Day 8 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for my parents. I was very blessed to get them as parents. I'm grateful for the example they have always been, and for teaching me well too. I hope I can be as good of a mother as my mother is.
My dad is such a hard worker. I was used to my dad serving in demanding callings in the church through my whole childhood, but he never complained about it, he is always happy to serve. He was also an amazing institute teacher. I have great memories of sitting around at the dinner table after eating and getting into a spiritual discussion with my dad and feasting on his knowledge. BUT, there is another side to him as well. Many people only know the serious, spritual side to my dad, but he is hilarious too. Just come to any family party and you'll see him telling jokes, and dressing up to the hilt for Halloween. Not quite as serious as others think he is, and I love both sides of him.
My mom... well... she is a saint. She had 10 children. That qualifies as a saint right there. And she raised us to be amazing, funny, loving, faithful, and humble ;) people. As I said before, my dad worked for the church, he said "they pay good money, not a lot of it, but it's good money." My mother took on selling Avon, Fuller Brush, and Watkins door to door so that we could have a decent Christmas every year. She created a loving home where the spirit was present. I also remember as a teen I'd be up laughing and talking with my siblings and she'd sneak downstairs - not to get mad at us, but because she wanted to join in the fun and laugh with us. She'd always want to hear all the details of dates, and be there to love me when my heart was hurting.
So I always thought we "Roylance's" got our goofy, fun side from my dad, because he is hilarious. But the first time I saw my mom with her two sisters I knew we must have gotten a healthy dose of fun from both of them. They were laughing and singing songs together, and before long broke out in a dance with a kick line. (Oh, yes mom, I remember. It was at grandpa's house, and you guys were hilarious!) I love my parents for the wonderful, fun people they are and the great examples and leaders they have been to me.
They are serving a mission in the London, England temple right now. It's hard sometimes having them so far away, like when we get together for family parties, or when I just want to call and chat, but it's the middle of the night there. However, we do get to skype, which I did today and that is a blessing, it makes them seem not so far away. I am so grateful for their missionary service. As my children pray for them every night while "grandma and grandpa are on their mission" I think how neat it is that they are still teaching their family by example and testimony.