We were so lucky to have spent so much time with our Grandparents, and have them around for so long. I have so many fond memories of spending time with them at the farm and then in later years at the manor. The grandkids were so lucky to have an entire dairy farm to run around in and explore, as well as basements, attics and camper trailers :) . There were always cows, cats, dogs and horses around...we had a lot of fun naming cows and discovering a new crop of barn kittens every year. We never had to work too hard around the farm besides the occasional stacking of hay bails or getting paid to find potato bugs and tomato worms in the garden. Grandma was always making big meals and we certainly had our meat and potatoes! We were spoiled with fresh vegetables and raspberries right off the bushes. We were never hungry and leftovers lasted for days. We would try to watch Thanksgiving football as long as we could until she made us turn it off :) and actually be social at the dinner table, which is a lost art sometimes. I am thankful for the dozens and dozens of family dinners at that large dining table, I cant remember ever seeing her out of the kitchen, except for the many, many games of Euchre. Grandma was a hard working gal. She sent us birthday cards as long as I can remember, well into when most of us were in our adult years...she always remembered. She had a lot of kids and grandkids to care for. We always had picnics, beach days and trips to House of Flavors. We were lucky to be so close to the beach and the state park. As Chris stated in his post, they always had photos of us out and about and the picture of Lori and I at MSU must have stayed on the fridge for 15 years. I think Grandma just liked the memories...so why take them down :)
She will be greatly missed and I will always remember the endearing way she would yell "Jim!" when she needed my grandfather :). Rest in peace Grandma, you greatly deserve it.
Love
Blake
