Importance...

There is something about waking up in your childhood home on a summer morning. I was lucky enough to spend Father's Day in Clifton with my family. Monday morning I woke up and had some work to do for my thesis and I sat there in bed with my laptop, the windows open and the manure lilac air flowing in the window. Manure lilac air does not sound delightful but oh it is. I love the air in Clifton. People complain about the cow smell but that is home to me and I will always love it. So back to the story... I was sitting there in two different worlds. One world where I was the focused graduate student trying to figure out my data for my thesis; and the other where I was a child again waking up early to enjoy the summer morning and be part of my family. They are two completely different worlds and I found myself longing for/reminiscing about my childhood.

The longer I have lived out of my home the more I cherish it and the more I realize what the important things in life are. I realize these important things because I am striving everyday to create home that is like my parents, centered around the important things.

The following is a LIST of what my parents taught me to be of utmost importance:

1- The Savior: Jesus Christ is the center of my childhood home. When you pull up to this home you can see in the front window a picture of the Savior. I've always loved this about my house. I love it because you don't see a TV with the game playing, you see the Savior. I love that so much. I think of my house as a safe haven and who wouldn't feel safe when they pull up to the house and see a picture of the Savior. I hope that my future home can have a window in the front so I can send the message to my children and those coming in that this is a home where we love each other and we love the Savior and we are striving to be like Him. My family fights and quarrels and bickers and murmurs and has contention but at the end of the day when we kneel in prayer no matter what has transpired we (as children) do not doubt who our parents want our home to be centered around. The Savior and the gospel (with all that it entails) are extremely important.

2- Family Time: Cliche as it may sound, family is important. I don't remember a time in my life that I felt like my parents didn't have time for me or weren't there to support me. My parents wanted to be and were involved in EVERY detail of my life from what I needed to eat for breakfast to what extra curricular activity I was involved in, they care and they were there. I have seen my father rush from meetings and work to a basketball game for by sibling because he WANTS to be there. I have seen my mother stay up really really late ironing a dress so it will be ready for Jr. Miss. My dad tucked me throughout most of high school because I WANTED to be tucked in. It made me feel safe and loved. He probably thought I was a little ridiculous at times but he still did it for me. My mom talked to me at 6 am as I walked to the gym every morning my freshman year of college because I WANTED to talk to her. She didn't necessarily have time for that but she did it for me. Being there for your family and caring about their interests and needs is important.

3- Work: My parents insisted that I milk cows in middle school and my brother, I think, started in 5th or 6th grade. They wanted us to be able to know how important work was. They both had to help us get up at 4 o'clock on the mornings we milked. That wouldn't be an easy job as a parent but it was worth it to them because it taught us a valuable lesson. I remember my mom telling me that life is mostly work. It is. I am so glad that my parents taught me when I was young (even though I thought it was a little cruel) how to work. We never had an allowance. We never were given money for doing jobs for our parents because work is part of life. We had to pull our weight in our family and we had to earn money if we wanted extra money. Work teaches discipline and discipline is necessary to achieve goals and earn greater rewards. I'm so happy my parents taught me work is important.

4- Physical and Spiritual Health: I'm glad my parents taught me to be healthy. They never went on any crazy diets or were obsessed with working out but they taught me how to take care of my body and spirit. They taught me how to nourish my body, get enough sleep and create habits of exercise in my life. They also taught me that service, reading my scriptures, prayer, going to church/temple and loving others nourished my spirit. I learned that it is unhealthy to be addicted to ANYTHING and that being healthy is a lifestyle not a fad diet or crazy workout schedule. It is important to take care of the body and spirit our Heavenly Father gave us.

5- Education: My dad is going to be retired military soon and he has gotten a second degree in education and will teach math at Harold B. Lee Middle School. He got this degree while working full-time, being the Bishop of our ward and being a dad. It must have been important to him. He and my mom have always shown and stressed the importance of education and the merit it has in life. A persons quality of life increases when they are educated about the world around them and can contribute knowledge to it. Education is important.

6- Wholesome Recreation: My parents made sure that my life was filled with wholesome recreation. This included: playing a game together, watching March Madness or BYU football, jumping on the trampoline, going on walks, going swimming, creating traditions, going to Bear Lake with extended family, having dance parties while we washed the dishes etc. There was a whole lot of wholesome recreation happening in the home. It is important.

7- Nice: It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice. I was raised by kind parents. They helped me forgive and be forgiven. It is so important to be nice because everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Enough said!

I could write more and more but for starters this is what I want to be of utmost importance in my home. I will be forever grateful I was raised by two loving parents who created a home where I always felt comfortable and could strive to become better everyday. Thanks M and D. Love you!