Happy Birthday Grammy Karen!!

Today is the birth day of one of the most influential women in my life. My dear mother in law Karen.

Karen had the most wonderful spirit about her. She had this AMAZING smile and contagious laugh. She had so much LOVE to give. She was incredibly UNSELFISH. She was always giving of her time to anyone and everyone. She GENUINELY cared for everyone she met. She wasn't ashamed of who she was and was NEVER afraid to be herself even if it meant looking silly in front of others. She ALWAYS stood up for her belief in family and in the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was an ADVOCATE for her children in every situation and LOVED her husband with a passion.

She wasn't perfect, none of us are. She made mistakes, as we all do. She lost her temper and yelled and argued with others about insignificant things, as we all have.
But the things that she did RIGHT, those or the things that stay with me, in my heart, FOREVER.

The most important thing she did for me personally was raise a WORTHY and RIGHTEOUS son. She encouraged her son to be the best version of himself he could be in every aspect of his life. She taught him about INTEGRITY, HONESTY, RESPECT, LOYALTY, FRIENDSHIP, HARD WORK, and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

She was so great at making any occasion special for those she loved. Whether it was a birthday, valentine's day, Christmas, baby shower, graduation, sporting events, etc. and always knew how important it was to make others feel like a million bucks.
When Casey and I were dating she always asked if he had money to take me out, if he was "spoiling me" and made sure that he was treating me with RESPECT.

She LOVED life and enjoyed it to it's FULLEST. She didn't need a reason to take a vacation or pull the kids out of school to do a fun activity. She wanted to live life and enjoy every MOMENT.

She absolutely ADORED all of her grand babies. She would take every moment to ROCK and SNUGGLE, even when she wasn't feel her best. She found so much JOY in life and in those she LOVED and she radiated that LOVE to everyone she came in contact with.

The spirit of who she is and the life she led, gives me strength when I wonder "how I'm going to be a mother to 5 children and do it right". The strength of her SPIRIT lives in all of us and helps us make good choices and live better lives.

There is NO DOUBT in me that she is aware of each of her family members. She LOVES us still and lives on doing an incredible and important work.

I also truly feel that she has a deep love for the woman that has most recently joined our family as a help mate and companion to her eternal sweetheart. She has an eternal perspective and no doubt has welcomed Shelly's roll (my new mother in law) in the life of our family, though it is not perfect, we are working on it.

Thank you Grammy Karen for the woman that you are and for the life you lived. I am FOREVER changed because of the influence you have had in my life. I LOVE you.