My favorite memories of her are when we got to hang out, just the two of us. She would make enough potato pancakes or potato dumplings for 10 people and serve me. Großmutter gave me money for "something small--make yourself a joy" and off I went with the bicycle into the main part of town. I purchase small baby clothes before I had babies, so that I would have some from my Großmutter. She knit, knit, knit. I have wonderful mittens from her, and many woolen socks! The girls received baby socks for their dolls, and Maggie even got a knit dress for her bunny. Großmutter rode her bicycle even in her 80s. She loved the Doppelbackbrot from the bakery, but didn't like it fresh--the next day was when she sliced it. Her knife was some ancient piece of metal, and her fingers were rough from where she'd cut things against them. She and I set out to clean out one of her cupboards, full of used candles and such. But after a few minutes she shoved it all back it. "That's enough for today!" she said with a smile.
When we lived in Switzerland, Großmutter came to visit with us and see the Alps. My father, mother, brother, and I were hiking. I was 7 and didn't know that the plans were to hike way up to the top of an Alp, but kind of already knew that there would be much climbing that day since my father had a climbing bug! Großmutter was going to stay in a cozy hotel, and I begged to stay with her. My parents relented, and I got to race back down the slope to my Großmutter. (I later found out that my parents and brother barely found the mountain hut in the dark, and almost spent the night outside). Großmutter read Heidi to me as we sank into the middle of the soft mattress together. The next day we walked up to a lake to meet my parents and brother. What a special time.
My Großmutter always had chocolates and sweets to give me "for your hollow teeth" (meaning that my teeth had a special spot for sweets, that empty space :) She was the most giving, thankful person I have ever met. Großmutter suffered much during World War II, and I have many cassettes telling about her childhood on a manor and all that happened in her life. Her real joy, however, was found in Christ. She often said, "Praise and thank the Lord." Her faith was so genuine, so evident, as she prayed with a sincere and glad heart and treasured the Bible in her heart. She played the piano even with fingers bent with arthritis, singing praises to God in her wobbly voice.
Großmutter loved really expensive fruit juice. She had a bottle that she was saving, but her neighbor had a birthday and she knew she should give it to him. "Lord," she prayed, "I really like this juice and don't want to give it away. But I will." She told me, as she slapped my knee with vigor, that that very day a friend has stopped by with two bottles of fruit juice for her. "Kerstin," she reminded me, "the Lord is SO good. Always good. Praise and thanks to Him."
I spoke with my Tante Elke and she said how thankful and uncomplaining Großmutter was to the very end. She always said, "Thank you. Thank you. Danke." She also always said, "Praise and thank the Lord. Lob und dank dem Herrn."
Thank you, Lord God, for my Großmutter. And thanks for answering my prayers to take her home to you.
Here are some photos of her with me as a baby and as a two year old.
