A Vital Part is Missing...

I don't even know where to start this post. I just know that I need to write something to get it off my chest and out into the universe so that I can be trong for my dear hubby and my kids. We lost a vital part of our family yesterday. My Mother-In-Law died of a heart attack before her car went careening off the road. She's gone. She was dead before she made it to the hospital. And we are left with the biggest hole imaginable in our family.

Geri was an amazing woman. Her kids were her life, her grandkids were her pride and joy. She was constantly giving to anyone in need no matter what it took from herself. She doled out advice whenever needed to whoever needed it and offered a shoulder to countless number of souls to cry on. She organized every family gathering and there were many. She never missed a birthday of her children, their spouses, or her grandchildren always celebrating with a gift, a card and her presence. She took the time to attend school functions for her grandkids from the little things like Picnic in the Park day to the big things like Graduation and always had the greatest of Grandma Joy Smiles upon her face. She went non-stop taking care of her husband, all of us kids and our kids, her elderly parents and her own siblings often not getting enough sleep for herself. She loved her garden and really enjoyed it when she got to plant her new flowers every spring. Pictures were very important to her, too. She started a collection of scrapbooks that spanned all years and covered every child, grandchild and great grandchild she had. She cooked, she cleaned and she raised 6 of the best children a person could raise. With a firm hand but a soft heart she turned out my husband who is the nicest man on earth, two more successful sons, and three daughters all of whom have walked in her footsteps as wonderful mothers. As a Mother-In-Law, we couldn't have asked for anyone better. She was always welcoming and treated us as her own. In fact, she treated everyone who stepped foot through her door as her own, friend or family, it didn't matter. When you walked into her home, you were hers to love and care for. And she did that better than anyone. She loved and cared for us all until her very last breath.

And we will miss her for the rest of our days.

Rest in Peace, Mom. Enjoy your coffee with Joann and keep an eye out for us. We will do our best to hold the family together in your absence but we will need your guidance and your love from up above.