Parents.

{{To my parents, you may calm down. This is not a bad thing. Yes, I know that's why you read it! lol}}

So, today I was looking at a "30 day challenge" I had enlisted in on tumblr and today was about family. Well, I don't have a large one... but I got to thinking, so here it is!

My parents are fantastic. Don't get me wrong, we have our loud discussions and disagreements. But all in all, I've been raised by two people whom I greatly admire. Unfortunately, I have a tongue that's quicker at speaking than my brain is at remembering. I say allot of things about how they raised me that I shouldn't. When I'm in a tiff with one of my parents I do not shy away from pointing out their faults in raising me, or how they treat me now. If I could only learn to set my tongue on pause for a minute while I allowed my brain to catch up in those moments, I would remember all the things they did while raising me that they never were required to, then I'd be able to express my thanks to them for doing what they have. My parents have taken the time throughout my life, for me. My parents have taken allot of time, effort and money into making sure that I felt like I could accomplish my dreams! As soon as we knew it was music, it was voice lessons and choir. I was always exposed to culture, which I appreciate now so much more than I think I understood in the beginning. Art, architecture, international languages, music of all sorts and from all over the world, international foods and accepting people of cultures and beliefs other than my own.

Those are lessons that I could not re-create now if I wanted to. You can't suddenly change the way you see others and your differences, you can't suddenly like a food you've never tried, you can't suddenly be brave!

My mom:

My mom has taken her time to do everything for me. She stopped her life to enrich mine... which is something I take for granted far to often. She spent the one on one time that I needed to understand things, just so I could get through my education as needed. Eventually, she quit working and focused on ministry and my education. Although I'm ashamed to say this, I haven't always felt like a priority to her, but I was and I am. Her putting me as a priority was just displayed in a way that went undetected for me until just recently.

My mom also took the time to make sure I had the extra curricular activities I enjoyed. Paying for expensive voice lessons, choir memberships, piano lessons and guitar lessons. She gave up allot to ensure I felt I was doing something I was passionate about and something I felt would help me reach for my dreams.

She loved me. Never, ever have I felt unloved. There are little girls all over the nation and all over the world who go everyday feeling unloved. Like nobody cares. Yes, I've had my moments where I doubt specific people and even my mother. But no matter what was truly happening, I always knew that my mother loved me.

She listens to me. Seeing as how I love to babble on now about my stresses, my friend's lives, my school, my desires, my plans, my friends school...whatever the subject may be... I can only assume that as a child I was at least as talkative (if not more) then I am now. She's always made time to listen to me. Even if it's me laying on the floor next to the computer while I rant and rave and she comments on facebook, she listens. She makes me feel heard.

After she's done all the listening, my mom kicks into her fantastic personality and starts problem solving. Sometimes this is frustrating, considering I tend to rant about things I don't want solved for me, but she tries to help. She gives me wise council and humorous responses.

My mom is a wise woman that I intend to be more like someday. Completely alike? Please Lord, NO! Do I want to be like her in some ways? ABSOLUTELY YES!

My Daddy:

My daddy has done everything for me.

He is one of my best friends and I adore him. He has his moments, but so do I. He's always given me my daily dose of violence. Before you get the wrong idea, I mean that he has always given me the tomboyish side to me I have. I do happen to enjoy a good war flick, I do know how to debilitate someone with only my hands, I do own more than 1 pocket knife, I do not find gore traumatizing or gross, I do not get intimidated by anyone easily and I happen to think it's funny to knock the wind out of him on occasion. :) He can thank himself for that.

My dad has taught me the importance of government. My dad has never shied away from talking politics with me. He's taught me to be firm and independent. Which, I think he now regrets teaching me independent thought, because we tend to disagree on some things. But he's taught me how important it is to be aware of things beyond a fox or cnn news point of view. He's taught me how important it is to know what you think and how you believe on these issues and to stake everything you can on those beliefs.

He's taught me to wear a seat belt, unfortunately I needed to learn the hard way.

My dad always showed me that I was important to him! Setting aside date nights, listening to my (not always so) funny stories, talking about random crap, helping me come up with random death threats for stupid teachers, ect. He even made it a point to show me I was important when he was deployed. He sent me post cards from beautiful places, he sent me Iraqi political published brochures and explained them all to me. We'd talk on the phone and occasionally webcam (which was actually really frightening for me), I always knew how much he missed me and never knew how bad things really were for him. And every time he couldn't be there, he still tried. He'd call mom and listen over the phone to my voice recitals and he'd make sure I knew he heard me. He showed me I was someone who deserved to be important to others.

My daddy taught me that there is nothing I cannot do, unless I talk myself into believing that it's impossible.

Together my parents have taught me allot:

Together, my parents have taught me to laugh! My home, although we get angry with each other just like any normally functioning family does, is full of laughter. Laughing over stupid comments and jokes, corny puns and hilarious impressions. In the process of teaching me to laugh, they've taught me to laugh at myself. Which, is never a bad thing. If you can't laugh at yourself, you mine as well not laugh at anything else ever again because nothing is funnier than how serious you are taking yourself.

Together, my parents have taught me to love. They've taught me that it doesn't matter what country you're from, how you were raised, what color skin you have, what accent you prefer to speak in, where you were raised, the clothes you wear, the extent of your vocabulary or where you work... none of it is important. Just love.

Together my parents have taught me to be involved with ministry. When I was younger they were CONSTANTLY forcing me to do things that were "Charitable" or volunteer work. Babysitting for homeschooling moms free of charge, working with the children's department at church, being a part of a volunteering organization. Eventually, it sank in and it all became a desire. I've gone on missions trips all over the state and one out of country. I've learned to plug into churches to serve God. I'm not afraid to get a little dirt under my nails in the process of being God's hands and feet, I entirely attribute this to my parents, who have displayed the same.

My parents have taught me to seek God and follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit above what others tell me to believe. For this reason I have been able to have my own, personal relationship with God and follow His unique calling on my heart. I've been given freedom to create ideas of God and how I should live according to what I know of Him. They allow me to disagree with them and have my own personal ideas of religion, church, ministry and God.

Together, my parents have taught me the beauty of being wrong. I'm not ashamed to admit that I have some MAJOR pride issues. But it's okay to be wrong and there is a beauty to admitting it when you are.

Together, my parents have set one of the most fantastic examples of marriage I could ever ask for! As a child until now, I have NEVER questioned the validity or prosperity in my parent's marriage. There is love, there is Christ, they are one flesh that shall never part. End of story. I wish to have a marriage as firm as theirs one day.

Together, my parents have taught me to run for God with full abandon without care or concern for what others may say of my "radical" love and mercy.

Together, my parents have allowed me to join my friends (who generally adore my parents) into the family. Being an only child, they've allowed me to bring friends on vacations, school trips, "family only" birthday parties and more. Through this, they've taught me that family is based on love, not blood.

Together, my parents in combination with the mercy and grace of my Lord have gotten me to where I am. They have helped me become a woman who seeks God. There is NOTHING more on this earth that they could have done for me and I'm blessed by it.

My parents are fantastic. They are friends, they are councilors, they are examples, they are my correction, they are love, they are mercy and they are mine! How greatly am I blessed? I could never count all the ways!

Thank you mom and dad. You are the reasons I think I know so much. :) You can thank yourself's for that next time we get into a debate! :p

I love you.

Jackie