Top Ten Things I Love About My Parents

I love my parents. They celebrated their anniversary this past month. My dad called me the day after to let me know I hadn't called them on their anniversary. I told him that anniversaries have never been a big thing to me, which hurt his feelings a little, I think. So I figured this could be a great way to make it up to both my mom and my dad, who have both had a huge hand in making me the well-adjusted individual represented digitally before you.

Top Ten Things I Love About My Parents

10. They go all out for the holidays. Especially Christmas. Even though it's really a LOT of work and they don't have the patience or mobility they had 20 years ago, they are always willing to make the house look amazing for the family (and friends) to enjoy.

9. I love how Mom will constantly surprise me by watching some of my favorite shows with me. It all started with various Jane Austen movies. However, I usually bring home a different series every time and Mom watches them with me. She's enjoyed "Arrested Development," "Vicar of Dibley," "Flight of the Conchords," and "Big Bang Theory."

8. My dad is a born leader. Being the eldest in his family probably helped a little, but being a marine, a sheriff, a lawyer, and so many other roles, Dad is always willing to step up to the plate when others hang back. Even if you don't agree with him, my dad is someone who people are genuinely intimidated by. Until they get to know him and realize how absolutely gigantic his heart is.

7. I love how much they push. Granted, I didn't always appreciate it. But looking back on high school and college, they gave me motivation to succeed when it would have been so easy to give up. I never would have stuck with playing the piano without them, and I'm eternally grateful for that.

6. They love to play. There are certain games I'm guaranteed to play if I go home. Among these are Yahtzee, Phase Ten, and Chicken Foot Dominoes. It's always cut throat. And it always ends with everyone ganging up on Dad (he totally has it coming).

5. My parents are avid readers. I know my love of reading comes from them. There have been many afternoons when all three of us are lying on different couches reading from our books, and alternately napping as appropriate.

4. I love how much they care about animals. People think I'm kind of a freak about pets, but meeting my parents puts it all in perspective. Dad once called the dog "Son" on accident.

3. Dad always gets to say the prayer. It doesn't matter what prayer, whether it's for a meal, or family prayer, or whatever, it's automatically assumed that Dad gets to pray.

2. My parents have so much faith in me. Much more than I do in myself. A few years ago, when I first got into community theater, Dad told me that I should think about Broadway and ask my voice teacher if I had a chance. He won't remember saying it, but I'll never forget how my dad told his college educated, elementary school teacher daughter to give it all up and look into acting.

1. Sincerely, they are the MOST generous people I know of on this earth. I've mentioned it before, but I don't think people in my home town are even aware of the secret and special acts of service my parents are responsible. They're definitely instruments in the Lord's hands. Most recently, my dad buzzed his hair as a fund raising effort for his local Rotary club.

The Joys of Camping!

Every year I get to go camping in the snow with my fifth graders. I love it. It's crazy tiring, but the kids have such a good time, I can't help but love it.
However, this year was a little interesting. It started the week before when life got a little strenuous. I won't go into details, but let it suffice that my mind was on several things at the same time. I didn't even pack for camping until the night before. It was around 10 o'clock at night when I tried to get everything together.
This was apparent by the next day, when we arrived at Clear Creek Camp and I started to unpack. Here are the things I forgot (you may determine the importance):
-toothbrush
-towel
-gloves
-hat
-fire wood (for our nightly campfire)

However, all of my makeup made it into the suitcase, along with hair supplies (curling iron, hairspray, thermal setting spray, split end repair, etc.). And I took complete outfits for every day I'd be there (three days= three ensembles)
Day one, I used paper towels to dry myself off from my shower.
Day two, I used my "Jem and the Holograms" sweatshirt.

We borrowed firewood for our first night's campfire and, after teaching the boys how to build the perfect fire, one of the dad volunteers dumped diesel fuel onto the logs to ensure a good blaze. At first I felt this was cheating, but I was willing to go along with it because the winds were crazy and the fire pit was covered in ice with several inches of snow.
With the gals, I was all excited because the wind had died down and nobody would be telling me that I had to pour diesel fuel in order for it to work. I built the fire up, it was burning awesomely. 5 minutes later, it was a pile of coals. I try again, start from the beginning. Get a fantastic blaze going that burns for 15 minutes before it goes to poo. By this time, all of the girls have arrived at the campfire and I'm supposed to lead songs and stories. I ask the other teachers to help out. One throws a log on (which would accomplish nothing), and the other pokes at it with a stick causing the entire structure to fall over. For the next 40 minutes we sang songs while two of the mom volunteers blew on the coals with minimum results.

Moral of the story: I might be a failure at campfires.