No matter how old we get....

I was thinking this morning about my life, and all of the people who have influenced me and have helped me become who I am at this point in my life. Many people came to my mind, and I said a prayer for them. But the people who were on my heart heavily today were my parents. All four of them: Marc, Deb, Jeff, and Gina. Marcos and I (and our siblings) have been incredibly blessed by these four. 

 As we grow up, we have this need to prove our independence and show the world that we can take care of ourselves. Yes, this is part of life and it needs to happen. And hopefully it does. However, I will be the first to admit that I will always need dad's hugs and to share a good cry and good conversation with my momma. And just last weekend I texted Marcos to ask him if we could go spend the evening with his parents because I missed them. 

Yes, we try hard to act like we don't need our parents anymore, but in reality, we do need them. They are a big part of our lives no matter how grown up we are. Marcos and I are so lucky that we have parents that are still married. I can't even believe how rare that is nowadays. So I want to say thanks to our parents for toughing it out all these years, loving each other, and showing all of us kids what it means to have a sacrificial, beautiful marriage.

 Some of my favorite memories are waking up and 3 am on Christmas morning before the sun even comes up to open gifts with my Shivers family or playing chicken foot all afternoon while sippin' coffee and listening to the thunder storm at Grandma Clark's house. 

I am thankful today to have four parents that show their undying love and support to myself, my husband, and my brothers and sisters. They work hard and would give the shirt off their back for us, and all of our friends. I can't imagine how it feels to have little ones need you for 18 years, then suddenly leave and start their lives needing someone else. I just wanted them to know how important they are now, and always. I hope one day Marcos and I will be parents who are as loving and supportive as ours have been. 

Family is a blessing. No matter how old you are, whether your parents are married or not, or if it was someone else who raised you; let those people know how much they mean to you. I bet it will make their day.

And to those of you whose parent's are no longer with us, thank you for your strength... I pray you continue to carry your parent's legacy on until you meet with them again one day.