Some of the best memories I have from my childhood are at grandma and grandpa's house. Playing peons, losing to grandma at boggle every time, and playing sardines with the cousins. The swing set was always a good time and I don't know how many balls we accidentally kicked into the big, old evergreen tree. "Not in grandma's flowers" was the warning from the adults when we got a little too crazy in the backyard.
Summer BBQs with grandpa grilling steaks is something I remember vividly. Eating the steak with ranch dip was a special treat. I was convinced that the ranch was grandma's special recipe until one day, I asked her to give my mom the recipe, and she laughed and said that it was just dry hidden valley ranch mix.
Dutch Christmas was my favorite holiday. Somehow I loved it even more than Christmas. There was a special glow in the house on that night. Looking back, there were a lot of people packed into that small living room, but it never felt crowded, just cozy and inviting. I still have not been able to make spritz cookies quite as good as grandma and my mom did. There was often a guest or two that grandma and grandpa welcomed with open arms to our celebration. Waiting for your turn to open the gift and read your poem was the best kind of suspense. I can't think of dutch Christmas without smiling.
When I was a teenager, Jamie and I went with Amy to visit grandma and grandpa in Nauvoo. We slept in a cool loft and grandma made her yummy bran muffins every morning. I love those things! Grandma and grandpa showed us all around the city and I developed a deep love for it and the early Saints who lived there. I think we made Amy cry at least once with our constant fighting and overall teenagerness but she was a good sport and hopefully we didn't scar her too much.
My mom loved her parents. They were always there for our family and especially there for my mom when she got cancer. I'm so grateful that they took her to the temple every week in the time that she had left on earth. It was such a strength to her. They were such a strength to her. They cared for her with such love and tenderness. They have continued to show their love and support to my own family. My kids love them so much and I'm so glad that they have been able to know grandma and grandpa so well and to be influenced by their goodness.
When I think of grandma and grandpa, I think of home. Of the feeling of being loved and of belonging. With them is a place that I always like to be. I know that my mom and sister were so happy to embrace grandpa again and I still feel their spirits so strongly at grandma and grandpa's house. The traditions they started and have carried on all these years are such a source of joy and comfort to me and my family. I feel so blessed to be a Tate and to have the best grandparents ever!- Brooke
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