Remembering a legend...

Well yesterday came and past and I handled it pretty well. Looking back I think it was because I kept myself very busy with Mother Day's Festivities. Now that those are all over with I guess my mind now has time to reflect and remember.

Most of the times when you hear men talk about their mother-in-laws it is usually in a negative light and she is usually the butt of a joke or a sarcastic comment. Well that is definitely not the case for me. I really truly loved (and still do love) my mother-in-law, Adelle. She was an amazing woman. It was hard for me to come to grips with the fact that yesterday marked her 8th year leaving this mortal existence. I remember that day so vividly in my mind like it was yesterday. Some days it feels like it was just yesterday and then others it feels like it has been like an eternity. I find myself missing her more and more as time goes by, and at the most random moments. Like when we are pulling out of the garage all loaded up for a family vacation (she went with us on every vacation. It was so much fun having her with us.), as I pass a certain gas station on our way to California (even though we only stopped there once with and never stopped there again), when I open the fridge and see leftovers (she always cooked enough for leftovers so I could stop by and visit and eat), and when I need someone to vent to about my wife (not that that happens very often...I love you honey!) She was always there to listen and give advice, and who better to go to for advice on my wife than her, after all she did raise her.

I miss all of our crazy random adventures. She was always thinking of different ideas to try whether it was changing a recipe around to taste different, a new home improvement project, building some gadget, making a quilt, or rearranging the furniture. She always had a way of talking me into helping her. She also had a great sense of humor and would always laugh at the pranks that were pulled on her, some of them took her a little longer to calm down from and laugh than others.

I miss hearing her talk and say weird sayings like mash on the horn, cut on the lights, and of course the ever popular, "It takes intelligence to get me upset and Chuckie, you ain't got a chance!" Then there are the list of my favorite words to get her to say because no matter how many times she said them or how slowly she tried to pronounce them she couldn't do it like tournament (she'd say tuna-mint), temperature (she'd say tempa-ra-tour), and my favorite burrito (she'd say burr-rit-toe).

I think that for me what is the hardest besides her not being here for me is the fact that not all of my kids got to know her and make lasting memories with and of her. Aaron was 7 and has the best memories with her. He was her little sidekick and was already to go and do whatever she had planned. In the weeks prior to her passing he would want to miss school and spend the day with her helping her with anything she needed. We would occasionally cave and let him miss school and stay with her. The two of them would stay in bed all day watching the Food Network and talking about what they should try to make next. Makenzie was only 3 and remembers some things but not a lot. She remembers being around her and who she was. Then there is Alexa, Carla was 5 months pregnant with Alexa when her Mom passed away. Alexa was the only one of our kids that didn't meet her in this earth life. She was the first birth that she wasn't physically standing in the room when they were born. Then again Alexa came to us via C-Section so Adelle wouldn't have been allowed in the operating room (well there would have been a long heated talk between the two of us and in my version I would win and be in the O.R. and in her version she would have been in the O.R.) as a mortal person which makes Alexa special, because she was the only one of our kids that had her Nana there Spiritually standing helping, watching, and encouraging her into mortality.

I am so grateful that I am privileged enough to be able to call you Mom. I love you! I am so thankful for the knowledge that the Plan of Salvation gives me to know that we will be reunited again one day. Until that glorious day comes, you will be missed.

I love you Mom!