My father, mother, myself, DH, my mother-in-law, and father-in-law on our wedding day 1983
Both sets of our parents, though not front and center during our courtship, were close by and very supportive of DH and I while we were dating. It has often been said that to truly know a person, it helps to know that person's parents. DH and I met each other's parents within weeks of meeting each other, and I for one was very impressed with what I saw.
Since we were living away from home going to school, we didn't see our parents every day, but we probably saw one or both sets of parents almost every week during that summer that we met. There were plenty of family activities going on, and we were welcomed almost any time of the day or night at either home. Family picnics, barbecues, family dinners, board game nights, family reunions, graduations, weddings, hikes, and more family activities were a big part of our courtship.
Both of our fathers worked long and hard, my father as a dairy farmer and DH's father in his own carpet business. Our mothers were both stay-at-home moms who also worked hard to make their homes comfortable, loving places to live and visit. Both sets of parents have always set high standards for themselves and for their children. They all have strong faith in God and a love for their country and fellowmen. None of our parents have ever been overly protective, but they have been supportive of our goals and dreams and willing to offer advice when asked. We were allowed to make our own choices and decisions in regards to education, careers, missionary service, friendships and our marriage.
Our children have been blessed with wonderful, loving grandparents, and we all cherish the examples these four splendid people have been to us over the years. My dear Mother-in-law is the only one of the four still with us today, and we're grateful to have her living nearby, and often feel the presence of our other parents in our lives. We could not have wished for better parents!
What an awesome post...and picture! You are right, a person's parents have a lot to do with the type of person they become. Funny, my sweeet mother-in-law is the only one left in our combined set of parents, as well... but they all come alive in various ways on different days when we are suddenly reminded of their love and the lessons they taught. How interesting that your dad was a dairy farmer! There was a dairy right down the road from me growing up, and I was fascinated with it! That dairy farmer was incredibly patient with this nosy and persistent neighbor; he allowed me to bottle feed calves, help him spread grain for his chickens and watch the milking process underway. I loved that man and his love for his place! Thanks for sharing...needed that trip down memory lane today!
ReplyDeleteI'm very grateful for all of the wonderful memories with my parents, and for the rich heritage they have left with our family. I'm glad that you had such a good neighbor. I would wish that all children could have a good farm experience while growing up.
DeleteWhat a sweet picture, and how fast the time flies, doesn't it? There is a great deal of wisdom in this post, parents can and often do have a great deal of influence in what a child will turn out to be. I do know cases where children have had to overcome the parenting or lack of it their received, but more often the kind of support and encouragement you got will result in adults who are able to have successful marriages and families of their own. It sounds like you were very blessed with two sets of awesome parents!
ReplyDeleteI do feel very blessed when it comes to parents. I'm made aware of it on almost a daily basis. Hopefully our children and grandchildren will be equally blessed.
Delete