Remembering Grandma Jack

I think of my Grandma Jack from time to time but have thought of her more lately especially since having children. We had a very close relationship and I am so grateful for that. She has been one of the most influential people in my life. She taught me so much about cooking, baking, cleaning, raising and teaching children, and so many other life skills I will always use.

I think of her often on Sundays and always recall her telling me as a little girl, "The activities you participate in on Sunday show your dedication to the Savior." Growing up we always kept the Sabbath Day holy and it was always easy for me to do. Whenever she said that to me, Grandma was usually referring to the smaller activities that we should put aside like laundry, chores, and other house work. My Grandma would always create a teaching moment with her grandchildren whenever she could.

I remember her always having a nice dinner on the table for Papa every evening. She always set the table with a place mat, china and a well balanced meal. She had a main dish often with two side dishes and a piece of bread. Even if everyone else was eating on paper Papa always had a nice place setting for him because that's want he loved so she made it happen. When we ate with them and were hungry after dinner, she always told us to have bread and butter. She was an amazing cook and baker. She knew the little secrets that made meals that much better.

In the summers we made strawberry jam and during the holidays we made dozens of different kinds of cookies. We would store them throughout the house under beds, in closets and cupboards. Anywhere they fit we put them. We would freeze them as well and eat them for months to come. She always made homemade pie crust and taught me how to do that. I can't say I have made one from scratch without her though.

I would go to the grocery store with my Grandma on a weekly basis. She would honk her horn when she pulled up to our house for me to come out and join her. The store attendants all knew us at Stater Bros and we became good friends - even to this day some of them are still there and say hi. Often times I would do lots of her errands with her. If it was a quick errand most often I would just run in to get the item while she waited for me in the car. Sometimes she would stop by our house with chinese food, one of my favorites! Grandma was the one who taught me about good Chinese food. We had our favorite restaurants for certain dishes. Some of our favorites were Moo Shu Gai Pan, Cashew Chicken, Beef and Broccoli, Walnut Shrimp, and Sweet and Sour Pork. When I was younger lots of my siblings and cousins didn't like it, but Grandma and I weren't too sad about that. More for us!

Grandma always taught piano lessons growing up. She taught almost all of her grandchildren to play piano. Unfortunately, there are few of us who can still play anything more than "Mary had a Little Lamb." She was very patient with us but I'm sad to say I didn't take too many years of piano. I wasn't into it and she tried everything to get me to enjoy it. She would tell me if I practiced she would take me for an ice cream cone. I remember her offering me a dollar at the end of each week if I practiced. I remember not wanting to take her money and wouldn't let her pay me. I wish she could teach me now!

I could say so much about my Grandma. She knew so much about so many things. I wish I could talk to her about her life and hear her stories now that I'm older. I have heard them before and I know we have her journals but now I would have a greater appreciation for it if she were still around. I greatly admire her and I'm truly in awe of the life she led. I don't know how she raised three little children (including giving birth to one of them) while having polio. She was and is quite an amazing woman!