I hit the jackpot

Around January/February 1987 is exactly when I hit that jackpot and thats because thats when I was created and my parents were going to be MY PARENTS!  I am not talking about a casino slot machine, I am talking about a jackpot ten times better, Pam and Doug.   I often think about how I am so lucky and what I needed to do to be parents just like them.  Even before Gracie or Evie were even a thought, I wondered, if I was ever a parent, would I be as a great as them and in reality I don't even know if they could be duplicated; they are the most wonderful people.  Of course there have been times in my 30 years that I frustrate them or they annoy me and so on but for the most part, I would choose to be with them everyday for the rest of their lives.  I live 99 miles away now but soon enough I will be able to see them as often as I want.

My mom is kind to everybody.  She knows how to put on a smile and be nice, even if she doesn't want to.  Her saying was always "be the better person" and although I can't say that I was or am100% of the time,  I like to live my life being kind to others.  I think that she is the one who made me fall in love with makeup because my first memory of it comes from sitting on the toilet watching her get ready.  She is a total babe, always has been, and I get my looks from her haha :)  She shows me love through touch.  She hugs me, rubs or scratches anything I ask her to, and gives small touches as she walks by.  She just does does does for others ALWAYS.  When she laughs hard, she can't stop, and its contagious.  Lots of times, unfortunately, it has happened in water, it sometimes happens in church, and it always happens when Pierce Bronson sings in Mama Mia!  She is the cool mom you could call at all hours of the night and she would come get you.  She is the person I want most when I don't feel good and if I was a shopper or wine drinker, she is who I would call.

My dad makes everybody laugh.  He is quick witted and funny, just like me :)  We are also very mouthy and head strong.  He knows how to make me laugh like nobody can and thats his goal a lot of the time.  We just get each other, as long as we aren't disagreeing!  He shows love by acts of kindness.  He loves washing my vehicle, but giving me a hard time about how dirty it is although I think he likes it better when he has more to clean.  He puts gas in my car and can't wait for me to see what he has done for me.  If he hears me even mention something that I want, I have it the next day.  He would never let me struggle and he would always find a way to help me.  He is the person I would call for everything and anything.  He sends me random text messages telling me he loves me, he would drive me places when it was snowy, he tells me and my girls how pretty we are and how smart we are, and he was my exercise partner anytime I needed him to be (he would even walk on the outside so that if a  car came by and got to close to us, it would hit him and not me.)

They call us at least every other day, they watch our kids when we need them to, they offer to take our kids to give us some time alone, they spoil us, they taught me all about good movies and music from all different eras and they aren't afraid to dance it out with me.  When I lived close, they would be there mowing my yard when I showed up JUST BECAUSE and they invited me to dinner probably every day just so I didn't have to eat alone.  One of the best things they have done is use the words I LOVE YOU, often.  We don't leave each other or hang up with out saying it.  They have taught me how to be strong, work hard, and have a happy life.

They drive an hour and a half to visit us just because, they make it to games and concerts, they accepted Gracie as their grandchild from the get go, they take us on new adventures, we can always count on having cards in the mail from them for all holidays, they are always willing to help us do whatever we are doing, and they really dig Josh.  Josh still doesn't know how to respond when they shout I love you or come in to hug him (even my dad tries to hug him) because he isn't used to that stuff from people other than his girls in the house but like I told him, they don't say I love you to get a response (he told me that he does love them though shhh), they say it because they mean it and thats it.

Even after all those paragraphs, I don't think I have done them justice.  I feel like I can't even put into words what we mean to them and what they mean to us.  Almost every week, the girls and I are trying to figure out how soon we can get down there to see them and it goes both ways, going two weeks without seeing each other in person is almost unheard of.  If your parents have given you everything they got PLUS more, give them a call or if your lucky enough to, stop by, and hug them and tell them you love them.