My husband's mom died yesterday. She was 97. She'd lived a long and full life. But no matter how old we get or how old our parents get, we're just never prepared to lose them. When I first married Steve, I didn't fully realize at first what a gem I had gotten as a mother-in-law. But for the past forty years, I've learned so much from watching this kind, gracious, generous, classy woman. Steadily and surely, she has shown me what a well-lived life looks like. For most of those forty years, we lived in the same town--and for a short while, even in the same house. My recipe box is filled with her recipes; our house is filled with her furniture, her Christmas ornaments, and her dishes; but most of all, our hearts are overflowing with precious memories. We miss you, Mom; we always will. Thank you for everything.
