With mothers day coming this Sunday, I want to pay tribute to my mother in Law Marjorie. While many people have had the experience of horrible in laws. I would have to say that when I describe my mother in law who is now with the Lord was a God fearing, people loving and praying woman. When my husband and I met, it was because of her. I was only 17 when we got married. Mom always treated me like her own daughter. It wasn’t like I was her daughter in law. I was her daughter.

I am extremely thankful and blessed to have the mother in law I had. I do miss the times we would spend together. Mom also loved to do cross stitching, crocheting, embroidering, sewing and just about anything that she could do with her hands, she was great at. Moms favorite shows were ‘Fiddler on the Roof”, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Phantom of the Opera”. She loved the southwest and the desert. She loved the saguaro Cactus and roadrunners. She would look out her window in Tucson and watch the roadrunners playing.  Moms favorite song was ‘In the Garden” and El Shaddai by Amy Grant. One of the awesome things about mom is that she would try anything first. We went to the Women of Faith conference in Las Vegas. Almost all of the older ladies were grumbling about how the loud the music was. Not mom, she was clapping along and if she knew the songs, she was singing them. She didn’t act her age.

I have many gifts around my house that my mother in law made for me and I will cherish them forever. Most of all she loved her family and loved studying the Word of God.

Mom and I had many conversations about God. Until my mom came to live with us here in Utah, she had the impression that she couldn’t hear Gods voice. During church she would doodle and on our way home one day we got talking about hearing Gods voice. She was thinking that she would hear a literal voice like what happened with Moses and the burning bush. By the time we made it to the house, she was in tears. I explained to mom that it isn’t a literal voice, it is that God puts things on our hearts.

Mom was a spunky little lady. She was only 4’8″ and you wouldn’t think she was a little spit fire by looking at her. While she lived with my husband and I, I got to where I really knew her well. After I talked to her about what it means to hear the voice of God, she was relieved beyond any words I can think of.

My mother in law was also a loving mom to her three sons. I hear a song coming to mind,lol (My Three Sons). She also loved her grandchildren. There wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for them. Mom was a real grandma to my daughters. They loved going over to her house and visiting with her. My daughters would and still do think of her as their real grandma. Beckiah also has her grandma that she adores very much. We adopted Beckiah and my in laws loved her just as much as if she was related by blood. Mom would take them for a couple weeks each summer and mom and dad would drive from Tucson to Phoenix to just visit for the day. They had no problem going out of their way to see us.

When mom passed away it was a sad time and a joyful time. She passed away on August 4th, 2008. She missed my father in law and would be sobbing in her room. Everyday she would pray for anyone and everyone. I can say without a doubt where she is and that is in heaven.

Right before mom passed Craig (her son) and I went to the care center to see mom. We knew time was short. As we walked into the room, a little black lady named Helen was sitting there holding her hand as mom took her last breath. Helen then went on to tell us that she is with the Lord now. What she said next was amazing. She was telling Craig and I how wonderful it is that our church sent over the young people from the choir to come and sing there. She said they had voices of the angels. One of the CNA’s also heard the singing, but didn’t see anyone coming or going. Craig and I knew it wasn’t a choir from our church since we have no choir. Our church is mainly a church for seniors and there is no way they would be from our church. I think God sent His angels to escort her home. There is no other reason for what they all were hearing.

Mom is missed and she has touched many lives. For me she will always hold a special place in my heart and I will cherish her everyday. I am thankful that God gave me the sweetest mother in law ever. She was in all senses a real mother that loved unconditionally and with her whole heart.