6.04.2008

Example

Today as I read Hayley's blog, I was touched [as always] by the love she has for her dad. She and her sisters, Holly and Heather, are always clear on way they feel about their parents and the closeness they have as a family. I love that. I love reading about families and the love they share.

I have the same feelings and today my thoughts have gone to my own dad. I suspect it's because Father's Day is approaching and as always, I'm looking for the perfect Father's Day gift for the best dad in the world -- and I know that Mark feels the same about his own dad.

I remember reading this quote and feeling that it clearly expressed the way I feel about my dad:

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."
~Clarence Budington Kelland

My dad will be 85 years old in August, and he and my mom will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary the day before. I can hardly take that in. They love each other, they love us, and they are both dealing with their somewhat reduced capacity to get around as best they can -- with a positive, happy attitude. I love them both so much and am so thankful for their example.

Because that's just how they are -- they live their lives in a quiet, unassuming manner, deal with problems with grace and patience and in so doing, have shown the rest of us how to live. I'm grateful I have been allowed to watch and learn.

[picture taken of my mom and dad with my nephew Eric and wife Jacquie in Sept. '07]

17 comments:

Jori said...

Good parents are such a blessing! Your parents have taught you well. You are a wonderful example to all of us.

hoLLy said...

your parents are so cute! and obviously, they had to be AMAZING to have raised such an AMAZING daughter! what a huge blessing to have been raised of such goodly parents.

Unknown said...

A wonderful example to follow! I can see your parents love in you. You are a great loving person! Its nice to rub elbows with you! Thank you for your example.

Heather said...

They are so cute, they sound wonderful!

Emily John said...

How cute are they!!

Chris and Tara Mason said...

Hello - what a cute picture! I agree - the grandparents in the family are pretty dang awesome - I got lucky when I married into such a wonderful family!

Mia said...

It is apparent by the way you talk about your parents that you love them and that they are wonderful parents. You are pretty awesome too from the way your kids talk about you.

Natalie Scott said...

What a sweet tribute, Jan. Good parents are the most wonderful, amazing thing in the world, and I will never take mine for granted. How cute are yours?! They raised an amazing woman who means so much to so many of us.

Love you!

Hacking it up said...

I love that quote! You always find the best! i am so blessed to have such great parents in my life!

Sandy said...

Isn't it amazing the love we feel for our wonderful parents. I hope that I always do things right and my kids feel this way about me years down the road.

What a cute picture of them.

Unknown said...

agreed about your parents. and mine too! ;)

. . . . . . . . . said...

I love that picture so much. I miss being close like we were when I was younger, and G&G were only 2 hours away. It's going to be so awesome to see them in August!

Rebecca said...

Oh man. They are such cutie pies (except for Grandpa's feet - had to mention that!).
They raised some pretty cool kids too :)

Ashley said...

sweet and thoughtful post. families can be ETERNAL! what a blessing!!

Marilee said...

I know that temple!
As we get older it is fun to look back and remember our parents but also nice to see them as they age because we are always learning from them, even now.

Me, Myself, and I said...

Grandma and Grandpa are awesome. They've been great examples to us. I still have a necklace they bought for me in the Philippines on their mission. Not because it's from the Philippines, but because it was from their mission.

Cammie said...

Good parents and grandparents are the best. I can barely cope with the loss of my grandmother, I can't even imagine living without my mother. Parents are just so necessary.