Thursday Thirteen ~ My Parents!

Thursday Thirteen: In Honor of My Parents

1.) Today is my parents' 30th plus Thirteen anniversary. Forty-three years! So this Thursday Thirteen is about them.

2.) My parents are the reason Thirteen people are here in this world! Their three children and 10 grandchildren!

3.) My parents are a key part of my faith in God; Taking us to church when we were little resulted in my "asking Jesus into my heart" in the 4 year old Sunday School. I may not have understood it all at the time, but I believe that was the first step in many as God has called me His own and brought me closer to Him in this world.

4.) My parents have set a wonderful example of lifelong learning. They continue to take up new hobbies and become experts in small areas, somehow even retaining that knowledge in the early parenting years. From mushrooms to monarchs, paper folding to problem solving, they are living examples that you're never too old to learn new things, and that there's lots of neat things out there in the world.

5.) My parents, although they didn't homeschool us, are great models for us as homeschoolers! In addition to their own lifestyle of learning, my dad's story of going from a poor "bluejay" reader to an excellent well read man by finding books that he enjoyed, and of being a very (!) young boy carrying rocks to the local university geology department for identification, encourage me to try to control less, to let my children run with the things that interest them.

6.) My parents actively participate in our lives of learning, my mom regularly bringing arts and crafts and science into our home, not as formal lessons but as a fun part of life. And dad is always willing to explain how things work, from chemistry to grocery prices ;-).

7.) My parents are active in our lives, period. They come regularly to play with their grandchildren. They take us places. They cook us food. They let us hang out at their house. They are an integral part of our lives, and we are so thankful for that.

8.) They're just neat people. Living in the same town where I grew up, a lot of people know my parents. I can't tell you how often someone finds out who my parents are and says, "Your mom is a really neat lady!" (Sorry mom, I'm not trying to embarrass you. But it's true!) and "Oh I know your dad, he's a really interesting guy!" and stuff like that.

9.) My parents taught me about credit, and using it wisely. That it's okay to use it in lieu of cash, but not to rely on it as credit.

10.) My parents nurtured a love of creativity. When we were little my mom used to let us dictate stories that she would illustrate, or illustrate stories that she wrote, and other combinations of writing and drawing. Little stories about our lives, like The Girl Who Wanted Oatmeal For Breakfast Every Morning (that was my sister). I don't remember mom ever complaining about getting out arts and crafts things. And she still doesn't. Which amazes me, now that I see what a mess they can make in a short time.

11.) My parents taught me to cook. I don't remember many formal lessons (if any) but they showed us how to cook-on-the-fly with whatever was in the house, and not rely on recipes. We learned that a few recipes were worth learning and following, but for the most part a dash of this and a handful of that and trusting instinct, taste, and smell would go a long way towards a good meal.

12.) My parents are smart! Not only are they not afraid to use the computer, like some people their age, but they used to run a computer store, and mom used to be the primary technician. Dad gave me a love for Scrabble and mom didn't squelch it, even though she'd long since given up playing when Dad was around. Mom can fix anything with duct tape and glue. Except my gold shoes, but that's a different story. ;-)

13.) My parents have been a wonderful example of commitment. I remember having friends whose parents were divorced, or got divorced. I never worried about my parents getting divorced. They didn't lecture us about commitment, but they lived it, and are still living it today.

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!!!!!