Happy Birthday Grandma Mickelsen

Today was always my Grandma's Birthday to me rather then April Fool's Day. She passed away several years ago. I am sure I have a picture I can scan in to post but haven't had a chance to look yet. She was really the only Grandparent I can remember. (I do have memories of both Grandfathers but they were both sick so they weren't active type memories, just seeing them in beds and my paternal grandmother died before I was born.) I thought for her birthday I would share some of my favorite memories of her, mostly for my own and my kids sake, but hopefully some of my family members will add their own! Hint Hint.
My earliest memory is of being at a family reunion right before she was leaving on a mission. My early childhood seems like she was always leaving, on, or coming back from a mission. I even brought her for show and tell one time she was visiting and she brought all this cool stuff from the Indian reservations where she had just been serving.
My FAVORITE childhood memory is of Lorilee and I fighting over who got to sit on which side of Grandma to hear bedtime stories. She would always tell us stories about our family history and things about our ancestors. I wish I had written some of them down since I have really forgotten so much of my childhood.
I remember my mom and grandma quilting my first real bedspread in the formal living room of our home. I finally had to toss it after our move to this house. It was completely torn apart from love and use. It had more holes then blanket and it was time to let go, but it was one of the hardest things for me to get rid of (and I am not that sentimental).
I remember her old farmhouse and drinking warm milk out of a pitcher. I hated the taste of it and swear it had dirt and floaties. I think that is what started my dislike of milk. I remember getting locked in the Grain Silo by my brothers as they yelled that the tracker was coming to fill the silo. I also remember Kurt putting me on a pig to ride , crying the whole time thinking I was going to get trampled and then getting spanked with a wooden spoon for playing in the pig pen. Oh the injustice! I also remember the fear she and my mom put in me of playing in the creek in front of her house. Maybe that is why none of the Mickelsens are great swimmers. I also remember the Grant Store. It had the BEST candy selection anywhere on the planet...to a young mind. I loved going to grandma's because it meant a trip to the Grant Store.
My FAVORITE memory from youth is when grandma made a trip to help my mom when she was sick. Not sure how much help she was, but she was a comfort to my mom. Anyway, I was kicked out of my room while she was staying there as usual and Tara was spending the night. We were sleeping in the living room. In the morning Tara took out her retainer and set it on the seat in the bay window. Grandma came in and of all places she could choose to sit, she chose right on top of the retainer. (It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't something like the 4th retainer she had.) Tara reached out to stop her, but she sat down first. The look on Tara's face as she was trying to decide if she should try to get the retainer, say something, or just keep still was priceless. I think it was one of the few moments that I have seen Tara speechless.
I also loved the time that my mom and grandma were driving to the church...I believe it was either for Brandon or Lacey's baptism and my mom drove over the cement stop between parking spots. Both mom and grandma swear that they didn't drive over anything and since neither of them felt it, someone had to have stolen the keys and moved the car over that cement stop.
And last but not least is Tonya's comment at Grandma's funeral. You know what you said..... and we all laughed. And remember Families Can Be Together Forever............
Love you and miss you Grandma!