Grandma Knowles

My Grandma Knowles is a wonderful woman. She's smart, has had an incredible career history (working in the Governor of Idaho's office for years and years), has firm political opinions with empathy and experience to back them up. She sends cards for every birthday with $2 bills inside and wraps her gifts with special bows. She is active in brain and body and especially active in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

When my Grandpa Knowles passed away in September, my Grandma moved in with my Parents in Morgan. It's been such a pleasure to spend so much time with her lately (Boise is just so far away.) I have been able to help her hang her pictures on her wall and organize some of her things and it's just been so nice. Her room feels homey and cozy and I enjoy sitting on her floor and talking to her while she's in her chair. 

I helped her scan in a bunch of photos and thought I'd post a few of them here. #familyhistory

My mom, as a child. I can see a lot of me in this face. She's close to Lydia's age. Can I see Lydia, too?

Some pictures of my Grandma Elvin: (Zuriel Ruth Jette) The first one looks so much like my Grandma Knowles that I can't imagine that it's NOT her. But I'm almost 100% sure that it's Grandma Elvin when she was young. My Grandma Elvin was so regal all the way to her passing. She was often compared to the Queen of England. I feel particularly connected to 

My grandma and her sister Berthene took my Grandmother for this photo session for mothers day one year and it is such a treasure! I immediately decided that I want my mom to take my Grandma for one like this and I want one with my mom. And I think that Wendy and Amy should do one with Sue. 

 I feel particularly connected to my Grandma Elvin lately because when my grandma moved in with my parents she gave her China hutch, complete with all of the china, to me. I mentioned years ago that I loved china plate settings and using them for fancy dinners.  My grandma told me that she would leave it to me, she never forgot and would often remind me that she was keeping it for me. When it finally came time, I made sure that other people knew that if they wanted it - they could have it, but my Grandma insisted that I have it and I adore it! Then, because it is actually SO much china, I asked if I could have the china hutch, too. It's so beautiful and I'm so happy to have it in my living room. 

The story goes that when Grandma and Grandpa Elvin got married they had planned to go to Hawaii on their honeymoon because that is where he had served his mission. When it came down to it, they didn't have enough money for the trip AND furniture for their home. They had to choose and they choose furniture. This hutch has markings on the back saying 1921 - 100 years old! It's neat to have something in my home that was my great-grandmothers, and then belonged to my grandmother for many years. (Truly, as long as I can remember, that hutch and it's matching table set in my grandma's dining room. We played games under the protection of the massive table and I particularly remember eating Thanksgiving Dinner at the table, the china hutch in the background. We couldn't take the table, and that's sad to have them separated, but I'm grateful to have the hutch.) 

A lovely photo of my Grandma and Grandpa Knowles.