I really can't believe that we have been waiting two months. It is so exciting knowing that we could get a call in the next 2-4 months! I can't wait, but at the same time I am feeling very anxious. I feel like I am not nearly as prepared as I should be, we have only begun to start getting baby stuff and the room is nowhere near ready. However, we have said that we want to wait until we get the call to start on all the baby stuff! We want to be a bit more official before we move into full nesting mode (I will feel bad for Sam when this happens, if you know me, you know what I mean).
This last month, was a hard month. My grandmother passed away and I would have loved for her to be able to meet my babies. Although, I know she still will meet them, just not the way I had envisioned. She will be missed for all of that she was to so many people. Her strength, sense of humor, smile and sayings will forever be engraved in my memory.
I have included the eulogy that was read, she was an amazing lady as you can read:
Good morning! My name is Sally and I am Mildred’s niece. Mildred had one
brother, Melvin - known to many of you as “Mike” and I am the youngest of
his four kids. My older sister always likes it when I put that plug in.
If you’re still wondering who I am, if you have visited Mildred any time
in the past 7 years you’ve no doubt have heard about and seen pictures of
“the twins.” Well, I’m their mama!
That is one thing that will always stick out when I remember my Aunt
Mildred - her love of children. Brent and Kim, Nick and Tamsen - you gave
her three very precious great grandchildren and she was awfully proud of
them. If anyone questions that, just take a look on the bureau or
refrigerator in Harvey and her apartment. Tina and Sam - she was excited
for you to become parents, too. And you can believe that when your
children arrive, your Grandma will be smiling down upon the four of you
and wishing you nothing but the best.
Missy, she was pretty proud of you being a policewoman. I don’t know that
she was crazy about it, but she was proud nonetheless.
Laura, your Grandma loved it when you fixed her hair. I can see her with
her Aunt Mildred nod - many of you know it too - “She does such a good
job, too.” As if we needed to be convinced after all the celebrities’
hair-dos you’ve done! She wasn’t sure why you wanted to move WAY out to
Colorado. But I think she knew that just meant she would see you less and
she LOVED her grandchildren. Each and everyone of you!
But Aunt Mildred’s love didn’t end just with her grandchildren. Dennis,
Beth, Melody - the three of you helped to sustain her during the difficult
time of Daryl’s passing. She was very aware of the love and care you gave
during his illness - not only to Daryl, but your folks as well. You may
not have felt like it at the time, but you were a strongthold for them.
She said so often, “They have been so GOOD.” You can hear her
overemphasis on a certain word - another Mildred trademark.
Well, I have to believe that you learned to be so GOOD from a person who
defines the word GOOD!
Have you ever eaten Aunt Mildred’s mashed potatoes?
“They are so GOOD.” Never had a lump in them. I still haven’t gotten it
down. Tell me, does she boil the water before putting the potatoes in the
water? I always thought it was that big mixer thing that did it.
Have you ever eaten Aunt Mildred’s donuts?
“They are so GOOD.” She would eat them with her coffee - of course
Mildred could drink coffee with just about anything. My Dad LOVED
Mildred’s donuts, but he HATED coffee. She knew it too, but still would
tease, “Mike would you like some coffee with that donut?” He’d reply, “I
don’t like that coffee slop!” If I didn’t go with them to Mildred and
Harvey’s and she had made donuts, Harvey always made sure Mildred sent
some home for me. She always did, but I think she also had a hunch that
my Dad ate the lion’s share of those donuts!
Have you ever eaten Aunt Mildred’s pies?
“They are so GOOD.”
I can remember my Grandma Kleppe making pie and she would always have a
little bit of crust left over. She would sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over
it. They were so GOOD! Mildred must have learned it from her. Melody,
Beth - I hope the two of you are carrying on the pie crust tradition,
because I know Konnie and I - well, our crusts come from the freezer
section of the grocery store.
Have you ever eaten Aunt Mildred’s lefse?
“They are so GOOD.” Melody and Beth - I hope you haven’t let this
tradition die either because if it is up to Konnie and I - it’s dead.
Have you ever eaten Aunt Mildred’s rolls?
“They are so GOOD.” So good that she never even batted an eye when I
asked her to make them for my wedding. “I’ll be glad to.” You see that
is another Aunt Mildred thing - she was always willing to help, always
will to share a smile. Weddings, graduations, writing jingles for
retirements or 80th birthdays - she was so GOOD at helping out whereever
she was needed.
Now Gosh all Friday, I would be missing a few things if I didn’t also
mention that there were some things that Mildred just didn’t care for -
topping her list might have been her nicknames that my dad had for her
“Jake” and “Stick.” She also didn’t care for his imitation of her on the
phone, “Hello Vivian. What did you say?” Nor was she fond of being
called, “Millie.” I never quite figured that one out, but I know she did
NOT like it, not one bit!
She also didn’t like the fact that she cut the off the tip of her finger
while making brownies at Sara Lee. If you ever noticed the stub, then you
probably heard the story -she never minded sharing the story of how it
happened.
Mildred didn’t like olives thrown into her drink - just ask Tina and Laura
about that.
Aunt Mildred didn’t like just staying at home. She loved to travel -
especially when she could. She made trips all over - including Norway.
One thing is for sure - if Mildred was on a trip, you would get a
postcard. I think that was her way of “having you along.” While
traveling she liked, going by way of Amtrack she did NOT like - too noisy.
“I’ll NEVER take a trip like that again.” And you know, I’m not so sure
that that may have been one of her last trips. And when she was told she
could no longer drive - she was forever grateful to Swede for driving she
and Harvey different places.
And Uff-da! She passionately hated snakes - Melody, Beth - Konnie and I
have you covered on the tradition this time. Neither of us care to see a
snake either.
Mildred had taken a fall earlier this year and spent some time in the
Harmony nursing home recuperating. She never seemed to mind it there, the
people there were “so GOOD” to her, but she was not one bit happy the day
they served her an egg salad sandwich - “they could have at least said
they were sorry” - she wrote in one of her letters. Mildred hated eggs!
And milk! I never could figure that out - didn’t she live on a farm?
And as for flowers - dandelions were prettier than daisies in her book.
For whatever reason, she didn’t care for daisies. And I think I remember
at least one time when Daryl teasingly gave her daisies - you know Daryl -
he acted like he didn’t know she didn’t like them. We heard about that,
too.
But I think the one thing Aunt Mildred liked least of all was for anyone
to be unhappy. So today, as we say our goodbye to Mildred, a good friend,
a neighbor, a card playing partner, a sister-in-law, a great-grandma, a
grandma, a mom, a wife, an aunt - let us remember and treasure all that
was GOOD about her - and there was plenty - her faith in God, her knowing
the power of prayer, her love of family, her hospitality, her sense of
humor, her phrases, her nod, her emphasis on certain words, and last but
not least - her mashed potatoes. So don’t leave here unhappy - Aunt
Mildred wouldn’t want it that way.
