My Grandma Jorgensen passed away yesterday afternoon June 23, 2013, and I wanted to share some of my favorite memories of her.

My family was very blessed to only live a few miles away from Grandma J. We spend a lot of summer days over at Grandma’s house playing Chinese Checkers and Scrabble. It was always a big deal when you beat Grandma because she was a master at both. We also went on lots of adventures exploring the farmland, playing in the barn, and taking walks on the ditch bank behind her house. You also never went hungry at Grandma’s house. Grandma had wicked fast cooking skills.

Our family was also very lucky to have Grandma spend just about every Christmas morning with us. She would usually buy us each a couple little gifts from the dollar store and it was always exciting to see what Grandma was going to get you because they were usually very unexpected. I think one year Kurt got a big jar of pickles because Kurt was always eating pickles. hahaha.

Our family also got to take Grandma on quite a few family vacations. One year we went to Zion’s National Park and Grandma decided to wait in the car while we went on a short hike. Well, I guess Grandma got a little impatient because when we got back to the car Grandma was gone. We all panicked a little but decided she couldn’t have gotten very far. We soon found her, she had gone off and made friends with a park ranger.

But by far, my favorite memories with Grandma would have to be the summer I decided to start having scrapbooking nights with Grandma once a week. It was nice having one on one time with her and she would say the funniest things. One night she spent telling me funny dating stories about Grandpa and giving me dating advice. My favorite advice she gave me was, “Just wink at them and smile real big and they’ll ask you out.” And you know what, it works. haha. Another night we spent listening to a mixed CD I made of pop music and Grandma’s critiques of the songs were quite hilarious. Usually rated according to how easy they were to dance to. haha.

I also got to enjoy being in the same ward at church with Grandma. After her hearing got worse, she didn’t really like going to Sunday School because she couldn’t understand what they were saying, so sometimes I would sit on a couch in the foyer with her. One Sunday was very entertaining as she spent the entire time pretended to trip people with her cane as they walked by. hahaha.

Grandma J will always have a very special place in my heart and I will treasure the many hours spent with her and the love she showed me.

Here are some pictures I have taken of Grandma over the last couple of years.