I read a book yesterday. I have a habit of doing that, reading a book all in one day. But sometimes books are so good you can't put them down. Randy Pausch was an engineer among other things. He died last summer of cancer. Some of you may be familiar with his book called "The Last Lecture", if you haven't read it, I encourage you to and if you haven't see his actual last lecture it is available to watch free online. I learned a lot from listening to Randy. He was a very smart man. I don't know anymore about engineering than I did before I read his book but I know a little more about life. I like books like that. Books that make you think about yourself, where you have been, where you are and where you are going.
Randy credits his parents with much of his success, he says they encouraged him to be creative and didn't try to push him in one direction or another. I am not going to give away a lot here but but one anecdote that made me laugh out loud and reminded me of my mom was when he was having trouble in a class and she responded with "We know how you feel honey, when your father was your age he was fighting the Germans". Enough said! Tough but real, that's why this blog is not about Randy Pausch, it' about Tommy and Christina Knapp.

I have been through a lot in 28 years but let's face it, I wouldn't even be here if my parents hadn't met and decided to have me when the Dr.'s told them it was dangerous. It was dangerous all right. I was the kid who had to go to the emergency room repeatedly for things like planks in her feet from running on the hard wood floor and getting her head stuck in the upstairs railing, The one who broke her knee on the family vacation to sea world. The one who left her most prized possession (a stuffed Winnie the Pooh) in a hotel on the way to Disney World. The one who let the neighbor light matches in her bedroom. The one who colored on the brand new television with black marker. The one whose teachers always said, she's great but she talks a lot; to which they replied, "we know". I think you get the picture.

My parents have never been ones to punish. As a child I had a sit in a chair more than a few times for a time out. But since I don't remember it that well it couldn't have been that scarring. I was spanked when necessary and sent to my room once and only once. My parents taught my sister and I through example. We had a Christian home and through and through. There was a large amount of trust and if you violated that trust there were consequences but there was no grudge. Because at the risk of sounding like a cliche, that's what Jesus would have done.

I didn't realize it at the time. Sometimes it's hard to see the situation for what it is when you are in it but I see it clearly now. The expectation that dinner was on the table every night and everyone was there unless you had a very good excuse. Again, no punishment, no demanding. It was family time. It was the way my parents were raised and the way they were raising us. The expectation that homework was meant to be done and done right. My dad spent countless hours helping us with math at night because that was what he was supposed to do in his eyes.

My parents have worked hard their entire lives, they both graduated from college, my dad after they were married and he was working. They worked hard for our family, so that we could have a good life and a firm foundation. I have struggled the past few years and they have been there every step of the way. When I couldn't find a teaching job not once did anyone suggest I go get a job at Starbucks, they packed the boxes and took me to Arizona so I could start my career. They sacrificed. Again.

When I was in high school my parents were asked to teach a parenting class at our church. At the time I was indifferent about it. I liked my parents and all but did I think they should teach a class....Today I think everyone should take a page from their book. Their not perfect, yep they made mistakes, everyone does. But I know now why they were asked to teach that class and I am so proud of them.

Every time I am unsure, sick, happy, sad, angry, or anything the first phone call I make is to my parents. They have never tried to push their dreams on me only asked what my dreams are and how I am going to achieve them. I am forever grateful and I want them to know that now.

That's what I learned from "The Last Lecture" Say it now.