30daysofgivingthanks: day 14

November 14, 2013

Today I'm thankful for my parents!

You may think you come from cool people, but let me tell you, my parents are the greatest! These are the folks that took care of me when I was little, passed down their talents and gifts, and have earned respect through living every day for Him! 

My dad is a passionate person and it's hard not to love the things he loves. Working with my dad as a teenager at a local camera shop gave me a love for photography. Every good photo I take is dripping with his advice (and every bad photo I take is from when I didn't listen). For that and so many other reasons, I'm proud to call him my daddy!

Mom, on the other hand, is about as easy going as they come. She's relentlessly serving and also gifted with the written word. I'm always amazed at how quickly she can whip up a poem! She is one of my biggest supporters and has the longest "listening span"of anyone I know; I love sharing my heart with my Momma because I know she's always listening...even if there are a dozen other people begging for her attention.

I love that my parents have never been pretentious with me (well, not since the Santa Claus incident, anyway. hehe). When they don't have the answers, they tell me and we figure it out together. When they don't think I'm making the best choice, they tell me that but still let me make it if I want. When I say I'm going to New Orleans in the middle of the night, they say, "I wish you would have woken me up to go with you!" But the best part of having awesome parents is that they become your best friends as you grow up. These are people that I absolutely treasure and I was thrilled to see them here on my side of the water this past June! 

I love you, Mom and Dad!

Today's Challenge: Positive Thoughts Only!

Okay, this one will take some work, but strive today to think only positive thoughts about other people and situations you find yourself in. You'll be amazed at how this improves your day - and you're likely to find how your positive attitude affects others as well!