mother-in-law

I was up in my soon to be in-laws bed room. I can't remember exactly what we were doing but Diane (my soon to be mother-in-law) told me I could call her "mom" if I wanted. I felt a little funny with that. I told her I thought I'd just call her Diane if that would be okay.

Now after almost four years of being married to Patrick I could call his mom a lot of things. Diane, Mother-in-law, Mom, BaBa (Lydia's term for both grandma and grandpa). I could probably think of a few more but he one that is sticking out the most in my mind right now is friend.

On August 17th Patrick's mom was riding her bike and had an accident. She wasn't wearing a helmet and most likely flipped over the handle bars. She suffered major injuries to her head, broke her clavicle and fractured her pelvis.

It's been ten days since her accident. Ten days since I waited in a "family room" outside of the ER begging the Lord to just let me hear the words "she's alive." Well I praise the Lord she IS alive! She did   have to have surgery on her brain to stop bleeding and remove some clotting. The Lord has been answering many prayers as tons of people have called out to Him to intervene in this situation. He brought her through a successful surgery and has given us many victories each day since the accident.

If you don't know my mother-in-law, you are missing out. She's a fiery woman. A fiery, sweet, compassionate, generous, self-sacrificing, friendly, use it up-wear it out-do without type of woman. Most of all, what describes her best is that she loves Jesus. And because of his love towards her she LAVISHLY pours her love out on others.

Diane constantly shows up at our house with gifts. She'll come with big boxes of diapers for Lydia, randomly show up with a baby mattress, sends a check in the mail to help out with unexpected trying expenses (sends in the mail attached with scripture to encourage me to cling to the Lord in this trial).

She's not your typical stay at home mom. Her calendar is always full. Watching other peoples kids, having people over for dinner, going to visit shut-ins from church (to do their nails), hosting/speaking at baby showers or wedding showers, visiting people in the hospital, coming to visit her beloved grandkids.

It's taken me ten days to write this post because I couldn't (and still can't) think of adequate words to describe my mother in law. My eyes are filled with tears thinking of how much this woman means to me. She really is a dear FRIEND.

I keep wanting to call her and just talk. I want to go over to their house for dinner and have her turn around from the counter and pick up Lydia or Kesid and give them a big BaBa hug. I want to go on a walk with her and pray. I just want to give her a real hug.

I pray that one day I'll get to do all those things again. Right now thats just not the case though. I am unable to do those things. I just have to wait. Waiting along side family who love this woman so much is hard. Thankfully though we are not alone in this wait.

Through out this whole trial I have felt sustained and comforted by God. He has been so faithful to us during this time. Never leaving us nor forsaking us. We are confident that no matter what the out come of all this, we serve a faithful and loving Father. He is a good shepherd and cares prefectly for his sheep. We are experiencing these truths in a whole new way. I'm so thankful that when I am weak and when Diane is weak and when all our family sees our frailty and weakness, God is STRONG!

Here are some verses from the Bible that have been encouraging!

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not stike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.


Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree should no blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places

Hebrews 2:17
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet withoutsin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by god's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I pray that the God of ALL comforts, our great high priest who is able to sympathize with our weakness would heal Diane! That He would continue to strengthen us as we look to him for he is where our help comes from. We will continue take joy in our salvation though for a little while we are being grieved by this trial. We pray that this would all result in praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

Would you please pray with us!