INSPIRASUNS

Last week several of our family shared a post on social media about my mother-in-law. She was a pretty special lady indeed with a big heart, an impish disposition at times, a fear of nothing really, and a love for helping others. Yes, I was lucky to call Mary Priscilla McQueen my mother-in-law.

The woman who had such fun at Christmas when her kids were little. You see she would make Santa’s workshop up in the kid’s playroom, locking the doors so the kids couldn’t get in. She had this rule, she would have to personally test and try out the toys before they could be wrapped. She would put them together and make sure they were adequate for the kids 🙂 . Having six children, five boys and one girl, (oh and the girl came with a boy), you can imagine she had her hands full.

She was never afraid to do something, she could wield a hedge trimmer to a hammer, and then run a printing press, (we’ll get to that in a minute). I remember she was so matter-of-fact and she just did. She was also very practical, especially when it came to giving advice to the family. I remember one visit I was reprimanding one of our kids, and Mom McQ just asked me, “Kim, is it really going to matter 20 years from now”. I just laughed and thought no this one isn’t a big deal. That was how she gauged major punishment, if it wasn’t going to matter in 20 years, then maybe it wasn’t a huge issue 🙂 .

Mom McQueen was a teacher, but more than that she encouraged curiosity. She loved to have her grandkids on the farm to investigate and ask questions. She was always explaining and showing how things worked.

When she was younger she developed her own phonics reading program, The McQueen Method. She built her own publishing company, (hence the running of printing presses noted above), and sold her reading program to schools across the country. My husband taught both of our girls how to read using this program, and both received awards in school for being such advanced readers. To this day my kids love to read and trust me, they read everything 🙂 .

Mom McQueen was devoted to her husband Kent. He was a doctor, and I shared a story about him not too long ago in this little blog. The two were married in 1946 and they made the most adorable couple. A love that was very, very deep.

I mentioned above that my family was sharing the life of Mom McQueen last week on social media. The small county where my husband’s family lived, shared an article about Mom McQueen this last week. Here is a LINK to it. You can learn a little more about her and her many accomplishments. Thanks, friends for letting me share a little about this gifted woman this morning.

Until we see you again Mom McQueen, we’ll toast you every icy juicy time!

Proverbs 6:20
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.