52 Weeks of Blessings -- week 6-- great In-laws

{Sorry up front again no photo!}

This week I'm thankful for my in-laws. I truly have a great set of parents-in-law. They are the couple who almost weren't. They grew up literally across the street from each other and have been friends their whole lives. I'm not exactly sure if they "dated" in high school, but they were friends and had a big group of kids that they hung out with. The thing is that, they were graduating and starting life during the Vietnam war. It was a time of conflict. My some-day-to-be mother-in Law actually was married to another and he went off to war! My some-day-to-be father-in-law also went off to war. Her first husband was killed in action. He was gunner in a helicopter. I think that would have been very tough, so young and a widow! I'm not sure of the time span, but he came back home on leave or something and got engaged to his long-time friend. He said he didn't want to loose her again! He went back to war and they were married when he returned from his tour of duty. He served awhile longer in the Air Force and they started a family. Shortly after coming back he invited the missionaries in. It wasn't long before he joined the Church, she had been a member her whole life. They had a daughter, Denise, a miscarriage {at 6months along} and then a son, Troy. She was told it would not be in her best interest to have more children. They became foster parents. Many children were cared for and nurtured in their home. Eventually, they got a little girl that they fell in love with and just had to keep. They adopted her giving them 3 children. They were foster parents for 18 years! Some of their foster kids still keep in touch and one still considers them his parents. They lived and worked in their hometown, raised their kids. After 28 years on the police force he retired and moved to a sleepy little southern UT town. Retirement is boring, I guess, because they decided to serve a mission. They spent 2 years serving in the Family History Library. They were in Salt Lake for the Olympics. After serving a mission, they went back home and my father-in-law decided that he really wanted to live closer to the grandkids. Thankfully, we have the most, so they would probably be coming our way! My mother-in-law was not as sure about "following the kids around," but she agreed to put the house on the market and see. Well, the house sold and they moved North. We have been so blessed having them close. Not only have we had ready, willing and able sitters, but our kids have had a great opportunity to have grandparents close to really get to know. Because they are here, we have been blessed to get to know great grandma {Nana} too. Great grandpa {Papa} passed away a year ago and Nana came to visit. Due to a little fall down the stairs, she decided to stay here. They put up with us 3 out of 4 Sundays a month, plus come sit for us and enjoy watching the kids grow up. I'm so thankful for good in-laws who love me.
{Now, you might think it funny that I chose to highlight them before my parents, but I want to spotlight my parents near their anniversary, in Aug}