Lately my heart has been hurting because I am going to lose someone I love so very much. The doctors say it is just a matter of time but they can not give us a set time frame at this moment. She has some very severe health problems including a bad heart and a bad spleen and cancer that is starting to claim her body. She is not a candidate for surgery because it would be futile. 

My Mother-In-Law and I have been very close from the first day we met over 14 years ago. She loves me no matter what and lets it be known to all. Her own children have many times been jealous of our closeness.  

No matter what happened between her son and me, she still calls me her daughter and 99 per cent of the time it was my side of the fence she stood on when Ralph and I squabbled.  

She has defended me like a Mother lion, against my own family at times and against anyone else who may say something against me. 

She calls me on the phone and I call her weekly. Some of you may recall she came to stay here with me for awhile last year. I thank God for that time with her more than ever now. 

Some nights I cry myself to sleep knowing how much I will miss this woman who has meant so much to my life. Or I hang the phone up after we chat and the tears come because I know one day soon I will not hear her voice again. 

I thank God for all the memories she and I have made over the years and for all the times she tells me how much she loves me and is thankful to have me in her life. 

I thank God for the times she and I have disagreed as well, because it taught us both something. It taught us to respect one another and to allow one another our opinion even if we did not totally agree. She and I have done a lot of compromising over the years. 

The one thing that makes me still feel good inside is when I hear her say, "My son could not have made a better choice than when he chose you." To me that is one of the highest compliments a Mother-in-law can pay to her Daughter-In-Law. 

Ralph and I have parted and been back together a couple of times over the 14 and a half years since we started out, but regardless, my Mother-In-Law has never been one to judge me too harshly and instead was always sure it was because of something her son did to tick me off. 

I am not saying she has not had her hand in there now and then when it shouldn't have been but when she did it was usually to defend me and to tell her son to wake up because he would never find anyone else like me. Ralph tells me I am so very much like her. I am not sure if that is good or bad sometimes but it suits me just fine. 

This woman had 9 children, two of whom have passed on already. She worked outside the home, buried 2 husbands and a gentleman friend that she was with for many years. Still she picked herself up and moved on. 

Still she has the time to sit and listen to anyone who may have a problem or need a shoulder to lean on. She has stood behind and loved dearly her youngest son who has been in prison for over 18 years. 

She has watched some of her children and grandchildren go through drug abuse and alcohol abuse and still loved them as only a Mother and a grandmother is capable of loving..from her heart. She has more grandchildren than I can count and great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.  

I have learned much from my Mother-in-law. Much more than maybe I am ever willing to admit. But the lessons she has taught me will remain with me always. As will her loving memory once she is gone from this world. 

My Mother-In-Law is a tough old bird to say the least and she is never short for words whether they are appropriate or not. She has faced death a couple of times in her life and is still here to tell about it. This time however the doctors say she will lose. It is just a matter of time.  

Some of the things she has taught me are between the two of us and God. However, the poem below is one that I will remember her by and I wanted to share it with you because I hope when my time comes I will be remembered the same way.  

Until next time...
hugs,
Misker