I haven't forgotten...

With Mothers day a couple weeks back and Fathers day just around the corner, I have had two people on my mind a lot more lately. There are not adequate words enough to express the love, gratitude, and admiration I have for these two individuals; but to think that cribs, sleepless nights, bike rides, larger apartments, mortgages, soccer games, baseball tournaments, camp outs, sealings, baptisms, and so much more, all came about, because these two fell in love.

Looking back over the years makes me wonder what dreams my mother and father set aside so they could focus on their upcoming family. I do not know how to adequately express my love for these two, but I can remember the love that they’ve shown me thru the past several years, and will most likely never let these memories go. So, to my parents, in whom I owe all that I’ve become to… I haven’t forgotten.

I haven’t forgotten the financial strain you faced every Christmas season, or the stress you felt for short time while out of work. I haven’t forgotten the umbro shorts you made so we could feel apart of the rest of the world, or the thick quilts to keep us warm at night. I haven’t forgotten the letters you wrote to me personally, to boost my confidence after a long, hard day. I haven’t forgotten the days you sacrificed your car for the entire day so I could drive to a school where no one even knew I existed, and then the part-time job you eventually got just so I could have my own car during the rest of high school.

I miss sitting next to you on hops to Hawaii or the Cayman Islands while hearing about your exciting adventures as a pilot. I looked forward to coming home everyday after school and hearing your ‘owl’ sound letting me know you were home. I haven’t forgotten the sacrifices you made by making sure your dreams with the sewing world did not interfere with your kids’ lives. I remember you being at every game no matter how small, and even though I didn’t say it then, it meant the world to me. I haven’t forgotten the financial sacrifice you both made for me to serve my God for 2 years, or the additional stress you endured to put me thru college.

I haven’t forgotten those great mornings when you would let me drive to seminary even though I wasn’t old enough. The father & son campouts, the trips to Oliver’s for ice cream, the cold camping trip in Scotland, the ferry ride to Germany when we almost lost mom. I will always remember the homemade bread, Grandpa Leavitt’s favorite meal, eating cereal at night. I haven’t forgotten the family home evenings and councils, or the tournaments on the trampoline.

I believe that from what my mother and father have become, I think there is also something to be said for their parents as well. What tremendous values and ethics my grandparents must’ve had to raise such wonderful people. And even after all of the criticism my parents probably received (as all parents get thru out life by others), for thier parenting practices, all of us are alive and doing perfectly well. And from the looks of it, (Ben is an excellent chef, husband and father. Allison is graduating in December with honors. Melissa is finishing up with her degree. And Sam is serving his country), we all turned out just fine.

I then look at the life Molly and I have just begun. With Conner starting to potty train and continually driving cars in his sleep. And with a baby girl just a few months away, I feel as though we’re at that same beginning path where my parents once were many years ago. I can only hope and pray that Molly and I are as successful with our children, as my mom and dad were with me.