My "Haugen" Grandparents!
Yesterday they celebrated 66 years of marriage and Grama celebrated her 88th birthday!
One comment made on Facebook about this picture was this "Helga looks as if she's getting a glimps into Heaven and Arnie has eyes that are deep in love with his bride of 66 years"!
It's so sweet and seeing them like this brings tears to my eyes.
Grama has been in a nursing home for the past 6 years after falling and breaking her hip and needing to stay there for her therapy. Once in the nursing home her dementia/Alzheimer's really started to kick-in and so it was determined that she should stay there. I love the memories i have of her from my childhood and I cherish them.
Grampa is still living in their house, but moving slower each day (He turned 94 this past July)--and now that my dad is retired they spend a lot of time together! Dad has basically become Grampa's "go-for" and does his grocery shopping and the odds and ends around the house. I know it can be time consuming and sometimes difficult, but I"m thankful dad is there and can help.
Grama--my sweet, precious Grama--what a woman of deep faith and I'm so thankful for the Godly example she set. Every morning she would get up around 4:30am or so to read her Bible and pray and then at 6am take a cup of coffee and a cookie into Grampa as he was waking up! So, sweet.
She was always baking and always ready for us to come over for a treat. Sunday nights were pizza night and game night. Racko--Uno--Donkey--and then my favorite--OLD MAID!! (I could never keep a straight face when I had the "old maid"!!)
Right before I left for college she taught me and one of my cousins how to make her famous homemade buns! She had those down to a science and it fun to learn her secrets!! Right before Tim and I were married, she taught me how to make lefse! I've never tasted lefse better than hers and I hope that by the time I have grandchildren that I'll have them perfected like she did.
I think about my memories and wish that our kids could've known her as I knew her...but that's when I'm so thankful for my mom and dad! They are awesome grandparents and love being with all their grandchildren just like I remember Grama Haugen. We don't live in the same town though, so it makes our visits all the more special and precious and I'm incredibly thankful for each moment my kids get to spend with my parents because I know these are memories that will last a lifetime!
