Family

So in two weeks my house is going to become the home to my Sparky's parents who are as much my parents as they are his. His mom and I like to sit and drink tea in the morning and talk. I get all the family secrets and then when Sparky and I are having a conversation about family, I can fill him in. His mom is this little slip of a thing (I have my hands on her shoulders in the picture) who is quiet and kind and caring and the greatest Nanny (as the girls call her) in the world. She remembers birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, you name it. She never puts herself first and is always thinking of others. She has never said a mean word to me in her life and we have never had a fight. In fact, when I was being ordained in 1988, and we were asked to pin a star on our mothers (and my mother chose not to be there for reasons I would prefer not to discuss) SHE was overcome with empathy for me (knowing the situation) and literally jumped from her seat to hug me. She forever sealed a place in my heart at that moment.

Sparky's Dad? Well, he's the ultimate PopPop (as the girls call him) and laughs and listens when they want to talk his ear off. This is a man (he is the one with the brown and white striped shirt) who had someone drive him over 200 miles round trip because Little Lottie HAD TO HAVE a Sebastian and Flounder (from The Little Mermaid) and the only Disney store in the area of Reading, Pa. back in 1991 was in King of Prussia. She still has them to this day (13 years later) and we will have them forver. On another side, he has an eye for a beautiful girl and I totally get where Sparky is coming from because of his dad. (wink!) His dad, having met me for the first time walked over to Sparky and whispered, "You have good taste in women" forever sealing his fate as my favorite father in law.

In two weeks they will be in my home. They are now in their 70's and still enjoying life and each other. They want to be with us for 3 weeks and I think that says a lot. In fact, we were having dinner with friends recently and I found myself joking that my inlaws were coming for 3 weeks. They felt bad for us and said something to the effect of.... Oh, and they put you down and rag on Sparky? And I was taken back. It was at that moment that I realized how loved we were by them. They have NEVER lived up to the stereotypical in laws and I am one-lucky-woman. No more in-law jokes. I'm gonna go get some fresh sheets to make up Sweet Pea's room for them. And some English Breakfast tea for mom and me. And a poster of a beautiful brunette to hang on the ceiling for dad. :)