Memories by Tara Brown

Memories of Grandma M...there are so many. One of my earliest memories was when I was 5, and she and Grandpa shipped 2 violins to our house. It was love at first sight! Unfortunately I was only 5, and the violins were full-sized so they didn't fit my short little arms and fingers. Mom and Dad forbid me to "mess" with them because I was "too little," but it didn't deter me. When my Mom was busy I would often quietly sneak in, open the cases, decide which violin looked "the most pretty" at the moment, and then I carefully picked it up and quietly plucked the strings teaching myself to play simple tunes by ear until I was "big enough" to start learning in 4th grade. Grandma and Grandpa's encouragement with all types of music was contagious. I specifically remember a time when Grandma and Grandpa came to Kansas to visit. I was about 9 or 10 years old. Knowing the Malmberg Swedish heritage was important to them both, my family took them to a small Swedish town in Kansas called Lindsborg, KS during a festival. As we were walking around the festival I remember Grandma and I paused to listen to a group of folk musicians play beautiful and FAST fiddle music. I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE. While I was mainly involved with classical music growing up, when I was working on my music major at B.Y.U. I one day heard those familiar folk music tones from that day in Lindsborg, and immediately inquired what the group was that was playing it. It was the B.Y.U. Folk Music Ensemble. I joined, and ended up touring with the B.Y.U. International Folk Dance Ensemble all over the world. Who would have thought that could have stemmed from a quite moment at a Swedish Festival in Lindsborg, KS at age 10? But Grandma's influence didn't stop there.Knowing that one of the folk dance tours was going to be a split tour (June and August), Grandma encouraged me to not waste paying rent on an apartment I wasn't going to be living in most of the summer, but to come live with she and Grandpa. It ended up being a blessing for everyone involved. As a result of that decision, Grandma strongly encouraged me to attend the singles ward, and especially an upcoming opening summer social. I had been ill with bronchitis, and had not planned on attending, but Grandma -- being the inspired woman she is, was ADAMENT that I attend, so much so that she had tears in her eyes. I knew that she "knew" something I didn't, and that I needed to attend even if only for a few minutes. Wouldn't you know my dear husband, David, was the first person I met that night. When I think of the eternal significance of finding your eternal companion in this life, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for Grandma's influence and intervention because I was in a very narrow minded frame of mind at that time. I had had a lot of bad dating experiences, was bitter, and after graduation had planned on moving on by throwing myself into a career. I thought to myself, "If a guy wants me, they'll have to find me and convince me." I am grateful for Grandma's persistence with me, and for the opportunity I had to be of assistance to her in helping take care of Grandpa during his last stages of alzheimers before he passed away 3 weeks before my wedding.I love how Grandma taught me to make rolls -- her Lionhouse recipe is still one of my favorites. She taught me to can fruit, tomatoes, and concord grape juice. We canned together nearly every year. Her stamina is amazing to me. I love that she told me so many things about our heritage. I love that she was such a good example of reading her scriptures, and having a strong and faithful attitude toward approaching the challenges of life. When I was crying and discouraged she would often lovingly encourage me, and tell me, "Tara, now let's not have that. There is no use for crying. Crying doesn't fix a thing. You just need to exercise more faith. M'kay?" When I think back on the challeges she faced as a child with living during the Great Depression, losing her Dad to cancer at such a young age as well as her siblings Deon, and Marvin at such young ages, and she watching her widowed mother work so hard to provide for the remaining 9 children -- I can see how she survived those trageties and became the strong, faithful woman that she is.Grandma and Grandpa were powerful influences in my life. I love them dearly, and deeply miss them both.Love,Tara

Memories of Maurine Malmberg

Welcome everyone to the blog which has been created for Maurine Malmberg and her loved ones. This is a place where we as family and friends can come to share our memories of our beloved mother, sister, twin, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend.
If you would like to share a memory please email it to maurinemalmberg@yahoo.com I will then add it right to the blog or you can leave it in a comment form. We would love as a family for you to share your memories of Maurine.
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