This is my favorite photo of our family. It was taken over the holidays in 2015. My mom flanked by her four grandchildren, her great granddaughter, three children and our spouses. We weren't able to gather as often as mom would have liked, but she always made our holidays special. As a true Norwegian matriarch, she made sure we all had our share of Lefse, Krummkake, Rosettes and Sandbakkleles. (It's a Norwegian thing!) She was the glue that bound us, our safe harbor, mediator, historian and loving mother. She was proud of us all, made each of us feel special and went out of her way to ensure that we knew we were loved. I miss her dearly.