When you've made a difference...

People come and go throughout your lifetime without a doubt.  But those who stick around become part of your family.  When my children were growing up, my husband and I loved having our children at home and we enjoyed having their friends over as well.  If the kids were home then we knew what they were getting into and appreciating what they weren't getting into.  Having a home that was built with values, discipline, consistency and love are key when raising children.  I think as parents we really hope that our children grow up to have respect for others as well as themselves and that they were really listening to what you've been "preaching" every day for all those years. They payoff is when you can sit back and watch them as they take on the world and see that they are beautiful strong people who you are proud of.  Just knowing that you've made a difference in a person's life is an incredible feeling and it does a heart good.  What's better yet is when they are on their way and they stop and say, "thank you" for being apart of their life.  My husband and I are so very proud of our children, Nikki, Austin and Dylan.