I wanted to create a tribute to my Father-in-Law who passed away Wednesday morning. I've thought long and hard about how to do just that ~ but mere words could never do justice to the incredible man I grew to love like one of my own parents.Along the way, as I contemplated my theme, it dawned on me just how much my dear Mother-in-Law, Carol, means to me and how I so deeply admire her strength and dignity, during some of her darkest hours. So this is for her.
Carol is a Steel Magnolia ~ delicate and beautiful on the outside, strong and resilient on the inside, intelligent, strong and yet gentle, and graceful. She always knows exactly what to say, but more importantly ~ how to say it.
On the day we were married, she gave me a framed poem that hangs on our bedroom wall, saying "Though you shall be known as our daughter-in-law, to us you shall forever be known as our daughter in life, for the love you have shown our son raises you high above, and places you within the realm of true familial love."
She has remained true to that sentiment, and I couldn't ask for a better relationship.
Devoted wife, nurturing mother - her loving example glows to me and to others.
I told her, yesterday, that she has given my FIL the greatest and most loving gift in letting him go. And tomorrow, as we celebrate his life, her unfaltering grace will astound and amaze and impress me.
Where does that sort of inner strength come from? She has not had an easy life. Her mother was gentle and soft, but her father had his demons. Her older sister came into the world with Down syndrome in an era when there were few resources available. She had an emergency hysterectomy after my sister-in-law was born.
But she has never merely born her crosses - she embraces them, enveloping them in her caring nature.
She is never too busy to take the boys overnight, or for an afternoon. She always finds just that very special gift at holidays that takes your breath away. She always loves what she receives, even when her daughter-in-law awkwardly presents her with pierced earrings, when her ears are not . . .
She thinks of every detail, and when we travel together she’s the one we turn to for the odd little things you’d never think to bring . . . To a near fault, she never wants to burden anyone - carefully chooses her every word, never shouts or raises her voice, though her exuberance is felt in her smile, and she can get fun and rowdy - but always in a distinguished way. She never misses the opportunity to dance, especially to line dance. She is the life of the party, yet never detracts from the guest of honor.
You’ll often find her in the kitchen hand washing dishes during a shower or party. She always says "I love you." And always kisses her greetings and goodbyes.
She is a remarkable woman.
God bless her for all she has been through. Grant me some of her grace and peace.
I'll be home by the time this arrives but C'est leVie! We're trying to pack up all of our bottles of wine, pates, chocolates, miniature Eiffel Towers, t-shirts and berets. 21 bottles of wine among us. Not bad although we consumed 7 that were meant to come home with us. In one night. Three of us . . .
Bonjour again!
This postcard looks like 50 Francs - that's worth a bit less than $10. But I only paid about 5F for it! It always seems like "play" money - all of this weird foreign currency. It makes shopping so much fun!! In the next few days we'll go to Versailles and possibly Bordeaux to drink some - well - Bordeaux! I miss you very much. Can't wait to see you!
We saw this at the Louvre today. Did I say HOTEL is 'modest'? Jeannette managed to send the electricity South just by drying her hair! ELECTRIC! We climbed the 
We made it! We successfully navigated from Gare du Nord to Rue de la Magenta sans map and checked into our nostalgic little HOTEL - this year with no rating. Okay - so it's a little modest, but "charming" if you can buy that. We went on the Bateaux on the Seine, stopping for a couple of Tarte Primoix and Pollet Pizzas. Ah PARIS! Jet lag setting in around 4:30 ~ 9:30 to our poor bodies! We stopped at the Monoprix for some Vin and Fromage on our way back to HOTEL. Good thing our friend at the desk speaks German - since there is no bigger fool in the French language than myself!
