My Mother-In-Law

I have the best mother-in-law. Today, we celebrated her 81st birthday. During the past few weeks, I've been reflecting on some of my fondest memories of her.

When we were first married, I loved her cooking. She always made the best chocolate chip oatmeal bar cookies. Sometimes she made the whole batch for me and let me eat them all myself. Maybe I can blame my pudginess on her. I also loved the meatballs she made and the monkeybread she baked.

I remember when she called my first-born son a "little spitfire." At first I was horrified that she would call my "darling son" a name like that! I took it as an insult, but found out over the years, it was just one of her terms of endearment.

She grew up in a one-room cabin during the Depression years and I think that's why she was always so frugal. I thought it was pretty funny to rinse out plastic bread bags and reuse them. I laughed when she saved empty cottage cheese cartons. I believe Grandpa J is a spin-off from her for sure. You see, he has the same tendencies; that is, he saves the cottage cheese cartons just like his mom, but there is no way we are going to recycle bread bags!

I loved that she gave me knee-high nylons when they were too little for her. I loved the pot scrubbers she made out of empty plastic milk jugs and nylon netting. She sewed potholders and gave me lots. I use them all the time! And, with a labor of love, she made me and everyone of my children and grandchildren a hand-tied or quilted blanket for all the births and marriages.

But most important of all, we knew she loved us. I loved that we could always count on her to make a special effort to attend and be there for the important things in life: the baptisms, missionary farewells and homecomings and temple marriages.

Thanks Grandma for being such a great mother-in-law! I love you! Happy Birthday!