After nine hours on the clock
today, I called Grandma asking how they were and what they are doing for the
Superbowl tonight. While I wasn’t really
interested in such a superficial game, I knew this was one of those times that
Sean was slightly regretting that we decided to cancel our cable in
Mid-December because it was just too expensive. It was mostly because there was
just nothing on.
Well Grandma invited us out for
supper and to watch the game with her. When we got out to the farm, and every
time we go out to the farm, it reminds me of all of those childhood memories
from the summers spent with my grandma.
When pulling into the drive way,
the garage is the first thing you see, then the bright robin egg blue
house. This house has been the gathering
place for every holiday, family event, and big moment for as long as I can
possibly remember.
Grandma’s kitchen might as well
open up as a restaurant in Harbine. She always has three or four entrees for
each meal. Christmases always include full counters and extremely full tummys.
We always say that if you leave grandma’s hungry, it’s your own dang fault.
Almost a hundred percent of the time, the first words out of Grandma’s mouth
after you walk in the door include, “Are you hungry?” But you are required to
say yes. Everyone knows that you don’t eat if you know you are going out to
grandma’s.
I still remember many summers spent
here, running from barn to buildings, jumping on hay bales, and over fences. My
uncle, who is four years older than I am, and I spent a ton of time playing
“war.” (The irony). We would spend days and days during the summer running
around in the fields, playing near the water shed, and carrying around plastic
weapons.
Looking back now, I miss these
days. I miss being really young and not having a single care in the world, but
mostly I miss spending so much time with my family. As I have gotten older, I
have started working a lot more and being more involved with other things. I
have missed out on a ton of family opportunities that I can never get back.
This post really isn’t about
anything in particular. Mostly just a
reminder about how important family is. I love my family.
Not to mention my mom and dad have
been the best parents I could ever ask for. They have done the most wonderful
things I could ever possibly ask for. They have always encouraged me to do whatever
my heart desires which included dance, gymnastics, soccer, photography, fair
projects, volunteering, reading, and most importantly, the military.
My dad has helped me in each and
every dream that I have had. He has been the greatest role model as a father
that I could have ever asked for. But, as every father should and most
importantly, he taught me how a man should treat a woman by the simple way that
he treats my mother. He showed me what to expect out of a guy. I could never
ask for anything more than that. For this, I will always be extremely grateful.
My mom has given me the ability to
stand on my own two feet as a woman. She has shown me the confidence to stand
up for what I believe in and to not let anyone every walk all over me. She has
given me the dream of someday helping people with whatever I end up doing. This
is the reason that I have decided that I want to go into psychology as my major
at UNL next year. I hope to find a job helping substance abusers within the
military. Many soldiers that have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or some
form of Post-Deployment problem feel that alcohol will be the answer. I want to
help these people. I want to find a way to incorporate Drug and Alcohol
Counseling with the Military in some form. My mom has always taught me that if
you have a plan, and you have the will, somehow it will get done.
I want to express how lucky I am
for every family member that I have. I
challenge each one of you that read this to spend more time with your family. I
know that I take each and every advantage that I can to spend time with my mom,
dad, grandma, grandpa, and brothers.
I can’t wait to go see Zach, Nick,
and Casey in a couple weeks! The first time all four of us have been together
in 8 years.. But finally we will be together.
For a last note, you don’t really
know what you have until you think you might be losing it. So don’t wait until
that last moment. When you move out, you realize how much your family means to you and how important it is to talk to them.
Also I just needed to add that I have the cutest little brother EVER!------->>
