Here is one of the most beautiful and influential women in my life:

Her name is Grandma.
She is a great lady. She had 6 kids. She survived cervical cancer in her thirties and a heart attack in her 50's. She had other health problems.

She is a woman of faith, even though she was a convert to the LDS church. Grandma is easy going and kind. She is patient.


She is very loving. I always have a comforting feeling around her, similar to how I feel around my Mom.

Grandma spent almost every summer at my house with Grandpa when I was a child growing up. They would come to where we lived in Montana and bring their travel trailer along. One of my favorite things was having lunch with Grandma in her "trailer." Grandma was a GREAT cook and she and I both share a love for pie. And she was the best pie maker there ever was!! Her Rhubard Custard Pie was my favorite followed by her Gooseberry Pie. When I make pie dough, I always use her recipe which has the flakiest crust of any other pie crust around.

Grandma's Pie Crust
2 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1/2 cup water

Mix with pastry blender or fork. Roll out to desired size and place in pie pan.



Grandma has alot of grandkids and great-grandchildren. She loves them all, even when they do things that disappoint her. Grandma is always happy. Grandma liked to travel and collected miniature spoons everywhere she went. She hung her spoons on the walls of her house and her travel trailer. Grandma liked to read, craft with plastic canvas, camp and play cards with Grandpa and her friends and family. One of her favorite card games was "Hand and Foot."

Grandpa passed away almost 7 years ago. Grandma missed Grandpa. She told me this many times. Grandma and Grandpa had many friends and they socialized and travelled with them often. I remember my Grandma bringing me things back that she bought in Mexico when they traveled there (almost every year). She brought me a cute embroidered blouse, some moccasins and a little coin purse and other things as well.

Grandma was poor. She never had a lot of money but she was generous with what she did have. Grandma is nonjudgemental. Grandma was left-handed and she had really unique handwriting. She liked to write letters and send cards. I liked to sit and watch her write. She wrote upside down. It was pretty cool to watch. Now I have a daughter of my own who is left-handed like Grandma (and my husband is a lefty also).

Grandma was best friends with my Mom. Grandma really was the glue that held her family together.

Grandma passed away on Saturday at the age of 84. She is loved and missed already. But I am sure she is happy where she is at right now. She is now ridden of the aches and pains of her mortal body. She is with family and loved ones even though she has passed on.

Grandma, I love you!!!