I got a heart-felt thank you from a student today at the end of the school day. It was one of those moments that catch you a tiny bit off guard, but you recognize their significance immediately. Unfortunately, I kind of deflected it, responding with a “Thank YOU” comment of my own which may have diminished what the student was trying to express to me. 
Thinking about this, it got me reflecting on things like appreciations, and gratitudes and thank yous, and that took me to this site of “amazing thank you notes.” I encourage you to take a look.
To illustrate this post, I present a photo of Chloe and my dad from over 10 years ago. Chloe had attended a summer camp on the subject of cooking and included were lessons in etiquette. The week concluded with the students treating guests to a dinner and my parents were invited. I snapped this picture. It somehow seemed apt for this post.
Today’s Prompt: Write (maybe even send!) a thank you note to someone who has done something significant for you.
Andy Smallman 
My sister who is five years younger than me has the caregiving responsibilities for our 90 year old mother who is in a nursing home. For two years she has been going to visit our mother almost every day and overseeing her treatment and more recently her recovery from a fall which resulted in a broken hip. In November tragedy befell her when her only son of 44 years died.
Yesterday I sent her a thank you note for doing what we others could not do for mom, partially because of temperment but also because of distance. Last night she called me and we talked about some of her “gotta” do chores. When she mentioned that she knows she’s “got to” buy a tombstone for her son’s grave but just hasn’t been able to do it, I tenatively asked if she would like to do that together when I come to visit in the spring. She just said, “I would love it if you would do that with me.” My gesture of trying to help her became a gift to me as well. Being able to be part of selecting his tombstone will help me cope with my grieving for my nephew.
How wonderful to have family to live with, through and for.