That One Time My Sister Got a Job

My little sister Megan graduated from The University of Washington with a degree in Molecular Biology. I thought that her only option for a job with a science degree was working at Crate and Barrel, but I am proud to say that she got a real-life grown up, full-time job with benefits. Now this post isn't really about her, although I am proud of her. It's about these people:

My parents are by far the most amazing people I've ever met. I know everyone says that about their parents, but seriously, mine are extra special. The two of them managed to raise four children who all served missions, graduated from college and got jobs that didn't require a food handlers permit. On Sunday we were talking in Relief Society about raising children to make good choices and the teacher asked if anyone had advice on how to accomplish that task. I racked my brain trying to find a succinct way to convey the kind of parents that mine were but instead it brought tears to my eyes and I sat missing my wonderful family.

So here's to my parents, people who raised their children to have faith, to be educated, and not to live in their basement forever. And here's to hoping that some other parents did that so I can find a man who is a functioning adult.

My mother is the kind of woman who would do anything for her kids. I know this because I have watched her do anything for us. She is the kind of lady who will fly down here when I am having surgery to take care of me for a week, clean my entire house while I am in a drug induced coma and make sure that I am fully stocked in a year's supply of m&ms when she leaves. She is the one who helped me study science terms in college late into the evening. I still remember her saying "ribosomes are bumpy" and laughing over and over again. I have no idea what  ribosomes do, but I will never forget that they are bumpy. She is the one who I run to when my heart is broken, who will let me cry for hours and who makes the world's best pancakes. Through her example, she taught me to be graceful, beautiful, spiritual, loving and compassionate. She taught me to be a woman of faith and dignity, to respect myself and to live up to my heritage.

My father is the best example of love I have. He's the kind of person I can talk to for hours, who will listen to me whine and complain about life's ails, sit quietly for a moment then throw down an amazing piece of advice. He is the one I go to for advice and support. He is the one who during my senior year of college when I was panicking about my chosen profession gave me the best advice I'd ever received. He's the one who sent me awesome emails my entire mission. His entire life has been about his wife and children. He's the kind of father that would do anything to make my mother happy. I have cravings for his smoked turkey and hamburgers on a regular basis.  He's the kind of person that I would never want to let down, because you just don't let down the people who love you that much. He taught me to be smart, witty, thoughtful, and firm. He taught me how to love someone while demanding that they give you their best, a trait that I use daily in teaching. He taught me how to communicate effectively. He taught me how to carve a turkey and change a tire. He taught me that some things in life are worth giving your all for.

They are the kind of people who shared their testimonies, who gave 100% to their causes, who showed me what hard work was and what it felt like to be successful. They gave me a perfect example of what I what to be when I grow up.