Hi all, Tomorrow, Oct. 13 is Grandma Mildred Sandberg's birthday. She was born 106 years ago. In case you would like to do a little family history thing on her birthday, you could do one of the following:
Buy the strangest kind of ice cream and serve it in cones to remember her treating us to ice cream cones and having us choose the flavor for her to eat. She often wanted a flavor that was new and different.
Make or buy and eat tapioca pudding
Serve angel food cake with ice cream and strawberries
Sing Israel, Israel God is Calling and remember her impressive Baptist chording in the left hand
Tell your children about how she considered 13 a LUCKY number because she was born on Friday the 13th.
If you are really brave you could make Danish sweet soup--Sus sup??? Lots of raisins and prunes-delicious
If kids complain about piano lessons, remind them that Grandma Sandberg loved driving the horse and buggy into town to take her piano lessons and her parents let her drive the horse by herself at a relatively early age, I think it was 11.
What can you remember and pass on to us about Grandma Sandberg?
By Wanda McCombs
Mom, I love this email. I will do one of these with my kids! I remember the ice cream thing too. I loved that she took us to Reams and asked us to get her something. I thought it was fun! Also, I remember one time when I was trying to sneak some grapes out of the fridge when we lived with her and she was sitting in her orange chair and said, "Felicia, are you in the fridge?" I was in shock, at that young age I could not figure out how she knew that! I thought she must have X-ray vision or something. I also remember her when we were talking about big mouths at dinner and that they were beautiful and she immediately opened her mouth wide. This was when she was suffering with Alzheimer's and we saw that she still had her sense of humor and remembered and admired that. I remember her coming to visit us when we were little and letting us go to the store and pick our very own box of cereal! What a treat! I also remember being so excited to see her suitcase open because it seemed she always had something special for us. I remember her always helping when she came to visit, mending things especially. I remember holding her hand and feeling special when I was with her.
Love, Felicia
I remember rubber bands around doorknobs, a very clean cozy sturdy house, honeycombs and Danish pastries, her white cotton nightgown, the way she walked in her later years with a limp, her smile, her orange chair and her sitting there with hands on thighs, making jello with her at her house, hamburgers only from fast food place, the monkey puke green maverick, her ditch, peach pits to play with in her bushes/dirt, her tan shoes and knee high hose, and her mail shoot with a clothespin. Many small things really. She was strict with me sometimes but a source of security and comfort. 106 years, I can't believe it. I still love tapioca pudding and have a lot and will make some. Love to all and to you grandma Sandberg. I know you are still there helping us all along!
Love,
Abbie
| I think you should totally keep going. I LOVE learning about her. I don't have a lot of memories of her, but I remember how her smile always made me smile. Sally Wow, does this all bring back memories. How I remember rubber bands on the doorknobs and her tan shoes and kneehighs. Once she took us to the park in Provo for a picnic and she had brought 2 cans of green beans. I could not figure out why she would bring green beans to a picnic. It was in the era of the generic brand where everything was in cans with white labels and black letters. Finally she realized what was going on. She had meant to bring pork n beans. She laughed and laughed about that. I remember that I wasn't sure why it was so funny. I guess i was too young. I remember that narrow closet in the hallway near her bedroom that had toys in it. I remember the shower head in the bathroom that blast out so strong it really took the skin off your back. I remember jumping over that little low part on the floor between the upstairs bathroom and hallway and always pretending we had to jump over it because it was hot lava or poison or something. I remember her back yard. I thought one of the funnest things about her house was racing sticks in her ditch. That was good summer fun. When I was a freshman at BYU and Kathy was a sophomore, she invited us over a couple times to dinner. I remember her serving us Stauffer's french bread frozen pizzas and talking about what a treat that was. Love to all, Kristin We celebrated by eating Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream. The girls speculated that "grandma should come from heaven and have some ice cream with us." I said she was probably enjoying the fact that we were eating something new and yummy. I also remember the upstairs bathroom "hot lava" game and how she always wanted me to keep my knees together in a skirt and "act like a lady." Racing/throwing ANYTHING in the ditch was always a treat. Love to all, Ann and all |
I loved all of your emails about Mom Sandberg! Thanks for shariing. We thought and talked about her today. I bought an ice cream cone when I was out shopping in memory of her today! I love Mc Donald's vanilla ice cream cones. I remember all the times she came for the birth of our babies. She was so helpful and our children always loved looking in her suitcase for the airplane treats: salt and pepper and sugar packets, and little goodies from the airplane right after she arrived. We loved and appreciated her generous Christmas checks also! I remember driving through a very wooded area between our chapel and home in Maplewood N.J. and she said, "How do you stand all these trees?" I was a little shocked and then realized as we kept talking that she was a South Dakota girl and they didn't have many trees there and Maplewood probably had an over abundance in her opinion:)
Marie
Dear Mom,
Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Mother. Happy Birthday to you. Howdoyoudo everybody, how doyoudo? Is there anything that we can do for you? We'll stand by you like a man. We'll do everything we can. Howdoyoudo everybody, howdoyoudo?
We love and miss you. Did you have some angelfood cake? I expect there is a lot of that in heaven where the angels are.
Love from David
I loved reading all the little memories of Grandma. It made me feel a little emotional as I thought of how much I love her and miss her. I can see so much of her in my own mother. She could be a little strict at times, but I always felt her love. The way she lived her life is very admirable. I hope to do half as well. I still have some of her music, Beethoven Sonatas, from when she went to music school. I love reading the notes she made on the pages. It makes me feel closer to her. She learned the same things I did in my music classes. I remember one day when we were living with her when she had alzheimers, and she sat and played the right hand of the hymns while I played the left. It was amazing to me that she could remember how to play. I guess there are some things, if we do them enough, we just never forget.
Love you Grandma!
Elizabeth Hall
I loved your letter. I am sure everyone did. It made me feel lonely for her presence too. She was a wonderful woman in so many ways.
One day Ann Hege (one of my adult piano student) and I were discussing technique. She really wants to learn to play RIGHT. I told her I had never had much training in technique. I told her about Mom and that she had attended McPhail's School of Music in Minneapolis and was a wonderful pianist.She said--"then you have learned by watching her because you have wonderful technique when you play". I took that as a great, great compliment. I never knew that. Thanks, Mom
Wanda McCombs
She was truly a prairie girl--in Provo at first she felt blocked in. But she grew to love Provo, that's for sure.
Wanda McCombs
While we were living with Grandma, my mom asked me if I would take the time to sit and visit with Grandma and ask her questions about her life. I think I was 10 years old at the time and I really didn't feel like doing it. Grandma would frequently call me "David" or "Gilbert" and because of the Alzheimer's she would talk to me about things that didn't make sense to me. But I decided to do as my mom asked and sat with Grandma for 30-60 minutes one summer day and had a wonderful conversation with her about her life growing up. Her mind was clear and memory was right on. I was grateful to have the time with her.
I also remember when Grandma used to come and visit us in Idaho. We used to lay in her bed with her in the mornings and she was very patient with me as I played with the skin on the backside of her arm. We always loved having her with us.
Spencer
Kristin what a funny comment about the shower head pinpoints taking the skin off your back! I remember the french bread pizza sometimes too. This brings back another memory--I was in the third and fourth grade the years Charlotte and Kathleen went off to BYU. That was a lonely time. Anyway, when they came home for Christmas, they had learned to like pizza in the big college town. We had never ever had pizza at our house before (think 1958) They made a pizza and when it was baking in the over, I remember thinking how AWFUL it smelled! Those spices were completely foreign to my Danish nose! I don't think we had pizza at home after that. So for Mom to learn to like pizza was really a nice sign of learning new things even in your older years. Pizza.....now who can resist???
-Wanda McCombs
What nice memories of Mom/Grandma Sandberg!
I remember how she helped us after most of our children were born. She would cook, bake, mend and clean. I surely appreciated her help and wish I had expressed more appreciation to her. She taught me many good things--gave me wise counsel like, "When you have lots of little children, you have to let something go or go crazy."
Love,
Michelle
I too have enjoyed reading all of these emails! I really remember the rubber bands around the doorknob. Spencer, I remember how we played with the skin on the back of her arms. That was VERY patient of her to let us do that! I would have told my kids to stop it!! I am thankful for her example in our lives. You know, even if we do not have tons of memories about her, depending on where we lived in relation to her, how old we were, etc., things like this help her come to life in our minds and bless us. We all know that she was faithful and true to the gospel. I was thinking today of the sacrifices she must have made when she joined the church. I always think of her as a very strong woman.
Felicia
What great letters about Mom Sandberg. She was always noble and dignified.
1. In my mind, I think because we lived far from Utah growing up, I will always associate Grandma with family reunions. She was the perfect matriarch, presiding over our family for my whole life until I became an adult. So much I what I think it means to be a Sandberg in the larger extended family is permanently associated with her, and that's a very good thing. Extended family means dedicating time and resources to be together. It means planning for the future by setting up reunion funds and a plan for rotating the leadership. It means shared meals and shared fun. It means a homemade flag and the family motto: Remember who you are and act accordingly. It means traveling to different places all over north America to renew family ties. It means seeing cousins every two years. It means going to church together (I have lots of memories of attending Grandma's ward in Provo with cousins) and bringing our church clothes across country so we could attend church with the family. It means hearing about Grandpa Sandberg and his conversion story. Laced through all those events is the image of Grandma. Strong, solid, unwavering. Did any of us ever doubt how much she loved seeing us together? How much she loved Grandpa? She wasn't very vocal about that love for us or for Grandpa -- at least not to me -- but I never doubted it for a minute. In thinking about it, I can honestly say that she is the most constant person I believe I've ever known (as in faithful; unswerving in love, devotion, steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute).
2. I also associate Grandma with visits to our home in Connecticut and New Jersey whenever a new baby came. I remember her working hard when she came. Cleaning, cooking. There is no doubt in my mind that this woman was not afraid of work. I remember her luggage, and thinking it was interesting to see how she packed her bags. I remember little gifts. I remember her working on quilts -- I think this sometimes coincided with the baby visits, where we'd cut out squares of old clothes or fabric or maybe even some new fabric. I remember the quilt she made me. I had that for years on top of my bed. I remember so many times looking at the patches, at the red yarn that she used to tie each square on the quilt. I used to play with those little yarn ties at night. There was something so wonderful about that quilt. I remember she made a quilt for my other brothers and sisters, but I always thought my quilt was the best. It had the most different kinds of patches that came from real old clothes. I thought that was very cool. I used to love wrapping myself up in that quilt without any sheets between, especially on days when I'd be home sick from school, and reading a book. That quilt was so comforting.
3. I thought Grandma's house was cool. I like going in the kitchen when she was cooking. I'd peek in the pots. She'd slap my hands and tell me to wait! I loved that she always had bottled cherries or bottled pears. This was one of my favorite things about visiting her -- knowing there would be bottled fruit. I remember spitting out the pits of the cherries -- stained dark purple. The cherries were good, but the juice was even better. I especially loved the pears. One of my favorite things I remember her making was oatmeal cake. I remember one time her making it -- I think without a recipe -- and I thought it was the most delicious cake. I asked her to write down the recipe for my mom. I remember looking at that handwritten recipe card for years after that as we made the cake on Sunday afternoons. To this day, I still love oatmeal cake.
4. I remember she had two little ceramic casts of a boy and a girl eating corn hanging over her stove in her kitchen. Whenever we visited, I always had a conversation with her about how those kids were still eating corn. I remember Grandma had very strong hands. Like a vice. I don't think I've ever met a woman with stronger hands. Must have come from farm life, I don't know. But I do remember if she took hold of you there was no getting loose until she decided to let you go. I have memories of watching Matt and Rob squirm as she held them with the vice grip when they were misbehaving. She was tough. I also remember the cement irrigation ditch in front of her house. I loved that thing. I don't know if this is a false memory or not, but for some reason I have a memory of laying down in that ditch with the water running over me. Years later I saw that and thought, "there is NO way I fit into that!" But really, I think I did at one point. In any case, I remember playing with cousins in that ditch, dropping things into the rushing water and then chasing them down the street hoping to catch up with them.
5. I remember her piano / music room. I remember her playing, and Kathy and I singing, "I Wonder When He Comes Again." I remember her singing voice. It was sweet, and a little shaky as comes with age, but there was a quality about it that was tender and full of love and devotion, especially when she sang hymns. I remember there were also accordions (maybe two?) in the music room. We would get them out, try playing with them, and then put them back. Grandma was always very supportive of anything we did that was musical. When she visited, she asked to hear us play the piano or whatever instrument we were studying at the time.
6. As Grandma aged and was burdened with Alzheimer's, I remember watching her fade. This strong woman, always so resolute and so firm slowly got lost in her own mind. It was a curiously sad thing for me, to see someone age like that. From my perspective, she dealt with it bravely as best she could until she really had no control over it. But what I really remember about that time was the love that her children showed her in return in taking her in, and caring for her probably longer than was practical. I remember at a reunion where the original six were discussing what to do about Grandma's long term care situation. I'm not sure who said this, but it has always stayed vivid in my mind: "Whatever we do, we need to remember that our children are watching how we deal with this, and we will be setting a pattern here that our own children will probably follow when our lives wind down." That whole conversation struck me with singular impact -- not only because of the practical teaching -- but also because I saw the legacy of this great woman in action. Her most treasured possessions -- her children -- were counseling wisely and lovingly about their dear mother. There was respect and unity and love and dignity and tenderness in that discussion that I know she and Grandpa both would have been pleased to witness.
Thanks for the chance to walk down memory lane about a great woman. I am blessed for my association with her and look forward someday to presenting myself and my family to her and her dear husband!
--Michael
Aunt Kathleen
Love, Aunt Kathleen
I always felts I was special to me, I have never doubted she loved me and wanted the best for me.
I remember when I was a teenager she said i should be home from the dance by 1;00 PM. I decided I would not be home until after 2:00 PM. When I came in the back door in Gettysburg, there she was with her hands on her hips. I did not come home late after that.
I also remember when I decided I did not want to go to Church. She said I could stay home, but I had to stay home, I could not have friends over, and I could not call anyone. I stayed home maybe one Sunday, maybe two, and she would tell me each time people missed me an asked about me. Then I decided to go back to Church.
When I started first grade after the first day, on the second day, I said stomach hurt and she allowed me to stay home. The third day my stomach hurt and I stayed home. The fourth day I said my stomach hurts, she said, I think you will go to school anyway, and I did.
Great lady, I miss her.
Gilbert
I loved all of your memories and I am SURE Mom/Grandmother S. does also. I remember Mom as always being so dignified and kind. When she lived with us, even on her most confused days, she came
to eat at the table with us and if Ken would ask her to pray, she would say a lovely prayer. And she so rarely was upset. A while after she died, Kathleen said ,"I think that our parents will be able to go to the celestial kingdom.: and I was shocked. At that time I believed only General Authorities would be going. Talking to Wanda about that , she said, "If not them , who?" and I do now feel that way too. We did have Ben and Jerry's
Cinnamon Bun ice cream. It is good. Love t o all, Charlotte
I remember eating pudding popcycles at grandma's one summer day. tanya and I were there. i think my parents were at the temple? we were playing in the backyard. a mean dog across the fence scared us so bad, so we raced towards the house. tanya (being so fast) ran right into the screen/glass sliding door. luckily no big injuries. but I remember grandma comforting her, perhaps making a joke and trying to get her to laugh. then we got the pudding pops. (i think.)
i remember lemon drops in big buckets at her house. i remember making mud pies with the McCombs in her side yard under some bushes. i learned how to play PIT at her house. i dont' think i ever saw grandma in pants. only dresses. i still have my quilt she made me. i felt her and grandpa's comfort when I was in boarding school in england, when I was really sad and homesick one night.
one of my earliest memories of feeling the Holy Ghost was at her funeral when all the grandchildren sang "I am a Child of God." I think most of us were crying. I can still remember how strong the spirit was while we sang and I knew what I was singing was true. (I was 9 years old about.)
i love you grandma!
-Becky
These remembrances of Grandma are wonderful. She had the ability to reach each family member and others at their own need level. An amazing talent she developed. Someone else in her situation may have been content to stay in the woe is me mode because of the events of her life, but not her, new challenges and new opportunities, don’t do things the same way twice. Like one time I was helping with breakfast and we had 3 or 4 cereals. I asked her which one she wanted and she said, just mix those 3 together.
It was interesting how she persuaded me to build or repair things around the houses we lived in. We would talk about what there was to do, what materials were needed, and then she would give me the money to go and buy the materials which I enjoyed. Then when the project started she would be there by my side to hand me whatever I needed, tool by tool, or nail by nail. When completed she would do the clean up too. A very good assistant.
The story is told of how she persuaded Grandpa to buy an clothes dryer. Before that time, in the winter time, the diapers, etc, were hung around the house on strings, etc. It just so happened that one of the locations for drying the clothes was right over Grandpa’s favorite chair for reading. I understand that the clothes didn’t hang there too many times till a dryer was obtained without a comment or pressure. Those two had an amazing partnership.
Thanks for your beautiful thoughts.
All our love to all of you.
Philip and Judy
1. In my mind, I think because we lived far from Utah growing up, I will always associate Grandma with family reunions. She was the perfect matriarch, presiding over our family for my whole life until I became an adult. So much I what I think it means to be a Sandberg in the larger extended family is permanently associated with her, and that's a very good thing. Extended family means dedicating time and resources to be together. It means planning for the future by setting up reunion funds and a plan for rotating the leadership. It means shared meals and shared fun. It means a homemade flag and the family motto: Remember who you are and act accordingly. It means traveling to different places all over north America to renew family ties. It means seeing cousins every two years. It means going to church together (I have lots of memories of attending Grandma's ward in Provo with cousins) and bringing our church clothes across country so we could attend church with the family. It means hearing about Grandpa Sandberg and his conversion story. Laced through all those events is the image of Grandma. Strong, solid, unwavering. Did any of us ever doubt how much she loved seeing us together? How much she loved Grandpa? She wasn't very vocal about that love for us or for Grandpa -- at least not to me -- but I never doubted it for a minute. In thinking about it, I can honestly say that she is the most constant person I believe I've ever known (as in faithful; unswerving in love, devotion, steadfast; firm in mind or purpose; resolute).
2. I also associate Grandma with visits to our home in Connecticut and New Jersey whenever a new baby came. I remember her working hard when she came. Cleaning, cooking. There is no doubt in my mind that this woman was not afraid of work. I remember her luggage, and thinking it was interesting to see how she packed her bags. I remember little gifts. I remember her working on quilts -- I think this sometimes coincided with the baby visits, where we'd cut out squares of old clothes or fabric or maybe even some new fabric. I remember the quilt she made me. I had that for years on top of my bed. I remember so many times looking at the patches, at the red yarn that she used to tie each square on the quilt. I used to play with those little yarn ties at night. There was something so wonderful about that quilt. I remember she made a quilt for my other brothers and sisters, but I always thought my quilt was the best. It had the most different kinds of patches that came from real old clothes. I thought that was very cool. I used to love wrapping myself up in that quilt without any sheets between, especially on days when I'd be home sick from school, and reading a book. That quilt was so comforting.
3. I thought Grandma's house was cool. I like going in the kitchen when she was cooking. I'd peek in the pots. She'd slap my hands and tell me to wait! I loved that she always had bottled cherries or bottled pears. This was one of my favorite things about visiting her -- knowing there would be bottled fruit. I remember spitting out the pits of the cherries -- stained dark purple. The cherries were good, but the juice was even better. I especially loved the pears. One of my favorite things I remember her making was oatmeal cake. I remember one time her making it -- I think without a recipe -- and I thought it was the most delicious cake. I asked her to write down the recipe for my mom. I remember looking at that handwritten recipe card for years after that as we made the cake on Sunday afternoons. To this day, I still love oatmeal cake.
4. I remember she had two little ceramic casts of a boy and a girl eating corn hanging over her stove in her kitchen. Whenever we visited, I always had a conversation with her about how those kids were still eating corn. I remember Grandma had very strong hands. Like a vice. I don't think I've ever met a woman with stronger hands. Must have come from farm life, I don't know. But I do remember if she took hold of you there was no getting loose until she decided to let you go. I have memories of watching Matt and Rob squirm as she held them with the vice grip when they were misbehaving. She was tough. I also remember the cement irrigation ditch in front of her house. I loved that thing. I don't know if this is a false memory or not, but for some reason I have a memory of laying down in that ditch with the water running over me. Years later I saw that and thought, "there is NO way I fit into that!" But really, I think I did at one point. In any case, I remember playing with cousins in that ditch, dropping things into the rushing water and then chasing them down the street hoping to catch up with them.
5. I remember her piano / music room. I remember her playing, and Kathy and I singing, "I Wonder When He Comes Again." I remember her singing voice. It was sweet, and a little shaky as comes with age, but there was a quality about it that was tender and full of love and devotion, especially when she sang hymns. I remember there were also accordions (maybe two?) in the music room. We would get them out, try playing with them, and then put them back. Grandma was always very supportive of anything we did that was musical. When she visited, she asked to hear us play the piano or whatever instrument we were studying at the time.
6. As Grandma aged and was burdened with Alzheimer's, I remember watching her fade. This strong woman, always so resolute and so firm slowly got lost in her own mind. It was a curiously sad thing for me, to see someone age like that. From my perspective, she dealt with it bravely as best she could until she really had no control over it. But what I really remember about that time was the love that her children showed her in return in taking her in, and caring for her probably longer than was practical. I remember at a reunion where the original six were discussing what to do about Grandma's long term care situation. I'm not sure who said this, but it has always stayed vivid in my mind: "Whatever we do, we need to remember that our children are watching how we deal with this, and we will be setting a pattern here that our own children will probably follow when our lives wind down." That whole conversation struck me with singular impact -- not only because of the practical teaching -- but also because I saw the legacy of this great woman in action. Her most treasured possessions -- her children -- were counseling wisely and lovingly about their dear mother. There was respect and unity and love and dignity and tenderness in that discussion that I know she and Grandpa both would have been pleased to witness.
Thanks for the chance to walk down memory lane about a great woman. I am blessed for my association with her and look forward someday to presenting myself and my family to her and her dear husband!
--Michael
One
of the wonderful memories my mother had of her childhood was of her
older sister Ina coming home for a trip and having exciting things in
her suitcase. I think she tried to replicate that with her
grandchildren.
Yes
I remember the diapers hanging above Dadd's chair and around the living
room and dining room where rope was strung like a clothes line. When
she wanted me to do something she would ask me to come over and show her
how to do something. Before I knew it I would be doing it.
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