating apple pie in the hallway outside my parents room with a cow! HA!  Sunday Mom let me sleep in and we did a little tour of Beverly and my work (she got very quiet when I pulled onto Michigan Ave).  The afternoon we went back downtown to shop on Michigan Ave/the Magnificant Mile which can be drastically compared to my not-so-magnificant mile of Michigan Ave in Roseland.  The day ended with a great dinner at a steak house with my mom, dad, and one of my dad's co-workers.  Monday my dad and I had to work but my parents took a cab to my office in the afternoon and then it was off to the airport to catch their plane home.

Tuesday of that week was also a fun time.  My dad had told me about a jazz night downtown that his company was hosting.  Since my parents flew home Monday night, my dad gave my roommates and I the invite to go.  So we went and had a blast!! I tried to serve as a representative of Dad and NJM/CLI but I didn't know many people there; although I did get introduced to the owner (co-owner?) of the company Michel LaPierre who was very nice and glad to meet me.  The best part of the night was when Marla, who had a lot to do with the set up of the party, gave my roommates and I one of the trivia questions that was going to win a digital camera.  Funny part about this is that MC had lost her camera at a bar a week before we came to Chicago so she was in need of one.  So extroverted Janine marched right up to the dance floor when the guy was going to ask the question and as soon as he said, "What is BB Kings Birthday? Day and Year?" Before he could even get year out, I yelled "September 16, 1925!!!" The guy then gave me a look and was like "how did you know that? can you prove it?" "I just know it!" I said.  Then I was like, "I'm Jim Moretti's daughter I just know it!" Then the response was, "O jeez really? Jim cuts my checks, here its yours!" As soon as he put it my hand I jumped up and down and everyone clapped!" So thanks Marla for giving us a heads up, thanks Dad for letting me name drop, and your welcome MC for the camera that has already been put to great use!!!

This weekend was girls weekend because Griffin was in Milwaukee for a conference so Kerry Wulpern came to visit and Carolyn Bartlett from Merrimack came to visit Molly.  We had a really fun weekend packed with lots of laugher, a fieta night with Margaritas, and dancing.  Friday I had to work but Kerry, Molly, and Caroline came to visit me at the office and I gave them a quick tour/explanation.  After our Mexican dinner on Friday night and then we hit up Rhino bar and some continued on to Brewbakers.  Saturday we slept in and the girls went into the city to walk around Michigan Ave.  I met up with them for deep dish pizza then came home to rest before our house party on Saturday night.  Sunday Kerry and I went into the city and did the boat Architectual Tour which brought us throughout the Chicago River telling us about all of the buildings.  Mom was very jealous when I told her we did this but I told her she can do it when she comes in February.  We had a great time walking around on the beautiful day and catching up on life.  Monday morning I drove her to the airport after an exciting weekend in Chicago.

This coming weekend Kevin is finally coming into town and I am thrilled! I'm excited to show him the sites and where I work.  Were probably gonna spend some time in Wriglyville and around that area cause he is a boy and doesn't need to do the whole shopping on Michigan Ave.  I don't know what hes more excited about, seeing me or deep dish pizza :) I hope its the first one but I can understand his love for pizza.  

Having guests is a lot of fun but tiring as well.  I have enjoyed showing everyone Chicago and letting them experience my new life here. Chicago, Beverly, and Roseland are all wonderful places that are uniquly different and I love showing all my guests their highlights and their struggles.  So if anyone wants to come to Chicago to visit let me know and you can book a weekend!!

Fun fact: Chicago is actually built on a swamp and it got its name from an Indian territory named Chickagou