Countdown to Christmas 2025…Day 6

Today marks a special memory of Christmas and life as we remember Russ’s mom birthday anniversary. 

She’s been gone ten years and we still miss her so. 

When it comes to mother-in-laws, I won the lottery. 

Margaret Reimer was one of the most gentle souls I have ever known. She never hurried and never got in a flap about things. 

She taught special needs students for years and several came to her funeral with tears of grief. She had time for everyone and her patience was contagious.

She welcomed me into the family so graciously and lovingly. 

The first Christmas I spent with the Reimers was the year Russ and I were engaged.

As we gathered up wrapping paper and got everyone’s gifts sorted into piles by the stocking that bore their name, she told me with complete sincerity that she kept feeling like she should say something about welcome to the family…but she felt like I had always been a part of it and it seemed silly to say it. 

And that sums it up. 

From before we even walked down the aisle, Russ’s mom treated me like one of her own. 

She told me if I was comfortable, I could just call them Mom and Dad. 

I felt very comfortable and to me that is what they were. 

They didn’t try to take my parents’ place, they just came in as the icing on the cake. 

So I guess we say, happy birthday in heaven mom, we miss you.

We still feel your love and your kindness and your prayers as we carry on without you.