My Mom

My mom is an amazing woman. I remember as a little girl my mom taking hours to fix her hair and put on makeup. She would also spend a fair amount of time fixing my hair while I sat in the little wooden chair in front of her. I hated it when she would thump my head witg the hairbrush for squirming. I loved all the books she would buy me from Scholastic and my set of Charlie Brown encyclopedias. She would hold me and rub my hair when I was sick. She had the sweetest voice. I loved when she would sing to me. My mom can do anything. She can quilt, sew, paint, embroider, crochet, build, do household repairs, decorate, shoot a gun with precision, and cook. She is very creative and very resourceful. Whenever I had strep she would take me to Wendy’s for chili and a frosty. She taught me that if I had everything I wanted, what would I have left to wish for. She came to college to visit me and bring treats such as my Valentine’s basket. She taught me everything I need to know to run a household and entertain. When I was getting married she worked hard to pay for my wedding. She made sure I had everything that was important to me for the wedding. She trusted me and in return she gave me a lot of freedom. I was careful not to break her trust. She supported me when I didn’t want to have a baby for 5 years, when I didn’t want children at all, and finally when we decided to only have one. She loves and supports me no matter what I do.

My Dad

When I was little my dad seemed huge and a little bit scary. Now I know he is just a big teddy bear. He is my constant, my thermometer. He is the one I turn to when I need a fair assessment of the situation. What will always remember of dad is Old Spice and mackeral soup. In kindergarten he would take me to the same restaurant for grilled cheese (and to see a boy). He was kind enough to let Santa borrow his red Dodge truck. He let Brian and me keep a pony he found in our woods. He sat up all night with Thunder that cold night in February when he died. He would let me have a cat even though he hates cats. Outside of his unconditional love for me, his life lessons mean the most.

1. Family comes first.
2. Don’t cry over spilled milk.
3. If you can’t pay for it now, how are you going to pay for it later?
4. How do you feel when other people gloat?
5. Be nice to your husband, he is a good man.

These are the big lessons-some I am still working on. I feel so blessed to be chosen to be the daughter of such an amazing man.