My Grandma

This is my Grandma Young. Mildred Frances Hamilton Young - Born December 9, 1919 in Sligo, Colorado. On the prairie or dry land, in the middle of a snow storm, in her parents bed.

She lives at our house. What a blessing the last 4 years have been for our family. How else do you teach 3 teenagers to serve someone.

My earliest memories of my Grandma (Gram) are of crafts, and sleeping on the floor in the living room in silky sleeping bags she made. Chicken and noodles, and Super Sugar Pops (I hated but ate because she always bought them for us as a treat). The candy dish between the lazyboys (black licorice for Grandpa - yuck) and playing cards for hours. Dean (my brother) cheating at Uno by sitting my Grandma in front of the china cabinet that had mirrors lining the back. Playing in the ditch in the back yard and building the tree house with my Grandpa. Gram always had feather pillows, and hot pink feathers for crafts - I love feathers - in my previous life I would pick out the soft fuzzy ones and with my thumb in my mouth, rub the feather up against my nose (until I was 12 and at a slumber party, talk about scarred for life.)

When I was in 4th grade my Dad retired from the military and we moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where my Grandparents lived. We even got to live with them while our house was being built. I graduated from the same high school as my Mom, and they all knew my Gram. My wrestling coach (I was the manager) was my Mom's high school boyfriend, my Grandparents practically raised him and he still comes to visit her. Because we lived so close we got to spend the night (except for Ryan who would never stay) and play in the camper, go to the dairy for ice cream, and watch movies late into the night (this was before VHS, when you watched whatever was on the 5 channels that came thru the rabbit ears.) My Gram came to my gymnastic meets in Jr high, my cheering in high school, and even the Mormon events that were important (ie: Roadshows, and talent contests.)

I am so LUCKY!!!

When I was a teenager and my sister was getting married we took my Gram to the open house at the Jordan River temple so she could see where Kelly (my sister) was getting married. I distinctly remember her telling me how disappointed she was she could not be there and how I wouldn't ever do that to her. I told her I would do that to her and the only way she could be at my wedding was to become a Mormon. Alas, she never did, but she has such a strong testimony of God and Jesus Christ and the Bible. She has been a big part of my life. Such a strong influence for good and an example on how to have fun and still meet your responsibilities. Although she did all of the flowers for my wedding and enjoyed the little program we had just for her right before the reception started.

Even now in the twilight of her life, when her memory is not so great and her ability to reason is not so good, her sense of humor is intact. She is right on, great timing and we always laugh. I think I get my irreverent humor from her. I know my body came from her!! I am shaped exactly like her.

Here are my Grandparents dressed for a Halloween party. They were such fun, my grandpa would sneak up behind you and growl on your neck. My Gram could make anything, copy, invent, whatever.

I think this is at their 40th wedding anniversary. Aren't they cute?!

I am so grateful my kids have gotten to know her better. When someone lives at your house there are not many secrets. When I yell at my kids she just laughs and says she is glad shes done and now it is my turn. Sometimes when I could strangle a child its her that defused the situation.

One great story:

Dallin had longer, shaggy hair, as did my nephew who lives across the street. They were reluctant to have a haircut, so my brother Dean offered $50.00 if he could buzz their hair. Dallin, who was not as attached to his hair as Kai, thought about it for about a second and said

"Yes."

So off came the hair, he also got paid for his lawn mowing job. So in he comes waving $75.00 talking about how rich he is, and my Gram tells him to be careful with all that money or someone might take it. Dallin, being 14, and rather smart alecky replied,

"Like who?"

To which my Gram said,

"me"

and she snatched all $75.00 and put it in her 'bank' (her bra has been her bank for as long as I can remember). I wish I could have taken a picture of Dallins face. My sister in law Kirsten (and Kai's mom) was sitting there and we almost died laughing. Gram just looked at him and said,

"now what are you going do?"

It was priceless and typical Gram. She did give the money back, although Dallin was a little leery of touching it because it was, you know, in Gram's bra. I loved it and her!

What a blessing to care for someone you love and you have felt unconditional love from your whole life. I really wanted my kids and grand kids to know what a tremendous lady she is and was. How much she influenced my choices, but mostly that she was the perfect Grandma for me.