The family my son married into

This is my daughter in law and her dad, the day of our Labor Day cookout.  This is the man who (along with her mom) nurtured this amazing young woman.

She's a graphic artist by trade, and has an appreciation for art of all kinds.

She's an avid reader, consuming hundreds of books over the course of a year.

She's an animal lover who had never had dogs or cats growing up (due to allergies), but learned a whole lot about birds that were her childhood companions.

She is compassionate and tolerant and amazingly curious.  She is polite and generous and beautiful in soul and body.  And my son is so lucky to have won her love and loyalty... and I wish them so much good life ahead.

A talented photographer, she also has a sense of humor.  She took this shot of (foreground) the three parents who came along on the Robber's Cave tour in July.  Mom, Dad, MIL, to her.  Background is the tour guide and other tourists.

I started writing this blog Sunday morning the 10th of September, spurred by a couple of comments related to the Community Free Market.  The Free Market is only one of several "give back to the community" volunteer efforts in which this family participates.  There is also a "Repair Café" where people can bring appliances and such in need of fixing, and volunteers do everything from sewing on a button to rewiring a lamp, etc.  That's also a once a month thing, usually on a different Saturday from the Free Market.  Lacey (DIL) published a coloring book for kids about the Little Free Library movement, and her folks are custodians on one in their yard.  From the LFL movement, the Little Free Pantry movement was born, too.

In short, I'm very pleased with my son's choice of a mate... both of them had a previous marriage that did not work out, and both of them seemed to have learned from the experience.

A promising sign observed at their house recently was the "Carl, go to your room" command.  It did not matter which of them said it, he would immediately do just that... trot down the stairs to his den/kennel.  Later he would sneak up the stairs to see if he was forgiven, (and who could NOT forgive that face!?), but I think it shows the seeds of good parenting skills in years ahead.  NOT ANY KIND OF ANNOUNCEMENT!  (Maybe a little grandma-wishful thinking, but not an announcement.)  Give it a few years, already, Barb!

That's my gratitude piece for today.  Grateful they found one another.  Grateful for the emphasis on leaving the community and world a better place in the wake of living here.

Life is indeed good.  Spark on!