In the presence of....

Last night, in the Chili's restaurant out on highway 66, we ate dinner with the family of our daughter's boyfriend.

It was during that dinner that i found myself right smack dab in the middle of true goodness.  i met a pair of parents who have made incredible sacrifices for their family.  One being how the mother worked the night shift for 10 years while the father worked AND took care of the 3 children.  The youngest being only a baby at the start of those 10 years.

I learned they work those kinds of jobs that require lots of hard work and often long hours and for all too often lower pay than what is deserving of the work they do.

i was very humbled, to say the least.

At the end of the dinner, the mother shared much they want, like any other parent, for their children to have the things they didn't and to achieve the goals they weren't able to.  What humbled me the most was when she said something to the effect that they didn't want their children to end up like them.  i'm almost positive my jaw hit the table at this point.

Here are two parents who obviously love their children with such abundant hearts and have been willing to sacrifice a great deal to make sure they have a good life.  i think they sell themselves way too short!  i think their kids should grow up to be EXACTLY like them.  To embrace their culture and heritage.  To know the joy of what it is to see they own kids achieve things they didn't.

All i have to say is: To the Barajas parents and family:  Thank you for breaking bread (okay, chips and salsa) with us and sharing a glimpse of what your life has been and where you want to see your children go.

And to God?  Well, as always.  God.  Thank you for once again providing me the opportunity to remember how good it feels to be humbled.  How awesome is it to feel pride.  And that during this season of "giving" that what matters is what we give of our hearts and souls and to You.

Wow!

Laters!