And now three years has turned into less than three hours.
I am so grateful to those two parents of mine. I can hear them talking downstairs, and I'm going to miss their chatter. I really am lucky to have had these two people in my life.
I am so grateful that my mom was there for so many small moments. On the way to the race today, I was thinking about when she has been there for me. I remember coming home, and she was sitting on our tan couch in the family room. I excitedly told her that I was selected as the Speech Sterling Scholar and made Academic Olympiad. I remember sitting in the study chairs, crying and telling her how I had to let go of a friendship. I remember sitting on the ground, with my back against her bed, telling her all about my day. I remember tiptoeing in after I made it home safely and telling her how my party went. I distinctly remember seeing her and telling her I made the freshman volleyball team, and she was next to me when I called my dad, crying about it. I remember her sitting upright in her bed the night I came home from volleyball tryouts, and I remember how she enveloped me in a hug, her pain for me clearly on her face. I remember a few days later, listening to "Unanswered Prayers" with my head in her lap, sobbing because I hurt. I remember she went to the volleyball banquet afterwards (that was hard), and the excruciatingly long debate banquets, all four hours of them. I remember after my graduation speech looking up at her and seeing her nod her head in approval, making me almost cry. I remember calling her after I did poorly at debate state, sobbing by myself in a stairwell, and she comforted me. I remember calling her after I was undefeated at debate state, and me crying by myself in a doorway, and she cried with me out of pure joy and answered prayers. I remember after my last school dance coming home and seeing her awake in the family room. I sat down in my dance dress and told her all about my night. I remember loving that moment almost more than the dance because I had such a good time. She took this picture of me, which I love because even after the party is over, she is the one who is there for me.
My dad is the reason I try so many new things in my life. We spent long hours together at volleyball tournaments, him sitting in an uncomfortable camping chair watching me play. When I started playing rightside, after years of playing setter, he worked with me for hours in the backyard on my approach. When I couldn't serve overhand for the life of me, he threw a softball with me until it finally clicked. I remember him taking me rock climbing, and telling me that I could do it. I remember him encouraging me to go on the ski lift, even after I was scared. I remember him driving with me for hours on our spring break trip, listening to my soul's complaint. I remember him buying me a soda at Sam's Club after I had a hard volleyball practice. I remember him walking into the gym after volleyball tryouts, seeing my face, and immediately his face was filled with pain. I could see how much he hurt for me. I remember him walking onto the football field, escorting me for Homecoming royalty, supporting me even if he thinks the whole thing is stupid. I remember him patiently explaining how his guns work again. I remember him listening to my emotional pain on a run after a classmate died. He told me that it was going to be ok. I remember him leaving work early so he could see me run for 6 minutes at a track meet. I remember him leaving a meeting early so he could attend an award banquet with me. I remember him not ever pushing me to play volleyball, like some parents would, but instead being happy that I found something else to do. I remember him telling me so often how proud he was of me for all of my hard work. And I remember today. Today when I got mad during mile 12. Today when I thought I was losing it. Today when I didn't think my legs could run one more step. Even when I got mad, and I got rude, my dad still ran beside me. Even though the pace was much slower than what he could have ran, he still ran with me. He kept up with me over the finish (ha), and we crossed the line with our hands clasped in the air. I remember him squishing me to him, giving me a hug that said how proud he was of me. I could only do that race today because my dad was with me.
Mom and Dad, I don't know how I can thank you for these past 18 years. You have done everything you can to support me in my goals. Mom, you bought whipping cream so I could make gelato and assured me that my macarons were good (even if they didn't taste that great). Dad, you wrote up a training plan for me and didn't complain when I punched you in the arm on our runs. I wish I could let you know how much these past three years have meant to me. Thank you for being the ones that are there for me. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for encouraging me. You two are some of my closest friends, and I will continually thank my Heavenly Father for your influence in my life.
xo. Elise
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