Everybody says that they have the best grandparents ever but I am sure they have never had grandparents like mine.

Instilling a Work Ethic

I have been working for my grandparents for a really long time. I began helping feed bottle lambs when I could barely walk and have continued to help them whenever I can. The experiences that I have had working for my grandparents has taught me a lot. I have learned to keep my mouth shut and just do as I’m told, but I have also learned to stand up for what I believe in. I have learned that hard work and determination can help you achieve anything. I have learned to never give up and that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. My grandfather has this saying for whenever we get a cut or hurt ourselves, “Well, it’s a long way from your heart.” I have learned about the more important things in life, family and friends. My grandparents taught me to follow my dreams and not to let anyone hold me back. They have supported me through everything I have ever done and continue to support me every day.

A Sign of Respect and Admiration

If you have ever heard me talk about my grandparents you may have noticed that I don’t refer to them as grandma and grandpa, but as grandmother and grandfather. I am not exactly sure when or why I began referring to my grandparents by such formal names, but I think it is a sign of respect and admiration. I love my grandparents more than anything and I really do respect them. I began traveling with them in early elementary school. I would spend hours in the backseat of the truck while my grandfather drove and my grandmother gave directions or read a book. At the time, I hated those long drives that seemed super boring and never ending. Looking back I realize that it was during those drives that I formed an unbreakable bond with my grandparents that not many other people could have. I saw them bicker with each other when my grandmother forgot a turn and I learned a lot of swear words from my grandfather yelling at the driver that cut him off.

A Special Appreciation for What They Have Done

My grandparents have 7 grandchildren between their two daughters. All of us except for 2 are involved with the sheep in some way. If you look at the differences between my sister, who isn’t involved with the sheep, and I, who is involved with every aspect of the sheep, you can clearly see that being involved with the sheep is a character builder. Now, I am not saying that my sister doesn’t know how to work hard and do well. She is just lacking that motivation that I have always had to work towards a goal. Granted, she doesn’t know what she wants to do yet as a career or where she wants to go to school. I think that because I have worked for my grandparents and traveled with them for so many years that I grew up and matured a lot faster than my sister has. I just had to. When you are traveling with older adults all of the time, you yourself have to act like an adult too, and after acting like an adult for so long, you just become one.

This is my grandparents with my cousin and I at graduation. We were lucky enough to have both grandparents present us with our Diplomas. Our grandfather is the school board president and it was our grandmothers 50th class reunion. Of course my uncle and brother had to photobomb and ruin the picture.