Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Visit Down Memory Lane!

Little me wearing the dress Grandma made, holding the flowers from her garden!!!!



Last week Den and I took a short trip down south to St. George to retrieve our wave runners. We stayed only two nights and were fortunate enough to see two plays at the Tuachaun Theater- "Les Miserables" and "Sound of Music". Excellent! (by the way). My grandparents lived in Washington, a small town adjacent to St. George, while I attended Dixie College. Naturally, I visited them often. My grandma always welcomed me and my friends with a yummy meal and a strong hug for me and each one of my friends.
So while we were in the vicinity,Den and I drove over to their home, which is still standing, thank goodness, and floods of memories poured into my heart. Children often have some similarities to their parents, but in my case, I seem to have received an abundance of my grandma's dna. As far back as I can remember, my Grandma loved to garden, cook, sew, decorate her home, take lots of pictures, (sound familiar?)wrote daily in journal, created mountains of scrapbooks, cried easily, laughed even more, adored her husband and two children. And every night, she took out her teeth and put them in a jar in the bathroom. As a child and a youth, I noticed every time I walked into her home, she had redecorated a room! When I would get to stay with her for a few days, Grandma would sew a dress for me, she and I would work in the garden together and she always made oatmeal raisin cookies and rice pudding! I remember one summer, she and grandpa built me a playhouse. Grandma made furniture and sewed curtains. (I can still see the pattern on the curtains) My grandpa even put in a sink and cabinets for my plastic dishes! Grandpa always had a tire hanging in the tree for me to swing on! My memories of my Grandpa are always whistling, always cheerful, white overalls with paint splattered all over! My Grandpa was a Painter and painted up until the day he died. He always kissed my forehead and told me he loved me! I felt that kiss the night Telisa was born. My grandpa died the day before Telisa was born. (Did I tell you my Grandpa had red hair?)My grandma died while we were on our mission in Mexico. I wish my children could of known them, so my point for this post is to give them a little insight into their lives. I miss them, but am forever grateful for their legacy and love. Thank you Grandma Verna Louisa Smith and Grandpa Heber Parley Smith
Posted by Picasa

3 comments:

Tristen said...

I wish we knew them better. They sound amazing - kind of like you and dad! I am glad that you got lots of love and attention from them while you were young.

Unknown said...

Well, you got my water works going again. I love to hear about them. I didn't know all of that stuff. I didn't even know they lived in Washington. All I can remember of Great Grandma is her lying in bed in Grandma and Grandpa's basement. You definitely did take after her amazing qualities of being a nurturer, home maker and giver.

Kim said...

How Sweet! You are creating the same wonderful legacy for your children and grandchildren. I hope I can follow your great example.