I am Thankful and Grateful : Day 3

I am very grateful for our parents.

My husband and my mother in law

My family.  My sister, dad, mom, myself and my brother.

My father in law and Noah.

I am very grateful and very thankful for the love and support that we get from both our parents.  They have supported us through all our years, through moves while Jason was in the Navy and then some.  A couple of years ago Jason was laid off and made the choice to go back to college and all of them supported his choice.  

My parents have always been there for me and have supported me even if they didn't agree with what I was doing at the time.  They let me learn from my mistakes.   I will say that I didn't always understand my parents frame of thinking growing up.  But once I was a mom myself I had a great appreciation for them and what they did.  My mom and I got a lot closer.  And there was a point in time before I moved out that I would go to my dad before I went to her.  Now my dad in the above picture is my step-dad.  He and my mom have been married 24 years....so to me he is my dad.  He raised me for the most part.  I know that my parents always have my back.  

And with my husbands parents things didn't always seem like I was welcome at first.  But as time went on and we got closer things got a lot better.  I have grown to love his parents like my own.  They have helped us and been there for us so much in the last couple of years.  It and truly has been a blessing.  Five years ago we moved into a house across the street from them.  At first I thought that we were nuts.  But its been nice to be able to build a good relationship with them.  Recently we found out that his dad had cancer.  Which he had to have surgery to remove.  It was hard to see him in pain and helpless in a way.  I have a view of his dad that is superhero like.  He is a strong man, who takes care of his family and loves them very deeply.  And to see him in a weakened state was hard.  I am happy to say that they removed all of mass.  No other treatment was needed.  And I was compelled to let his parents know how much they really meant to me.  

My father....

I am in purple he is seated to my left.  My step mother is to his left.  And the rest of the crazy Keefer clan.  (Stepmom, dad, myself, Uncle Randy, Aunt Beth, friend of family, 2nd row Granddad, Grandma(raddest chic alive, ever) and Uncle Scott)

My father and I aren't really as close as I would like.  I see him once every couple of years or so now. Before I when I was younger I would only see him once a year.  He and my mom split when I was about 3.  He is my dad and always will be and he does give support in his own way.  And I must admit that I am a lot like him well kinda.  I am a sci-fi nerd much like he is, thats the main one.  I like details, like he does.  And everyone tells me that I look like him.  But he always listened and given me advice and has supported me in things that I do.  

So its nice to have parents on all sides that give support and understanding.  And most of all love.