Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Grateful.

I have found that the longer I'm married, the more thankful I am for my parents. As Garth and I budget, house hunt, buy a car, and save money I realize just how much my parents sacrificed for me and my brothers.


I come home from work exhausted and ready to relax. My parents worked full-time, came home and played with us, made us dinner, and planned fun activities for us each weekend. They paid for our college tuition, my wedding, and bought us cars.


They sacrificed relaxation time to invest in us. They sacrificed money for vacations or house updates so my brothers and I could go to college, drive a nice car, and have our dream weddings.

I'm extremely grateful to have the parents I have. The older I get the more I realize not everyone has parents like I do. The older I get the more I realize just how blessed I am. The older I get the more I realize how challenging and sacrificial parenting can be. The older I get the more grateful I become. I pray I can be half as good at parenting as my parents are.

All that to say, thanks mom and dad! Words just don't do justice to how incredible you guys are, but thanks from the bottom of my heart. Thanks for always supporting, always believing, always loving, always encouraging, always giving.

27 comments:

Jen Caputo said...

so sweet and so very true!

Charbelle said...

This is so true!! I spent time with my parents and Godparents this weekend and the older I get the more aware I am of how blessed I am!!

Rebecca (Craving Simplicity) said...

This is exactly the way I feel! I have no idea how they do it!

Mrs EyeCanSee said...

I second this! You take so much for granted as a kid growing up, but once you're an adult taking care of yourself you realize how much your parents sacaficed to get you where you are! What a great post! :)

Lindsay said...

I have been realizing this more and more the older I get it! I feel so blessed to have the parents I do!

dmdk530 said...

Thank you sweetheart, you're very kind. Love you to the moon and back, Dad
PS - I think parenting is a spark of the divine; the desire to create someone "in your image" and sacrifice for their benefit - all for the purpose of having a loving relationship. That is the message of Christianity; it is why Jesus told us to call God "Father."

Sarah Wyland said...

This is an amazing post. I think a lot about this now as well, especially as I'm getting ready to leave the college phase behind.

Gwen said...

Love this post!!! I appeciate the sacrifices my parents made for me more than ever since I started making those sacrifices for my own child. :) XOXO

Tara Gibson said...

such a sweet post!

The Shabby Princess said...

So sweet! I feel that way about my parents and try my best to tell them how grateful I am, but, I always worry that it will fall short.

Minnesota Girl said...

Very sweet post! I'm in the same boat! I'm a lucky girl and thank God everyday for my parents. They are the best parents a girl could ask for =)

Perfectly Imperfect said...

Just wait til you have kids. I am forever grateful for everything my parents did now that I'm aware how truly hard it is..

LWLH said...

Very sweet...and so true.....you don't know how much your parents do till your on your own

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

wow, they sound like quite a blessing! I am so thankful for the relationship that I have with my Mom! :)

Jeska said...

Hi! New follower! I know what you mean! That's very true.

Jeska
livinglovesong.blogspot.com

God, My Savior Forever! said...

Isn't it incredible? My parents are still sacrificing themselves and we are all adults. They never had a honeymoon or taken a vacation by themselves. They've worked ever since I can remember to provide...not because they want to..but because they wanted to bless us with what we needed and sometimes a small vacation. Now that I'm a mom and I'm busy with the baby I can't imagine how my mom did it with 5 kids.

Sarah Louise said...

Agree!

Unknown said...

I totally agree and the gratitude only intensifed when I became a parent myself. It's amazing!

Lacey said...

I have been having this same epiphany as I grow older, especially as I have been learning how many people did not have these same experiences growing up. Sometimes I am just in awe that God gave me such amazing parents. Lovely post!!

Kelley said...

i agree completely! I son't know how my parents did it, but I am so thankful for them too!

Jules said...

This is such a sweet post and oh so true. I often think about the times and sacrifices my mom has made for me to give me the best life possible. She is my hero and an inspiration. She has made her own way and I’m so proud of her.

You are truly blessed!

Jen | Our Life Accounts said...

The older I get the more I respect all that my parents did. It's a shame you can't fully understand how good you have it as a kid! Becoming an adult and dealing with the bills and the budgeting and the decisions brings new appreciation for the sacrifices our parents made for us!

Lauren said...

This is soooooo sweet and finding this to be so true with my own parents!!!

Anne @ Sincerely, Britches said...

It's always nice when we can sit back and reflect on how gracious God has been to us -- and in this case, in the blessing of parents. I too, am often reminded at the blessing of mine and hope I am half the mom some day that mine was to me.

Maria said...

Beautiful post! That's how I feel about my parents too.

Unknown said...

you are really so blessed. A grateful daughter like you will surely be blessed too!

~The Neaves Nest~ said...

sweet post! totally agree!!