Happy Birthday Grandma Blanche

Blanche Neeley Auernig circa 1930s

Albert and Blanche Auernig 1990 50th Anniversary

I love the first of April for so many reasons. It is a time of new beginnings - the weather changes, the sun is out longer and it just feels good to have the dark days of winter behind us (yup, even in AZ). I also welcome the first of April for the Semi-Annual General Conference our Church holds worldwide. It is a great weekend of learning and commitment. I also love the first of April to reflect on my dear Grandparents marriage, their impact in my life and my amazing Grandma as this time of year is her birthday.

She's an amazing woman. She has been a powerful force for many good things in my life. I honor her and love her very much. Our 2nd daughter is named after her. We all love her. She currently is in a nursing home in Bountiful, UT in her 90s.

Ten Things About Grandma:

• She was not afraid of hard things. She saw many dark days in her life but yet her faith in God and her love of hard work was evident. She led a joyful and rewarding life even amid trials.
• She had the most amazing yard. It was a great place to explore, pick apples, pick food from her amazing garden, eat peaches from the trees and admire her flowers. No yard looked better and it was a gathering place for all-things-family. Baseball games, running through sprinkler, and more...
• She loves kids. Not only were we her grand kids, but she loved all kids and teenagers. She often was the adopted grandma for those in her area without local grandparents for things at school, etc... My friends thought she was the best and often we would ditch out on school cafeteria lunch and go to her home for homemade BLTs. They were the best and she enjoyed cooking for me and my friends.
• She had an amazing sense of humor. Her wit and wisdom were always appreciated and I always respected her take on things.
• Her home was spotless, but always welcoming. Her home was a place of peace and rest for us as kids. To be in Grandma's home was to know that all was right and well in the world.
• Her cooking! She was an amazing cook and always put on an amazing spread. We saw them weekly and often spent Sunday dinner with my Grandparents. These are good memories.
• She always had junk food for us - Casco bars, Creamies, suckers, and more. Hot fudge sundaes were always in order. Grandma = candy. Way cool. And they were the first people I know who had a big screen TV and MTV (back when it was tame).
• She was in love with my Grandpa and there was mutual respect and companionship. You didn't get one without the other. However, she was in charge. He would tire of visiting and stand-up in an attempt to leave saying, "Blanchie, let's go." She would respond, "Sit down Albert, I'm not done." But they loved each other and I knew it.
• They were frugal but not cheap. They always looked like a million bucks. I remember he bought her an amazing custom suit she was to wear with him to a big event, however, he passed away in 1994 and she wore it to his funeral instead. She always dressed well and he saw to it. He was sharp too and knew a good suit. He was always dressed up, always.
• She instilled in me (with my Grandpa too) that I could do anything. She was often heard to say, "I know you can do it Ryan, you can do anything. That much I know about you." I still can hear her saying that in my head and it pushes me towards my goals today. Conversely, I once disappointed her at 14 and man, it cut deep to know I disappointed her.

I have her college yearbooks in my possession - Utah State University and University of Idaho. She was smart and progressive - pushing for an education at a time when women did not usually go to school. She has an amazing life story. And I've taken time to get to know her history. She was a spitfire, determined, loyal and liked excitement in her younger years. I could post some of the entries in her yearbook here, but sufficient to say, she dated a lot, quite a lot. And her girlfriends were tight and dear. It is exciting to learn about her and her life through these yearbook entries and her personal life history.

I could go on. She, in her old age, made her way to Chicago to my wedding. She grabbed me upon her arrival and said, "I wouldn't miss this for the world, even if they had to stuff me in their luggage." That was her wit and humor.

She is a person of faith, fortitude and determination to me. I can still hear her say, "You can do it Ry!" I believe my daughter Neeley has the same spitfire determination and fortitude and therefore, I seek to hone, but not change. Neeley will do well with the characteristics she has been blessed with from this outstanding woman. We love you Grandma!