Traditions provide comfort and a sense of belonging. Whether it is Grandma’s famous recipe, a favorite holiday song, a blessing or prayer recited by heart or a story passed down through generations- rituals bring meaning, nurture connections and give us something to look forward to and hope for. 
 
One of our very favorite traditions at Friends of Karen is creating a gratitude poem (sometimes art, sometimes video) with the extraordinary children that we work with. Reflecting on what we are thankful for is a tradition that research suggests can actually lift the spirits. Sharing gratitude strengthens relationships, bottles up those warm, fuzzy feelings, inspires us to relish the positive and helps us recognize sources of goodness- whether it is within ourselves or connects us to something bigger. 
 
The struggles Friends of Karen families face may appear to be a hurdle in recognizing the positive, yet year after year Friends of Karen children show us that love and appreciation so often grow stronger with struggle. That perspective helps these families recognize what fills their hearts with thanks. We are grateful for our own community at Friends of Karen; the resilient families, compassionate staff and volunteers and the generous donors. Together we belong to a community bond by hope and kindness. Comfort and a sense of belonging, to be sure. 
 
 We invite you to read the Friends of Karen children’s words of gratitude below. We hope their poem brings you warmth, comfort and a bit of inspiration to your home this holiday season. 
 
We Are Thankful…
 
We are thankful for life, health and opportunities.
 
We are grateful for our homes and loved ones…
 
We are thankful for distractions and FOOD!- ice cream, pizza, watermelon, sushi and plates piled high with tacos.
 
We are thankful for the times we can just play- for our swing sets where we swing and slide and put our feet up and tumble back..
 
We are thankful for laughter, tickles and Netflix and Disney+…
 
For our pets.. Pippa the dog, our friendly lizards, support dogs and scaredy cats…
 
For money, music and ladybug Halloween costumes…
 
We are grateful for popcorn and movies, Encanto and Black Panther, Bluey and Coco…
 
We are thankful that God let us live on earth…
 
We are thankful for bellies full of cookies and freshly baked brownies, for macaroni and cheese, our favorite..
 
For art.. painting, drawing..getting messy and expressing ourselves…
 
We are grateful for things that keep us busy and for spending time with our friends…
 
For basketball and taking big deep breaths like a bear…
 
We are thankful for those who help us and those we help…
 
We are thankful for Friends of Karen…
For the groups and Social Workers and Sibling Support Specialists- especially time with Jenn..
 
We are grateful for hugs & kisses, bedtime stories & secret handshakes, & epic pillow forts…
 
We are thankful for the people we love the most…
 
Our friends and family…
 
Mommy and Daddy, Dad & Dada, Grant, our babies, our sisters and brothers, cousins, aunts & uncles, Grandmas & Grandpas, Abuelas & Mimis, Pop & Abba..
 
We are thankful for love, love, love. 
 
Written by our Friends of Karen rockstars, especially:
 
Charlotte, Elizabeth, Kaylee, Jinni, Yeser, Jenny, Cooper, Brandon, Katherine, Ellyot, Ty, Ayden, Caoimhe, Ana, Will