Examples

This weekend we traveled down to Othello to be with family because Jason's grandmother had passed away.  We were unable to attend her funeral but being surrounded by all the family was exactly what everyone needed.  We drove down Friday morning and surprised my in-laws.  The whole family was Jason's uncle's house and so the surprise was even more fun than expected.  As we walked up to the door his Aunt Kathy said, "jason and natalie are here" and my mother in law ran to the door to greet us.  She hugged us and almost cried with excitement and took us out back to go and surprise my father-in-law.  All the men were in the garage and when his Dad saw his us his eyes welled-up and truly was the best part of the visit.  Seeing how happy my in-laws were to see us and especially seeing my father-in-law smile for the first time that day it was the perfect surprise.

We spent the next few hours talking with family and laughing just enjoying time with the entire family.  It was the first time everyone had been together, minus andy n tori and chris, since his grandpa had passed away in 2007.  There are few things that make me feel as happy as family spending time together.  The next day everyone headed home and a big snowstorm blew in that night.  While I was there my father-in-law told us a story that was told at the funeral.

Jason's grandma used to go for long walks all the time when his grandpa was alive.  On her long walks she would always take a little baggy and collect what she called "pennies from heaven".  She did this for many many years and what no one knew until the funeral was that Grandpa Simmons had always drove ahead of his wife on her walks and tossed pennies out so that she would always find some "pennies from heaven" when she started her walk.

This story melted my heart.  The morning after the big snowstorm my husband and his dad went out shoveled the driveway, the neighbor across the street, and another neighbor up the road.  I was reminded how grateful I am for sons to have such good examples around them.  My father-in-law is a good man who learned from his father and brothers.  My husband is a good man because he learned all about service and helping others from his Grandpa, his dad, and his uncles.  I am so grateful that my sons have these amazing examples to be surrounded by.