30. Host a party for M&D

Today my friends is a special day.  It is my parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Happy 40th, Sharlene and Karl :)

When I created this goal I was eager to help them celebrate and after some brainstorming with my sister we schemed to plan a party for this big special occasion.

However, while my sister and I spent time traveling abroad we kept talking about how our parents would love to be there with us.  We used to travel together quite a bit as a family (I definitely can attribute my wanderlust to my parents introducing me to traveling at an early age) but now our trips are reserved just for visiting one another. Being spread out across 3 different regions of the United States reserves most of our travel time.

Cuddlebugs

Some more brainstorming later and we realized that this party really wasn't the best idea.  It'd be great and all, but our parents have never really been big party people.  My Dad adamantly refused one for his retirement and milestone birthday so he's not eager to be celebrated in a large group any time soon.

So we decided that we could focus all of that money and energy into an awesome trip.  Somewhere new to each of us where we could explore together.  We had the place picked out and I went to town scheming up our getaway!

Mom & Dad Dancing at Cafe De Amis

But then things changed again.  My sweet Father got very sick in the late fall and it stuck around long enough for all of us to be concerned.  Any adventures- foreign or domestic- were not in the near future for us.

So once again we adjusted.  It's been years since we've all been under one roof together at our house in Topeka.  My sister and I knew our parents would love nothing more than to have their girls home so that's we did.

I know all the QT definitely meant more to my parents than catered food or even a stamp in their passport.

Celebratory dinner out at the Row House in Topeka

Everything this past year makes me appreciate and love my family that much more.

Goal #30 might not have been completed in the literal way but I'm fully confident it's intention was met.  Happy 40th Mom and Dad!