My Parents-Day Four

Today at Katie's is Your Parents.

*I'm at school, so I'll add photos when I get home*

Oh my parents. How many times growing up did I yell and say I would NEVER be like that?! Yet, they are the PERFECT example of how I hope Justin and I can be. I took them so for granted growing up but now I am so thankful for both of them.

My mom-I am the spitting image of my mother. not in looks. i look like my dad but boy oh boy are mom and I alike? Its scary sometimes. We say the same things, we do the same things. Mom and I talk at least 2 or 3 times a day and when J is gone more than that!! She was a teacher forever so she understands my days of success and my days of failure. When my mom was young she was hit by a drunk driver and was never supposed to walk or have kids. She does both. : ) She is such an inspiration. She has a positive outlook on life and KNOWS that everyday is a gift from above and we are here for a reason. She spends her days "looking for God's gifts" Anytime I'm having a bad day, that is what she tells me..."Look for his gifts" Everyone always told me how hilarious my mom is- I never saw it- now I'm just like her! I hope I can be as wonderful of a teacher as my mom was. I keep her Teacher of the Year bell on my desk to remind me to do my best each and every day. She still calls me gooey and thinks she needs to remind me to wash my hands and brush my teeth. My mom is one of my very best friends and I can't imagine life without her.

Papadoodle-
Oh daddy bear. I am the baby of the family so I have always been "the princess" (much to Jessica's dismay- my older sister) I was Dads son. I was a trainer for the football, basketball and soccer team in high school and my senior year we won state in basketball. I got a medal just like the boys. : ) Dad was so proud. He still wears his football shirt with my name on it. Dad was always the one who after we ate dinner each night would get the bible and the Josh McDowel family devotional book and we would have little devotionals after dinner. Dad is such the spiritual leader in our family, just like the bible tells him to be. I know he prays for me and wants the best for my life. Something that sticks out in my head today is recently I resigned from my job as most of you know. Dad called me and told me how proud he was of me for standing up. It made me feel so good. To hear your daddy say he is proud of you. Joyful. And then when God provided my new job, when I called Daddy he started crying and prayed with me over the phone a prayer of praise to the Lord. It was wonderful. I love that I have those memories with my daddy bear. We also watch Disney Channel together. : ) To end on a funny note, last year I am teaching 1st grade and I get a text from Dad in the middle of the day that says, "Stilettos, guess I didn't get the memo...Nodding my head like ya, moving my hips like ya" Yeah that's right...a Miley song text. LOVE IT!

Together they are an unstoppable team. They have been married 31 years and continue to love and cherish each other. Surely they have had arguments over the years but I was never worried that they would leave each other because a bond like theirs can't be broken. My mom's parents were married 52 years before her dad passed away and my dad's parents 61 years before my grandfather passed away so they have a good family track record and Justin and I have a lot to live up too. : )