Dear Mom and Dad

I read this to my parents tonight at a special dinner our youth group did for our parents! Love them so much!

Mom, thank you for everything you have taught me. You taught me how to cook, even though we had burned meals at the beginning, you taught me how to do laundry, even though you endured too small clothes because we dried them when we weren't supposed to. Thank you for taking the time to teach us how to clean even though it would have been faster to do it yourself. Thank you for trying to teach me how to sew. You didn't succeed but you did ensure I would keep other seamstresses in business. But you didn't just teach me how to survive in the world. You taught me to look into all the facts before I became upset about something. You taught me to love people even when I didn't want to. You taught me that forgiveness is difficult but so rewarding. You taught me how to care for people who were brushed aside. You taught me how to make the best of any situation and you taught me how to be a good wife and mother by the shining example you have been. I have dearly loved imitating you when you get upset. I love the fact that I can finish your sentence because you are so often predictable on your reactions to something I said. I love the fact that if I am ever in doubt on what to get you, I can find French fries, Coke, something purple, or anything tea related and I am once again your favorite number 2 daughter. Mom, thank you for living your life to be an example for mine and thank you for allowing me to pick your brain and see why you made the choices you did and allowing me to seek your advice when I come asking. And Mom, my room might be dirty, but in the grand scheme of things, surely it isn’t too bad right!?

Dad, you have been a shining example of what a father and husband should be. I honestly often stand back and can’t believe you are MY dad. You cook us chicken soup when we are sick, you treat Mom with the utmost respect. You spoil us with runs to Starbucks and special dinners to celebrate our grades just to name a few. You provide for us so that we need nothing. You light up the house when you are home. We love to tease you about being an elephant when you are upstairs or walking down the stairs and the noise you make but honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. You coax Mom into a good mood if something went wrong and you make her smile when you are being insufferable. You continually teach us what a servant leader should look like. You serve others before you sit down, but when you sit down, we all know it will be about 5 seconds before you are asleep. Dad, thank you for everything. You gave me your wit, which I so appreciate, especially when we are going back and forth at each other and all Mom can do is shake her head. You gave me a, well, maybe not a love, but appreciation for running. You didn’t pass on your ability to grasp math and science without a problem, but I don’t suppose you can be perfect in everything right! You let me have another dog, two really, after Mom swore we would never get another one. You give and give and give and it does not go unnoticed. I love when I can bring you  coffee at work and chat for a few minutes. I love the fact that I can ask you any question and without fail you have an answer. And not just an answer but a thorough understanding of the subject. Thank you for the love and encouragement as I grow up and spread my wings. Thanks for being that Dad who has no problem having 4 girls but is determined that they know how to throw a football. Thank you for teaching me how to love even when I don’t want to and thank you for teaching me how to be a servant by the way you live every single moment of your life. I love you Mom and Dad.