Remembering

Sorry my friends, it has been awhile since my last post but it has been a time of mixed emotions for me.  August brought our family joy and celebration at my cousin's wedding only to be followed almost immediately by tears and sadness at my mother-in-law's passing.

As my last post was more wedding oriented, (click here) and mentioned my cousin's then, upcoming wedding, I'd like this one to be more of a remembrance of my husband's mother. 

It was in the fall, when I first met her and this time of year brings back those memories.

 

 

She was a kind, hard working, German woman who welcomed me into the family and always made me feel like she was genuinely happy that her youngest son had chosen me.

 

 

 

She did not have an easy life, living through war and turmoil before coming to Canada. Even her early days in this country were filled with hardship.

 

 

 

 

She and her husband made a life for themselves here though and she loved having the whole family together and would spend lots of time in the kitchen preparing holiday meals for us.

 

 

With 5 children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the family grew to be quite large and the food eventually had to be served buffet style on her kitchen island to accommodate us all. How we enjoyed helping ourselves to all those delicious traditional items!

 

I especially remember loving her potato salad which reminds me of all the gardening she did with my father-in-law, growing their own potatoes and many other veggies.

 

 

Keeping her home clean and orderly was very important to her.

 

Although by today's standards, many of her décor items might have been thought of as "old country" in style, they had been collected over time and had special significance.

She also had lots of decorative faux flowers around her home as well as many healthy living plants/flowers inside and out.

 

 

Above all, I remember my mother-in-law's quiet faith in God which did not go unnoticed by her youngest son. 

 

 

I thank our Lord that He has blessed him, my husband with that same faith.

 

Though her later years were difficult ones following her stroke and she did not always portray the characteristics of the person I first met, she was loved and valued by her husband and family to her last day. 

 We will always cherish the memories we have of this dear woman.

Thank you for visiting and listening.