My Parents
Now that I have children of my own,
I realize the hard work and love it takes to be a parent.
and now I can appreciate every stage you went through with me, except you had four of us to handle.
and I want to say how proud and happy I am to call you mom and dad.
except mom, you didn't breastfeed us, and I think that is why we all had ear infections.
we sure were lucky to have you as our parents.
I can't imagine the work that went in to cooking and cleaning up after all of us, and you still do it. when you come here, or we stay at the house. maybe you treated us too good, because I don't like to clean much, and I could go days without seeing the vacuum. in fact, half the time I don't know where it is.
mom I don't know how you took us to germany at such a young age by yourself. traveling with toddlers is not easy, and you seemed to have me in dressed nice and took us everywhere. I can't seem to get the sticky knots out of Giselle's hair every day. I must have been an angel. It meant a lot to see oma and opa and spend time with them where you grew up. I appreciate hearing the stories of your growing up, as I can't imagine how hard it was to live in a refuge camp, and have your parents struggle to survive. I also can't imagine losing a sister who you never got to know. or leaving your family at 18 to move to the US. if you didn't, you would have never had the blind date with dad, and none of us would be here. it's amazing how life is meant to be. I am so glad you didn't end up with Dennis ;). We are all lucky to have siblings, and although I think we are all weird and very different,  especially Maria :), it is a blessing to have siblings, and we all get along. it should make you realize you did something right to have us all get along.
I know over the last 35 years of my life, how much you have shaped me to be who I am. I am content and happy because I am loved by you both so much. I lucked out, you were never pushy to make me do things I didn't want to do, but supported me in the decisions I made, and you let me be a kid, and never pushed me to grow up too quick. you took us on many trips, and even camping and girl scout camp, which I know wasn't moms favorite, but you took me anyways. you spent many evenings helping me sell cookies door to door, and made me cabbage patch dolls and care bears. I know the time and love you spent making my childhood special. dad spent so much time with us playing tennis, which i never was good at, and helping us learn to drive a stick, racquetball, skiing, camping, running, swimming, soccer, and taking us to every river, and lake all around. and the trips in the van singing the beach boys will always be memorable. and not that you didn't have enough kids of your own, you always let us bring our friends. in fact, you were always a safe haven for all the neighborhood kids, who's own were sometimes homes were filled with alcohol, drugs, and unfit parents. even after the house was broken in to, you still allowed Jordan's friends to come over. thats something most grandparents wouldn't do. you must know how much you mean to all the friends that got to spend time at the house.
dad, your character is one I truly look up to. you have shown by example on how to be a giving, caring, and honest person. I could only hope someday to be as good as you. I tried to marry someone like you, and I think I have. thank you for being such a good dad that I wanted to find someone just like you, that treats their family well, and loves their children. you do so much for others, and the church, and us that it's hard to find fault in you. although you do have selective hearing. and sometimes you need to leave since happy hour.
mom, I sure enjoy having coffee with you, and just being with you. I know some girls who don't like their mothers, and although I don't enjoy the casino as much as you, or smoking, I can't imagine anyone I would rather spend time with. the feeling of love surrounds you, and you are the heart of our family. I can't imagine life with out you. you must realize how much a part of me you are, and how happy I am knowing I have you. you are the comedian too. I enjoy all the stories of you and dad, and especially the one where he tore up your beautiful yard, and made it look like there was a gravesite with the raised grass. you two are very funny, and you should have your own honeymooners show.
you have also been the most loving grandparents to the girls.
forty years is a lot to celebrate. I hope you realize that we realize how amazing it is. even if we are in vegas on your anniversary, we will be celebrating there. for heavens sake you surely didn't let me forget it this year.