I feel like when you marry a person you don’t just marry them, but you marry their whole family. This is where you either really luck out or you get totally screwed over: The In Laws or The Out Laws, what do you have?
My wife and I didn’t date for very long and we both weren’t really able to get to know each others families super well with our short, four month, courtship. I mean, I brought her to my family BBQ for the 4th of July after knowing her for two weeks and I went to her family cabin for the 24th of July (aka Pioneer Day here in Utah). I had dinner with her family a few times, but honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Fortunately for me, I completely lucked out! My wife comes from a family of four brothers, each one of them being completely different from the other. They all are fantastic and I couldn’t be happier to be a member of their family. I grew up with just one sister and so having brothers is a whole new adventure. I have loved all the fun things that we have done together: climbed Mt Olympus, watched their choir performances, college graduations, food finding adventures and always trying to think of any of my single girl friends that would be a perfect match for one of them (three of them are single).
They have become my best friends and it’s funny because I am always wanting to do things with them. I am truly grateful that we get along so well and that we have been able to become closer the longer I have been in the family.
Having only one sister, that means that I only get one brother in law that marries into my family. Again, how did I get so lucky? The man that married my sister has not only been there when my car has broken down, when I had crazy handy man questions, or a ride buddy at Disneyland. He has also been there at some of the craziest times in my life. He has seen me at the very bottom and helped me get through it all. He has become a real brother and I don’t know what my life would be like without him.
I have talked about how amazing my father-in-law is, but what about that crazy mother-in-law that everyone ends up getting? I mean, there is no way that I could have lucked out so much to get all great in laws right? Well, I did!
My mother-in-law is the one that will do anything for anyone at the drop of a hat, but especially family. She serves more than anyone I know and serves with all her heart. She truly cares for others and loves spending every moment with her family, but especially her grand kids. She has spent her summer watching our son while my wife teaches sewing lessons. Never a complaint and always so excited to help out.
Now maybe I am just really easy to get along with, or I just get along with everyone I meet. But I honestly think that I lucked out and was able to marry into the greatest family there is out there. And my sister was able to bring in the greatest guy that fits into our family perfectly. Just what we needed.
I have found that the relationship with my in laws has made this marriage even better than what I expected. They are the ice cream and my wife is the cherry on top. They are there to support us and make us better and I am truly grateful for each and every one of them, because no one wants to be related to an out law.