“parents are never as bad as kids think they are.” –matt witten

this morning, the parentals got on a plane to start their long journey to africa.
i can’t believe this time has come already!
i never thought it would.
they got set apart last night, and we all got together one last time before they left.
pictures were taken, songs were sung, words were spoken, and tears were shed.
i don’t think it hit me until i saw craig tear up.
i was playing the piano while the kids were singing, and i was looking around and i saw craig start to break down.
all i wanted to do right then was sit next to him and put my arm around him and help us to reassure each other that we still had each other, and had i not been at the piano, attempting to read the music that was all of a sudden extremely blurry, i would have done just that.
it helped me realize how grateful i am to have craig.
i never really see him, even though we both live in utah.
he and i lead completely different and separate lives.
he has work and i have school.
but he’s moving back down to provo, and that makes me happy.
because hopefully, that means we’ll be able to see more of each other.
i’ve loved knowing that we live close enough that if i ever need anything, i can ask him.
and i know bret and naomi are in utah as well,
but they’re busy being married and graduating and schtuff…
they kind of have a lot on their plate.
but all craig has on his is dirt.
(and i kinda mean that literally. i’ve watched him eat his dirt before. was it nasty? disgusting.)
so thanks for being a great example and an amazing older brother, craig.
i’ve always looked up to you and have always wanted to be just like you.
i love you bro. for reals :)

so when i was looking up a quote to use as my title, i came across another one that could have worked just as well:
”there is…nothing to suggest that mothering cannot be shared by several people.”
           –h. r. schaffer
i couldn’t agree more.
especially since i’ve seen it in action.
it has been said before (probably by mom) that no one is afraid of what will happen in our family because no matter what, we will always have each other.
we can always count on each other to rally around (as much as we hate rallies…especially 5-minute ones) and help each other.
i know that as sad and lame as it is to have the parentals gone, i have 9 siblings that will continue playing the parent role and will be there if i ever need anything.
i don’t think i can say that i’ve ever been more grateful for the family i was blessed with.

so i was able to see the parents one last time before they left this morning.
thankfully, there was more laughing and less crying (at least on my part)
they were so funny this morning.
they were complaining that they had to travel in their suit and skirts (i say skirts not because dad was wearing one, but because mom was wearing two. and that’s not because their bags were overweight—i actually don’t know why she was wearing 2) because they were meeting up with some missionaries.
so they couldn’t wear jeans on their 15-hour flight.
then mom was giving emily a bag of random stuff that she wasn’t taking—a practically empty bottle of lotion, 2-cent stamps, gift cards, letters to give to a couple people, and a small bag of change (maybe like $4).
she then turned to me and wrote me a nice fat check.
we thought that was pretty humorous.
my parents are the greatest.
i am so proud of them for going out again.
they love serving the Lord
and my dad likes being a lawyer
so they get the best of both worlds.
they are going to do such an amazing job it’s not even funny.
i’m excited for them, and i’m excited for the southern africa area.
everyone benefits from this situation.
i couldn’t have asked for more amazing parents.
i’m going to say something to my parents that i heard a friend of mine say to his brother before he left on his mission:
it will be sad to have you gone, but i wouldn’t have you anywhere else.

i love you mamasita and pops!!

{insert awesome picture of me with the parentals…can’t believe i don’t have a good one of us. it’s so inconvenient, especially right now…}