Why I love my Mom and Dad

***Again: These posts are really out of order AND out of date, but just go with it. ****

I was lucky enough to be able to spend Mother's Day, my Mom's Birthday, AND Father's day at home with my family this year. It has been such a long time since I was able to do that and while I may be past my days of giving my parent's handmade gifts carefully crafted at school, parents always need an expression of gratitude for the work that they do (especially for raising a child like me!). So although belated, I want to make it clear once and for all why I have the best parents in the world.

I love my mom because she has always gone out of her way to make me happy. The fact that she put up with me for 23+ years without killing me is a testament to her patience, perseverance, and love. As a kid, I remember Mom always going out of her way to spend time with me. She says that the house was often messy, but that didn't make any difference as I loved having my mom take me to the library, play house, swing on the swing-set with me, come to all of my games, help me with craft projects, and even jump on the trampoline with me!

My mom has always been one to take time to ponder and think deeply, and I have loved our resulting conversations which enhance my testimony of the gospel and draw me closer to my mom. She is also so quick to recognize and appreciate beauty and is full of gratitude to the savior for his blessings although she has had her fair share of trials in this life.

I love my Mom because she down to earth and is never afraid to tell it as it is. This is not to be confused with harshness, as you could not find a more compassionate, caring person, however she doesn't have to sugar coat her conversations. It is really refreshing to talk with someone so genuine and real. Along with this, I love her sense of adventure, and the way that she likes to push against the grain (like the time she convinced all her seminary students to sit somewhere else in Sacrament meeting one Sunday which caused quite a stir among those who were forced to sit away from their usual pew).

I love the way my mom laugh increases in pitch when she is really laughing hard until tears are streaming down her face and she can't breath.

And of course, I love that my mom is still one of my best friends in the world and we can talk on the phone for hours every day. I honestly think that we must have been good friends in the pre-existance and i know that we will continue to be good friends forever more.

(oh and my scanner kind of stinks and my mom will not like the fact that i posted these photos online, but they are still classic!)

I have always been something of a Daddy's girl and I can't express enough, just how much I love my Dad. I love my Dad because he is such a hard worker and has taught me just how important it is for me to work hard. My dad will get home super late from a business trip and instead of sitting down to relax and watch some TV you will find him out in the yard mowing the lawn or weeding until it is literally to dark to possibly work anymore. This drive he has is evident in his career, his success with triathalon's, and his work serving in the church.

I love my Dad for the way that he treats my Mom, and he treats our family. My dad is so incredibly gentle and sweet towards my mom and while I was always grossed out when they would dance and kiss in front of me growing up, I now appreciate that my Dad wasn't afraid to let us know how much he loved mom. I remember many nights falling asleep on Dad's chest, or falling asleep to his voice as he sang us "teach me to walk in the light" or "I stand all amazed."

I love my Dad because he taught me how to fish, crab, hike, bike and build. I love that Dad let me be his special helper with his woodworking projects out in the garage and would always take the time to teach me how to hammer the nail or cut the wood just right.

I love that my Dad has such a strong testimony of the Gospel and has taken the time to pray, read scriptures, and teach us about our Heavenly Father and Savior. I would love when my dad would take me along with him when he would visit a different ward and I loved being able to listen to him speak and sometimes cry as he bore testimony of the savior to the congregation.

And I love that my Dad has never felt distanced from me. I love being able to call him anytime that I need him and he will be there to talk with me and help, no matter what I am calling about whether it be to tell him that I did good on a test, or am calling to ask advice about boys--he will always be there.

I love my family and feel so blessed to have such incredible parents as I do. Life is so good and I hope to someday be as good of a parent to my children as mine have been to me. Why do you love your parents?