As children, we often take for granted the many years of love and care we received from our parents. In fact, many of their memories, of our lives, we may not even remember. The sleepless nights, the countless diaper changes, our first steps, our first words… heck, they even taught us how to use a spoon! I won’t say that I never felt grateful or that I never said “thank you” or “I appreciate you”. I did say those things. However, I haven’t always told my parents all the things I am grateful for. So, on their 40th wedding anniversary, I would like to share with them, and all of you, some of the many things I am forever thankful for.
Dear Mom and Daddy,
Thank you for the big things…
Thank you for preparing beautiful, well balanced meals for us every night.
Thank you for putting clothes on my back and creating a beautiful, loving home for us to live in.
Thank you for teaching me. For teaching me how to walk, how to read, how to write, how to drive…
Thank you for demonstrating that generosity is just as valuable when no one is watching.
Thank you for supporting me through college in more ways than one.
Thank you for helping me move into many different houses and apartments and for being excited for each new chapter of my life.
Thank you for being my biggest fan. Thank you for showing up to every single swim meet and soccer game. Thank you for not just showing up, but for cheering me on with pom poms and cheer chants from the sidelines.
Thank you for worrying about me every night when I was out with friends.
Thank you for being proud of me and for sharing my accomplishments with your friends.
Daddy, thank you for getting up every morning and working hard to support our family. Thank you for doing this with a smile and a happy heart.
Mom, thank you for being home for us so we never felt alone and had a mommy to come home to when we were sick. Thank you for preparing our lunches everyday with little love notes and for always being available to chaperone our field trips.
Thank you for the many little things…
Thank you for sitting in my room at night until I fell asleep after a bad dream.
Thank you for playing with me. For playing dolls with me when I was home sick from school, for coloring on the floor with me in Glendora, for playing with paper airplanes in Hong Kong, for playing basketball in the front yard in Walnut Creek, for playing darts in the dark, and for playing games with the family on holidays.
Thank you for telling me stories about your childhood, your family, and most of all, your crazy teenage adventures.
Thank you for helping me with my math homework and for always proofreading my writing assignments.
Thank you for listening to my poetry and watching my homemade performances and plays.
Thank you for taking pictures and videos of me.
Thank you for spending time playing with your grandchildren.
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for laughing with me during my happiest days.
Thank you for crying with me through my hardest days.
Thank you for loving me through all my days.
Thank you for all your effort in loving and supporting my little family, from across the world.
Thank you for loving each other
Thank you for living a real life love story, showing us all that true love does exist.
Thank you for kissing each other when you arrive home.
Thank you for holding hands.
Thank you for dancing with each other at weddings.
Thank you for listening to each other.
Thank you for saying “I’m sorry”.
Thank you for saying “I love you.”
Most of all…
Thank you for instilling in us how important it is to remember who we are and where we came from. Thank you for giving us a “where we came from” that we are so proud of. Thank you for giving us a true sense of family. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. We are so blessed to have you as our mom and dad.
I love you. Happy 40th anniversary.
Love,
Jenni
