For my grandmas + grandpas

This posted started as a p.s., but really my grandparents are much too amazing for a mere postscript :)

Dearest Grandma F, thank you for being wonderful. You have always been cheerful and ready to tell us stories about your life. You inspired me with your watercolor skills + gave me a very important watercolor lesson that changed the way I thought about watercolors (i.e. not just washed-out, swathes of color ;) ). Thanks to you I've able to paint things like this :)

I remember one Christmas when we were at your house + I had dumped out my stocking in a bowl, finding the typical orange, nuts + such. Then I must've seen that my brother had some special toy + I probably looked disappointed. In any event, you asked me if I had 'found it yet'.

'It' turned out to be a beautiful heart necklace with the words "I am a child of God" + a blue stone. I loved that necklace + I still have it (I even told that story to my students, but when they asked me to bring it in, I couldn't find it... Ah well, I'll keep looking :) **Update: I found it + wore it today!**)

You make the absolute best apricot jam -- it was my prized treasure each time I returned from visiting your house in southern UT during university. It tasted like sunshine. I love you. Thank you for everything, Grandma.

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Dearest Grandma T, thank you for being wonderful. You have always been ready to help, cook, make, serve, wash-up, crochet, and do anything else that needed doing. I was always impressed with your multi-tasking + your indomitable spirit -- even when your children tried to take over one chore you were doing, you inevitably found another that you could do instead :) (Because just sitting down and doing nothing? Ridiculous!)

2nd from the right

And, a few years ago, when I cut my hair short, I realized that I inherited your good looks too :)

There were also all those dried flowers, preserved + cherished from weddings + other occasions, that hung in the garage. However, there got to be so many of them, I think no one really knew what to do with them. (+ the question is, were people more encouraged or discouraged from getting disowned?)

At one point, someone was jokingly threatened with 'no longer getting any dried flowers in the will' or something to that effect ;) (I have certainly enjoyed preserving flowers as well + the scent of roses especially, like behind the house in Ogden, makes me happy. I love you. Thank you for everything, Grandma.

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Thank you, Grandpa T, for being wonderful. You inspire me. I am so impressed how you help + inspire in such a humble way, by asking for help with a question you have (+ thereby help us with our own questions!) instead of telling us 'you're doing it wrong + here's how you should do it right' ;).

And thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me move ALL of my stuffity-stuff from your house, to my freshman apartment, then from that apt to your house, then to my sophomore apt, then back to your house....I'll stop listing, but you can all imagine that the list goes on. 

I loved having you + Grandma close while you were serving as Mission President of the Massachusetts Boston Mission and then again while you were serving in the Temple Presidency of the Boston Temple. Thank you for your humble + faithful example. I love you. Thank you for everything, Grandpa.

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And lastly, thank you, Grandpa F for being wonderful as well. I know you can read this from your apricot orchard in heaven ;). I've always enjoyed your poetry*. My Dad quotes you as believing poetry isn't poetry if it doesn't rhyme ;). While I do include more forms of poetry in my definition, I was certainly impressed with your way with words + your ability to find witty rhymes.

And your apricot leather was thick and delicious (+ I remember how you used to dry it on top of the brown trailer -- a quick feat in the southern UT sun!). I could always brag about my spritely grandpa with a shock of white hair who climbed trees and boulders all over the place.

I like telling the story of, when F + I were visiting, not yet engaged but dating, and you asked me an amusing question. We were in your little kitchen + he was sitting at the table. I was washing dishes at the sink (less than a yard away from where F was sitting) and you came up to me, put your arm around me and asked in a none-too-quiet whisper, "So, how serious is it with this guy?" ;) I just had to laugh + I think I answered something to the effect of "It's going fine, Grandpa":) I love you. Thank you for everything, Grandpa.

* Here's one of his poems:

The one thing I require of me
Is be the best that I can be.

In every way in every sense,
Pursue the course of excellence.
It will demand a little more
Than I have ever done before.

A willing heart, a bigger smile
To always go the second mile
And when the road is hard and rough
Then that's the time I must be tough.

My goal must reach beyond the blue,

And to that goal I will be true.
I dare not ever stop or pause
To bask in fickle man's applause.

I need no trophy on my shelf,
For I'm competing with myself,
And every goal that I have met
Shows me I can do better yet.

I will not shrink from tasks unsung,
Nor boast of deeds with blatant tongue.
In everything I do or say
I'll strive to find a better way.

I'll not succumb to foolish pride
Nor fail to lengthen out my stride
For life is short and much has passed;
I know each day could be my last.

In my desire to transcend,
I will be faithful to the end.
For I want my God to say of me
"You were the best that you could be."