Having a visitor this week!!!

So Grandpa is coming to visit us tomorrow!  Grandpa would be Scott's dad and we are very pumped about the visit.  As of now the plans look to something like this: Wednesday afternoon arrival, dinner then church, Thursday Scott is taking him to work with him and they will be pouring concrete(fun stuff huh?) Friday they will be going to fill in some gaps in the genealogy research grandpa started last year.  Saturday will be a cross country meet so Allye can run her heart out for him, Sunday church and football and he has to go home on Monday.

This will be his first time to come see us without Mano.  I am feeling the loss of her acutely as we plan this visit.  I know that he will miss his traveling companion as he has missed her everyday.  I always look forward to their coming so I can catch up and play with her.  Let me tell you about my mother in law....

Her name is Shirley Huston and I know of no one who did not love her.  She had such a spirit of fun and life and to be with her would boost your day immensely.  She had a desire to honor God and did this with seeming ease  through her marriage, family and service.  She was a tireless worker and always looking for some new way to use her talents to benefit someone.  Family was her primary source of joy, she loved her children, grandchildren, her brothers and sisters in-law, her nieces, nephews and beyond. 

My first meeting with Shirley was an introduction to a woman that would become my family and my friend.  We spent the time together shopping, playing games, working puzzles and golfing.  I was a nervous wreck at the prospect of spending the week with Scott's parents but they made me feel like I belonged within moments.

Delighted with our plans marry, she often made me feel like the daughter and Scott the in-law. When Allye was born she came in at grandchild number 13, by the time the boys were born they numbered at 18, 19, and 20.  When she died the number was 22 and a few weeks following her memorial service number 23 was born.  All of them precious to her and all could be thought of as the first.

She was so unselfish, one year Ed wanted to take a "baseball trip", with Scott not her.  So the guys put together a plan, it involved visiting 6 or 7 MLB teams at their home ball parks, a visit to Cooperstown and despite the fact that I felt it was "off-theme", the National Football Hall of Fame as well.  Well when the time came for the big trip Mano and Grandpa, flew in to Cincy, rented a car and spent 2 days hanging out with us.  Then the guys loaded up the rental and headed off for their adventures in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Boston, New York, Cleveland,  and Cooperstown.  Mano got to stay in Pleasant Plain with me and my six year old and 3 two almost three year olds.  Fun stuff!  We did exciting things like sat in the heat at the water playground, sat in the heat in the back yard, and Mano even got to change 9,257 diapers.  Yes I know we were slow to get on the potty training bus.  Anyway we did also go the Newport Aquarium and that was fun, once we managed to get the frightened toddlers past the giant shark in the entrance.  Later when they'd talk about the trip, you'd think she was the one who had the better time, she'd say "I got to be with you..."   The guys wanted to do it again, on a different coast, and she wanted the two of us to join them this time.  I would have loved that!

My children used to be afraid of dogs, big time!  whenever Mano came, they would pretend to be dogs, ask her to pretend to be afraid of them, and then one of them would comfort her.  She thought that was hilarious.  Mano was ALWAYS cold, and I always tend to be hot.  When visiting us she brought along a jacket and we kept a blanket on the couch for her to snuggle, I will miss that.  At her house I wasn't allowed to make coffee because I make it too strong, I will miss that.  She always liked my cooking, I will miss that. We always made the guys play cards, I will miss that.  She always had stories to tell me about her ministry work, her clogging and her girlfriends, I will miss that.  She had a remarkable way of  making me feel exciting even though I know I am dull, I will miss that.  I miss her and I hate that as we sit in our living room this week I will not be able to stop myself from looking at her spot on the couch and  feeling the void that her absence creates. 

After her diagnosis, she was continually upbeat and positive.  Her original prognosis was not good and as it worked out it was pretty accurate.  We were all crushed but she carried us along with her attitude of  "God's got this".  We went with her to one of the first  visits with the specialists in Houston and at that appointment they gave her her chemo/radiation options and schedule.  I asked her if she was scared, she said "It is so weird because I know I ought to be but I'm not.  I guess I know God will do what is the best thing even if I don't like it."  I want that kind of certainty that "God's got it all!"  I never saw her cry through the pain or frustration that none of the treatments we changing things.  I did however see her cry once because she wanted to share with her kids how wonderful her prince was.  It was so important that we know what a good, Godly man Grandpa is and how he demonstrated his love for her, and it moved her to tears.  I've had a crush on Grandpa for years now it's cemented forever.

I know our time together will be blessed and I hope Grandpa will feel the same!