And Straight on 'Till Morning

A few months ago I wrote a post in tribute to my mom. You can read about that here . However, today is fathers day, and I'd like to write about my dad. Daddy I have started this paragraph and erased it again half a dozen times. I'm having a very hard time deciding how to describe my dad. He is an amazing father in so many ways. The only times he ever raised his voice to me were when I was disrespectful to my mother. He was the epitome of disciplining and then showing forth an increase of love. I have always known that my dad loves me. He always has time for his family even when was at work until midnight the night before and left for work at 5 that morning. He has always been there when I needed help, and he continues to be there even now when I have been living away from home for nearly two years. His advice is always well thought through, and, when I take the time to listen to it, it always helps me see situations in a clearer light. My dad is an amazing example to me. ...

My mom is the smartest person I know. She might not have the highest degree, or the most academic knowledge. She can't do calculus (but she could if she wanted to), she isn't an engineer. None the less, my mother is the smartest person I know. The thing I appreciate most about her is that she taught me how to think. She taught me to be open to everything and take everything with a grain of salt. She taught me to make my own decisions and have my own opinions even if others (herself included) disagree. My mother loves to learn about academic things, but she also loves to learn about life. The clearest manifestation of my mother's genius is in her writing. Today I received an  email from her with the subject "If I ever blogged I'd blog this...". I would like to share the contents of this e-mail with all of you. (My mom has now begun blogging again. To read it on her blog click here .) The ocean breathes, inhale and exhale. A sweet family trio asks me to take...