March 1st, 2011
Johann and I had many opportunities to get to know her since we lived with her 3 different times over the years. We lived with her for 6 months when Johann came out for his internship. Then when he graduated from BYU we moved back in with her for almost a year. Simeon lived with her for the first 6 months of his life. Then when we were in between houses we moved back in with her for a few weeks.
I remember when Simeon was born, my grandma Jenson had come out and the 2 of them were so excited for Simeon to arrive. They told me how they sat in rocking chairs out front waiting, then when the waiting at home got too hard, they headed up to hospital. I remember them being outside the labor and delivery room hoping that Simeon had arrived.
When we sold our house on Western Rd and were moving into our current house we had a time frame of about 3 weeks where we were homeless. Grandma so graciously opened her house up to us. She cleaned out the 3rd bedroom so the kids could sleep in there, and her basement became our storage room. We even set up our swing set in her backyard. The kids LOVED her backyard and had such a great time exploring it. The waterfall and pond and all the animals that came by for a snack were their favorites!And looking out her back porch with binoculars at the birds was also such a highlight of grandma's house.
When Ammon was 10 months old at Easter we went to her house. She gave them these towels that were in different shapes, and when you put them into water they expanded. I remember Ammon not understand what the water was for, and crawling over to it and drinking it out of the bowl!
Just a few years ago she again helped with our kids. Corrine had a dance class at the University of Iowa. The boys were so bored at the class. Grandma offered to watch them. So once a week for a few months I'd drop Simeon (4 yrs old) and Ammon (toddler) off at Grandma's house where they'd have snacks, play with grandma and watch tv while Corrine and I went to dance class. It was a special time for the boys to spend that time with their great grandma.
And her hedgehog that made noise when you squeezed it! Oh I am thinking of so many wonderful memories of her as I write this. I hope the kids remember how special and kind she was to them. She truly loved her great grandkids and loved being with them.
The last 2 weeks we have spent some very special quiet time with her. Corrine truly touched my heart when she came to visit her the day before she passed away. Corrine, knowing that grandma couldn't respond to her, brought along a favorite book and sat and read it to grandma, and talked to her. She gave her kisses and told her she loved her. She was as sweet as could be.
Rebecca LOVED to go visit "grandma riddle". Each time we'd go to visit she'd bring something new to show her. Curious George came one day in a dress and princess crown. Rebecca loved putting the crown on grandma's head and calling her "princess grandma". She also brought lots of books that we'd read to grandma. Rebecca also loved to give grandma kisses. Even when grandma wasn't able to talk anymore, when Rebecca would give her a kiss she would pucker her lips and we'd put Rebecca's cheek down by her lips so she could give Rebecca a kiss. When grandma stopped puckering her lips to kiss Rebecca back we knew she was looking more in heaven then earth and our time with her was very short.
Each time we visited we spent some time talking with the other residents. Rebecca would show them her books or toys she had brought. She even got hugs from some of the residents. I know Rebecca really liked to go visit grandma and she knew when we were going and would get so excited. Right by the sidewalk to walk in there was area full of rocks. When we'd walk in Rebecca would always walk right past the rocks, but when we walked out we'd stop and play with the rocks for a few minutes. She was so excited to go see grandma that she didn't have time to stop and play on the way in!
One time when we were visiting the kids were taking random pictures. I'm glad they did it now because they took pictures of the things around her room that I wouldn't have taken a picture of.
I'm going to go through pictures and add some of the kids with her through the years. I'd love to get a baby picture of each of them with her and playing in her backyard. I'm grateful that we took pictures with her so often. We visited her every holiday and many times in between. We always seemed to go during lunch when we went on a Sunday!
I know her memory will live on with our kids. The kids gave her a Willowtree angel for Christmas a few years back. That angel now sits above our piano. A reminder of the sweet loving great grandma who is now watching over us.
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