To My Parents - katelyn lilian

I know that I have a lot left to update you on regarding my trip, it’s in the works, I promise. But this takes priority. I just got off of the ship for the last time and said a lot of goodbyes. But I’m also about to say a lot of hellos for the first time in 4 months and more importantly, a lot of thank yous.

This one is the most important. I know I can say this in person, but I want to recognize that my parents have given me the world and therefore I want the world to see them how I see them– to see how much I appreciate them.

Here are a few words for the most important people in my life, because they have truly given me the world.

I can’t take credit for a single thing in my life. Not. A. Single. Thing. Especially this trip.

Or at least not without giving credit to where credit is due first.

In a recent conversation with my dad, he joked about wanting me to credit him with my love for adventure. Of course I gave it to him, but I thought later about how much credit he truly deserves, how much they both deserve.

Just listen to the people who got to raise me (or rather I got to raise me):

For any of you who don’t know my parents, first off I’m sorry, second come over for dinner and meet them (I can only promise good food and a sore tummy from laughing). Because my parents are the most fun people you’ll have the pleasure of meeting. They have done everything and more to make my life incredible and have done the best job doing so. Anytime people ask what my parents do for a living I have to ask what day they mean because they both live life so fully that you never know what they’re gonna do next.

My mom is the most impressive woman I know and the most influential role model I could ever ask for. She has multiple degrees that are crazy impressive (impressive enough that I forget what they are because there are so many). She’s LITERALLY a genius; has multiple patents, climbed the corporate ladder starting at 19, built a non-profit with her bare hands that helps massive amounts of people, starts businesses just as a hobby, travels the world like it was what she was born to do, is writing a book, casually going to seminary, and somehow has time to be a great mom.

I swear every time I talk to her she has a new project she’s started: going to seminary (just for fun), writing a book (just for fun), starting a business (just for fun), teaching a class (just for fun). There is nothing this woman can’t do. She has the greatest passion for Christ and 100% is a Proverbs 31 woman. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to call my greatest role model my mother.

And my dad? There aren’t words to describe Paul. It is a real pity if you have never met him he’s an absolute GEM. My dad has been my best friend since day one. To the point that we’re not allowed to be home for the weekend together because we get into too much trouble. He has been my biggest cheerleader (you should hear his impression of a cheerleader, its gold) in life and has always pushed me to be the best person I can be.

I have some real gem pictures, but I was just on a ship so work with me… although this is one I always have with me, always.

Paul is the most generous, caring, goofy, and genuine person that I know, really. He will literally drop anything and everything to help someone, even a stranger. I can’t tell you how many times he’s dropped everything at a store to helps someone put something in their car, get medical help if they need it, or even pay for their groceries if they can’t. He loves God and my mom with such passion, it has to be admired.

But that is all wrapped up in a 49 year olds body with a 10 year old’s spirit. My dad has spent his life convincing people that life cannot and should not be taken so seriously. For example: his lego collection, collection of memes, and the Swagtron (a scooter) that he bought himself and proceeds to ride IN OUR HOUSE. There is nothing short of entertainment whenever my dad is around. It’s a common joke in our house that my mom has three children not two.

It took about 15 minutes to get one normal picture (on the left) but about 29 of the 30 looked like the one where he is giving me a wet willy…

There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, my dad cannot do. Move a house, done. Rebuild a car, easy. Fix literally anything that is broken, already on it. Help someone, when and where? Give the best bear hug alive, of course! My dad can do anything, and has always taught me that I can too and that life is best lived like a kid.

The best thing that my parents have taught me? I could talk about this all day, but I want to highlight three. A love for God, a love for life, and a love for travel. Among the millions of things I’ve learned on this voyage, one thing I’ve learned is that not everyone has parents like mine. And even if they do, not everyone realizes it.

I realize it more now than I ever have, but my parent’s love and fear for God is something that I can’t thank them enough for. It truly impacts me every single day. And not to mention, I realize how lucky I am to have a foundation like that and a backbone like them to go back to.

My parents have always put God first, their marriage second, and us kids third. I don’t think that everyone would agree with that, but I admire it a whole lot. My family is a team because they first are a team. Their support of me comes from their support of each other. They have always supported my sister and I in whatever crazy ideas we have (ie. this trip) and honestly they encourage us to dream bigger. They love life and they love to dream, I think that mentality that my parents (and now me and Megan) have has helped us live such a full life!!!

And finally, my love for travel can only be attributed to my parents. If you ever come over to our house (you’re always welcome) you can’t leave without wanting to travel. Everything you see is something that reflects where our family has been in the world, literally. And it’s all because my parents have spent a good chunk of their time together abroad. It has got to make sense to some of you now why I went abroad, I’ve only been fed that my whole dang life.

There aren’t enough words in the world (literally, I checked) to express how much I appreciate them and all they have done for me.

Long story short, my parents rock, like they are total (pardon my french) bad-asses, and I can say thank you every day of my life and that wouldn’t be enough. I love them to pieces and can’t wait to see them!!