Yesterday at Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law, who does NOT know our religious beliefs, looked up at our Goddess plaque and asked what it meant. My husband decided it might be the opportune time to tell her the truth. He sat her down and started talking to her about our 20th anniversary in which we're planning to renew our vows by having a handfasting. Now you have to understand that my mother-in-law was very sheltered growing up, got married at 17 and at 62 and on her second marriage is still extremely naive about many, many things. She is, however, an absolutely wonderful woman who has treated me more like a daughter than my own mother has. Anyhow, he went on to explain handfasting and why she would be the only family on his side invited (whereas my aunt and three uncles and their families are all invited). He very nervously explained everything to her, simplified of course, but in as much detail as she requested. Finally, after about a half hour of him talking and her asking questions, he looked at her and simply said, "Thank you for not leaving already". She stood up, walked over to him, and with tears in her eyes asked him if he's ever heard the saying that "a mother's love is unconditional"? She then turned to me and told me that the same goes for me and that I'm more daughter than daughter-in-law and that she knew we'd been searching for a very long time and that she's glad we were finally able to find our path... together.

So.... another family member who doesn't completely understand but DOES completely accept.  I'm so grateful to the Lord and Lady for blessing me with such an accepting mother-in-law.