In-laws

For the last two weeks, I’ve missed Alphabe-Thursday. It’s totally inconceivable anyone would do this on purpose, but I must admit as unimaginable as this sounds I did.

“Why,” you ask. My darling husband and I spend some alone time together, kid free. Yep, our son spent two weeks with his grandparents in West Virginia.

I decided to dedicate this week’s Alphabe-Thursday to my in-laws.

Jokes about mother-in-laws have been around for a long time, perhaps as long as the beginning of time or have they?

Adam and Eve were the happiest, and the luckiest, couple in the world, because neither of them had a mother-in-law.

Okay, maybe the in-law jokes didn’t begin until after the earth became more populated.  Thankfully, my in-laws, including my mother-in-law, are wonderful people.  I have nothing, but good things to say about them.

In fact, here are ten qualities I can name quickly that I admire about my in-laws.

1.  They are loving Christian examples, as parents and a couple. They are not only good examples but teachers of the way we should be.  Jesus truly shines through them.

2.  They are hard-working people. My father-in-law is a retired coal miner and my mother-in-law is a retired school teacher. They both grew up in the Depression era, coming from humble beginnings and depending on themselves to make their way in life – not the government.

3.  My mother-in-law lived miles off the main highway in a backward holler, as they say in the mountains, and was the first person to graduate high school from that ole holler.  She braved harsh conditions and adversities to make her dream.  Way to go!

4.  My father-in-law has some extended education.  He went to Radio School in Chicago earning a certification not a college degree, but I consider him to be one of the smartest men I know.

5.  My father-in-law is not only smart but a real handy man. He built the house they live in with the help of some of his brothers and paying for everything up front with no borrowed money.

6.  Here’s a real marvel. My mother-in-law worked outside the home, found time and energy to cook beautiful meals for her family, garden and can vegetables, kept a tidy, organized home, made her own clothes, and quilts. How did she do this?

7.  My father-in-law is more than a handyman.  I consider him to be a jack-of-all-trades. He can repair (or improve) just about anything. If I had to say what his one hobby is, then it would be work. This is where you’ll find him the happiest.

8.  I admire my in-laws’ ability to not butt into their children’s affairs uninvited.  They are very cautious and considerate of how they approach a situation. I applaud them for this redeeming quality. I wish more parents would learn this type of restraint.  I hope I can be like this someday.

9.  They have raised three fine sons, all different yet clearly obvious the seed doesn’t fall too far from the tree in their boys.  Well done!

10.  And finally, no matter who I speak to everyone always has something kind to say about my in-laws from friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

Dorothy…Austin…you have been more than in-laws to me.  You have been a second set of parents to me.  I love you both dearly!

A pharmacist tells a customer, ‘In order to buy arsenic you need a legal prescription. A picture of your mother-in-law just isn’t enough.’ 

Thanks, Miss Jenny for hosting the classroom fun and if you’d like you can find read more Alphabe-Thursday letter “I” homework shared by the other students today!Save

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