I love my mother-in-law, and I’m not ashamed to say it. The Complete Package and I have been married for almost 29 years, and I have never had a cross word with her. In fact, we actually enjoy each other’s company. Maybe it’s because we both love TCP so dearly, or maybe it’s because we live 10 hours away from each other, or maybe it’s because we just appreciate each other and the friendship we’ve developed over the years. TCP likes to say that if forced to choose, his parents would pick me over him. I’m not sure that’s true, but I like to think it is. Here is just a sampling of what I love about my mother-in-law:
1. She’s tenacious; her nickname is “Toughie”
2. She’s famous for her chili “3-way” with spaghetti, chopped onions & cheese
3. She loves her kids, grandkids & great-grandkids fiercely
4. She makes pecan tassies; if you don’t know what those are, you’re missing out
5. She’ll share a 2-lb Whitman’s Sampler box, but not the 5-lb box we got her
6. She was in love with Max from Dancing With the Stars until “he got cocky”
7. She now hopes Troy Aikman will call, since he’s about to be single again
8. She cares deeply for her two sisters, who are her best friends
9. She cared for my beloved father-in-law until he passed away 2 years ago
10. She still refers to him as the love of her life; some love stories are eternal
11. She has our 2 nieces over for sleepovers, just like when My Baby was little
12. She makes me laugh; she’s funny and feisty and sassy, and I love that
She came to visit just before Christmas, and we took her to Austin to visit My Baby, Bama Boy and the great-grandkids, Jonah Bear & Lilly Bug. She had the best time. At four and one, the kids are fun and exhausting, but she never complained. She just soaked it all up like a sponge. We also took her to restaurants she doesn’t have at home so we could spoil her and fatten her up. She loved it – from Mexican to seafood to steaks, she enjoyed eating out in one of America’s greatest restaurant cities. I even put a Whitman’s Sampler box on the nightstand in the guest room for her. She threatened to send for her things and stay forever, but I wouldn’t mind. She’s not leaving Tulsa, though. Her sisters are there, as well as TCP’s sister, her husband and their 2 daughters. She’s a Tulsa girl. Always has been; always will be. She’s deeply rooted there, but we’ll still try to get her to come visit as often as she’s willing. One last thing. While she was here, we helped her create a custom Christmas card to send to family and a few close friends. It has since gone viral in her little circle. It was a hoot. It featured two photos of her – past and present, with a caption of “Just rolling in to wish you a Merry Christmas.” It captures her personality perfectly, and makes me love her even more. As if that’s possible. This one’s for you, Toughie.
Inside NanaBread's Head 
Oh, glorious gravy cakes, you have the COOLEST MIL EVVVAAAHHH! When those pictures popped up, I fell in love with her, too! You are blessed to have such a beautiful spirit in your life! Guess that’s why TCP is TCP because his momma is TCP! I’m bettin’ his daddy was, too!
Great posts, as always! Mrs. TCP!
You hit the nail on the head, KJ. The Complete Package’s mother is one of a kind, and his father was exceptionally special, too. We really miss him. Then you throw in my mother, who I’ve written about before and is crazy talented, and the fun keeps coming. We are very grateful to have both of our strong, passionate, fun-loving mothers with us and be able to spend time with them.
What a hoot! I was giggling just trying to imagine my MIL on a motorcycle. She’s a strong woman too, but not a motorcycle mama.
I love that it was totally her idea. She brought the old photo of her on her Harley just hoping we could help her with this project. She is a hoot and a half. She really is.
She sounds seriously awesome! I bet you all had a grand time when she came to visit. She is how I envision that I will be when I hit that age.. sassy as ever! heh
Hugs,
Wendy
Me, too! You just can’t keep a spunky woman down.
I happened to come across this (thanks to a google search for 5lb box of chocolate *grin*). This brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful, heartfelt post. I don’t know which is the luckiest–you or your MIL.
My MIL didn’t always have the greatest relationship. She lived 5 minutes away. But during the 5 years she battled cancer, we grew closer. She fought hard until the end, nearly 4 years ago next month.
Treasure every moment and know that you have been blessed with such a rare gift, as has your MIL.
Thanks for touching my heart.
Thank you for leaving such a sweet comment. It makes me very happy to know that something I wrote touched you in a personal way. I agree that I am very lucky to have a mother-in-law whom I love and enjoy. She is the anti-cliche when it comes to MILs. I’m sorry you lost your own mother-in-law in such a tragic manner, but it’s nice to hear that your relationship with her was strengthened before she passed. As for the chocolate, that 5-lb. Whitman’s Sampler was the single greatest gift-giving moment we’ve had with her. I wish I’d captured the look on her face when we gave it to her. She looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. Since then, we’ve bought her one other 5-lb box, but that may be her last. She ate it in 2 weeks. Moderation goes out the window when a box of Whitmans walks in the door. I shouldn’t talk. Given a 5-lb box of Godiva’s or Neuhaus, I’m sure I could kill it in 2 weeks. I may have better taste in chocolate than my MIL, but will power isn’t really my forte, either.