My Other Mother

I've always been blessed to have a wonderful mother. There's no question that she's one of the most incredible women I know. Over the years, I've had many other "parents," mostly the parents of friends who were practically my siblings. Each one influenced my life in a different way. But a little over a year ago, I gained another set of parents officially when I married Steven.

John & Donna were everything I could have asked for as in-laws. They took me in as their own and spoiled me rotten. Over the past few years, I've grown to love them, and they truly are family. So last week when my mother-in-law tragically lost her life, I felt like a piece of my heart was taken away. She was a beautiful woman, who loved and protected her boys fiercely. I was lucky to have been taken into her home and her family.

Last week, I saw my family in pain, and I began to understand the responsibility that was on her shoulders as the matriarch of her family. She was their rock; the force that kept them grounded. I watched their pain, and felt it myself. I've never seen heartbreak the way I saw it this week. Look into the eyes of a man who has lost his partner of more than 40 years, and you'll understand heartbreak.

But within this heartbreak, there were moments of laughter, and more blessings than I can even begin to recount. Donna was a pre-school teacher and touched the lives of so many children, their parents, and her co-workers. Her memorial was a testament to her life, and the woman that she was. It's impossible to express how the stories we heard lifted our hearts and comforted our souls.

So to all of you who attended her service, picked up the phone, brought food, sent flowers, or just simply sent up prayers on our behalf, we thank you. None of us could have ever predicted that this would happen, but we all know the miracles that wait for us as God's plan unfolds.

I've gained friends this week, and beyond that, I've seen the bond of my family grow stronger. I know that the coming weeks and days will have moments where it feels impossible to move on, but we will, by leaning on each other, and leaning on our Heavenly Father, we will make it through.