Today’s a new day! Yesterday, would have been my late mother in law’s 80th birthday. Hard to believe she would have been 80 years old. Sadly, we lost Carmen Maria West way too early in 2006. Still hard to believe it’s been eighteen years.

From the very beginning, when I first met Mom West in 1999, I was totally accepted.  Mom made me feel right at home…in fact, I honestly don’t remember ever going through an awkward transition from being a stranger to being the son-in-law. One of mom’s favorite place in the home was sitting around the kitchen table and hearing about her family and friends life. Besides her faith, family and friends were so important to her. She loved to have a full house. It was during those times that I really got to know Mom.

She was really passionate about her family. Much time was spent in loving and providing for her family, in providing a clean and comfortable environment for them, and in tending her garden. Oh, how Mom West loved her garden. She also loved to get in the car and travel. It didn’t matter where. She loved experiencing new places and meeting new people. She had a great spirit of adventure. She would have been right at home on a cruise ship.

Mom West was someone who truly lived out her faith. I am so happy she passed down her love for Jesus to her three children. I am honored that I was able to call Carmen Maria West my mother in law. My life is better for having known her. She was a beautiful blessing and is deeply missed every day. ~OC