Oh Ariel, this is a beautiful tribute, and I'm so sorry for your family's loss. (I do know the last book my father read. I don't for my mother as I was in high school and didn't think to ask.) Sending light and love to you all.
I am not kidding you when I say that today I decided to put “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” on my serious TBR (which is different than my “maybe TBR”) after our friend Claire Gibson mentioned how much she loved it in a post. Perhaps we should read it together in tribute to a woman I always hoped I’d meet, but never got the chance.
This is beautiful Ariel. How wonderful to share a love of reading with your mother in law. Hugs to you and your family and make sure to give your FIL extra check-ins and maybe a trip to the local senior center for company.
What a lovely tribute to your mother-in-law. And you did a amazing thing while you were doing that...you made all of us who love talking about books feel so very seen. Take care of yourself!
A wonderful tribute to what must have been a great lady! Not surprisingly, your line "We practiced the ministry of presence—just trying to provide a bit of normalcy before he has to be fully alone for the first time in 56 years." made me teary - Mom's 99 1/2, won't be with us long, and I dread the "fully alone" part! Thanks for sharing! You've touched me, and I'm sure a lot of others.
What a beautiful tribute to your mother-in-law & what a loving way to step in and support your father-in-law. My condolences to you and your family as you grieve this loss.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Knowing it is approaching doesn’t make it easier or less final. What a lovely relationship you had with your mother-in-law. You grieve because you lost a precious treasure!
We have been walking similar terrain in the (anticipated) loss of my mother and “ministry of presence” with my dad. They were a few months shy of 56 years. I carry a tiny portion of his grief along with mine.
Do you think there are more books on her Kindle which you haven’t read? Maybe this somehow isn’t the last recommendation. I hope not.
My condolences to your husband, his father, and your sons too. ❤️🩹🙏🏻
I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. We lost my father-in-law a little over a year and a half ago, and some days it is still so fresh.
The normalcy, the love, the richness of the relationship with him was so different from anything I ever had growing up. He wasn’t much of a reader, but he was a poet, and his written words were, along with his spoken ones, filled with love and laughter and such kindness.
I love that you got to share this love of reading, among many other loves, with her and pray that when the time is right, this book will be, too. ♥️
Oh Ariel, this is a beautiful tribute, and I'm so sorry for your family's loss. (I do know the last book my father read. I don't for my mother as I was in high school and didn't think to ask.) Sending light and love to you all.
I am not kidding you when I say that today I decided to put “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” on my serious TBR (which is different than my “maybe TBR”) after our friend Claire Gibson mentioned how much she loved it in a post. Perhaps we should read it together in tribute to a woman I always hoped I’d meet, but never got the chance.
You guys are on my heart.
I'm so sorry for this loss. It sounds like a big one. Sending good thoughts your way.
Such a sweet story. You’ll probably cry while reading it thinking of her.
This is beautiful Ariel. How wonderful to share a love of reading with your mother in law. Hugs to you and your family and make sure to give your FIL extra check-ins and maybe a trip to the local senior center for company.
What a lovely tribute to your mother-in-law. And you did a amazing thing while you were doing that...you made all of us who love talking about books feel so very seen. Take care of yourself!
A wonderful tribute to what must have been a great lady! Not surprisingly, your line "We practiced the ministry of presence—just trying to provide a bit of normalcy before he has to be fully alone for the first time in 56 years." made me teary - Mom's 99 1/2, won't be with us long, and I dread the "fully alone" part! Thanks for sharing! You've touched me, and I'm sure a lot of others.
What a beautiful tribute to your mother-in-law & what a loving way to step in and support your father-in-law. My condolences to you and your family as you grieve this loss.
Wow. This hit me in the feels. I lost my mom six years ago and there’s so much I wish I could still ask her. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Knowing it is approaching doesn’t make it easier or less final. What a lovely relationship you had with your mother-in-law. You grieve because you lost a precious treasure!
We have been walking similar terrain in the (anticipated) loss of my mother and “ministry of presence” with my dad. They were a few months shy of 56 years. I carry a tiny portion of his grief along with mine.
Do you think there are more books on her Kindle which you haven’t read? Maybe this somehow isn’t the last recommendation. I hope not.
My condolences to your husband, his father, and your sons too. ❤️🩹🙏🏻
I’m sorry for your loss.
What a lovely tribute. ❤️ My condolences.
This is a lovely tribute, and I am so sorry for your family’s loss. She sounds like an amazing woman who left quite the legacy.
I'm so sorry for your loss, but so glad you have so many wonderful memories and special moments. My thoughts and prayers are with your whole family.
I am so sorry for this loss. She sounds like such a lovely person. Prayers and blessings to all of you.
I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. We lost my father-in-law a little over a year and a half ago, and some days it is still so fresh.
The normalcy, the love, the richness of the relationship with him was so different from anything I ever had growing up. He wasn’t much of a reader, but he was a poet, and his written words were, along with his spoken ones, filled with love and laughter and such kindness.
I love that you got to share this love of reading, among many other loves, with her and pray that when the time is right, this book will be, too. ♥️