Celebrate!!!

I have never in my life been able to get on a mic in front of a group of people and spill my guts about how I feel without becoming a blubbering ugly crying mess. Doesn't matter what the topic of the speech is about, if it calls for me digging deep and telling you how I feel about someone, I just cry whether I'm happy or sad or whatever (p.s. there are many awesome wedding speech videos of me out there to prove this! haha). Of course, Jonathon is the opposite. He loves him a microphone and a group of people. But even he, the fearless speech giving jokester who has cracked up crowds of hundreds of people at countless events and football banquets couldn't get through this one without a little choking up. So no way was I equipped.

Our Win the Day party was no exception. When I was planning the party, I had all of these reasons for why I wanted to get all of our peeps together. Sentiments about all of you that I wanted to express. Things I wish I could get out of my mouth without totally falling apart, but it just ain't happening anytime soon. I'm going to need a lot more therapy for that goal to be reached. If I would have tried to get on that mic, yall would have been in tears too just hoping for it to be over. haha. I couldn't even get out our little preschool prayer to open up the buffet without my eyes watering and lip starting to shake!! I really just am feeling so affected by how many freaking cool people we have in our lives.

So...if I could, here's some of what I would say (p.s. I'm already tearing up! hahaha. seriously?? Just the thought of the thoughts I want to share with you are totally overwhelming to me).

For me this party was not just about the last year of craziness that we have gone through. It was definitely not about being through with cancer treatment. Although, we are celebrating a major milestone, and we are definitely allowing ourselves to celebrate this big one, we are still battling on for wins each day and who knows what could be around the corner for us. It was not about pointing out the few people who put their lives on hold and have done some selfless things to get the Kinchens through a rough patch (those are the same people who have been there for every obstacle and celebration in my life throughout my whole life and me for theirs' and it's just a given that we ain't leaving each others' sides no matter what. We are stuck together. That's what family is for. Sucks that they got the daughter/sister with cancer, but it doesn't matter what the 'thing' is that we need each other for, we are just going to do it. I don't think a single one of us views it as a choice).

It's about this very second, taking it, surrounding ourselves with those we love and celebrating the dang day.

You were not put on our path by accident and you were not invited to celebrate this very moment by accident. There is a plan. Each of you are a part of that plan. We thank God that you are part of our plan. Seriously. You reading this right now, no matter how little you think you have done for us or small of a role you have played in our lives, we are truly grateful for you. This past year, there has not been an act too small that has not helped to carry us through some tough challenges. And the acts that we have received where nothing short of amazing. If you gave any second of your day to thinking or praying about our little old family, we are thankful. The most important thing that I have learned this year is that our seconds/minutes/hours are precious. There is a limit on those babies! Don't waste them. What you do and who you choose to do it with is all that you have. Those are the choices that can make or break a big WIN. And right now, the Kinchen family is feeling pretty damn blessed that we can celebrate this very second right here right now with you and your families.

We sincerely appreciate all of our old friends, new friends and family (who's stuck with us whether they want to be or not!) for making the trip this weekend to celebrate the gift of the day. We had the best time. Austin woke up Monday morning and wanted to go back to his party. haha. I hope that each of you gets to have the feeling when you look around a room and can say that every stinking person around you is your most favorite awesome person! Dang, we have some amazing people in our lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you God for our many many blessings.

Whatever you choose to do today or who you choose to do it with,
WIN THE DAMN DAY FRIENDS.

We love you and thank God for YOU.
Jenn

P.S. Some of you have shared some hilarious pictures from this weekend. Send them to me if you get a chance! I'll post later this week :)