Written by Cindy Noorda
Illustrated by Amariah Rauscher
"Grandma's Piles of Love" was written as a tribute to the author’s own mother, who cherished the memories of her life by collecting all sorts of seemingly odd things. Grandma has such wonderful memories because she has always served others, and her love is piled up everywhere for all to see. At first, all of these "things" seem to have no organization or serve any useful purpose. But now, as her life nears the end, they have become treasured heirlooms for future generations...memories that will help bind families together. This book tells a story of those treasures, and is, in turn, really a tribute to wonderful mothers and grandmothers everywhere.
"Grandma's Piles of Love" will be treasured by families, both young and old, who love the funny, quirky memories of their own grandmothers. The book is meant to be read with grandma, to be given as a gift to grandma, or even to be given as a gift from grandma. This book will become a cherished possession even after grandma passes on. It inspires families to remember all the good memories about their grandmothers.
We hope this book will inspire you to feel the love you have for your own grandma and that she has for you,...as you read about the "piles of love" neatly stacked all over these pages.
– Sue Ayres
– Sherry Noorda
– Cindy Morgan
As you read “Grandma’s Piles of Love,” you may notice her cherished treasures. See how many you can find! There are hearts spread all throughout Grandma’s house. There is at least one heart in every room. Have fun looking through the book to see if you can find all of these treasured heirlooms.
Download a color printable PDF checklist
Download a black and white printable PDF checklist
- Hearts – Grandma is the heart of our family
- Cookie Jar – home-baked cookies in our cookie jar
- Records – playing with the record player and listening to records
- Neighborhood – good friends living in Grandma’s neighborhood
- Holiday Decorations – up year round and stored everywhere
- Little Girl with Camera – granddaughter Stacie
- Orange Cat – Simon
- Canning Jars – Grandma cans cherries, peaches, pears, and mustard pickles
- Japan Box & Décor – lived four years in Japan
- Tree House – grandson Bryan and his cousin building their tree house at the cabin
- Toy Cabin & Horses – summertime at Uncle Ken’s cabin and the Pines Ranch
- Eagles Nest – favorite grandchild hangout
- “Heaps of Love” – Grandma’s family newsletter
- Piano – always loved listening to Grandpa Homer play the piano by ear
- Little Girl Signing “I Love You” – granddaughter Cami
- Basketball – Grandpa played basketball in college
- Daffodils – one of Grandma’s favorite flowers
- Air Force Jacket – Grandpa was in the Air Force
- Christmas Tree – “Festival of Trees”
- Homemade Butter Mints – Grandma making Aunt Lu’s butter mints for everyone
- Rattan Swing – favorite place to read magazines and eat sunflower seeds; great granddaughter Addie is sitting in the chair with her doll
- Names on Mint Tins – some of Grandma’s dearest friends
- Little Girl Learning Sign Language – great granddaughter Emma
- Bee – “Who Let the Bees Out” game
- Blanket Forts – grandchildren love making blanket forts
- White Cat – Puff
- Young Grandma Riding a Horse – favorite thing to do at Uncle Ken’s cabin
- Little Boys in Lab Coats – grandsons Bryan and Chris
- Quaking Aspen Trees – favorite trees near family cabin
- Texas Box – lived in Abilene (Cindy was born here) and San Antonio, Texas
- Mountains – view from Grandma’s house
- Christmas Stockings – Grandma knitted every grandchild a Christmas stocking
- Reading Book – nighttime stories with the grandchildren
- Two Lamp Posts – the street lights at the top of Crestwood Road
- 1088 – Grandma’s house number
- Tulips and Windmill – Dutch heritage
- Little Blonde Girl Drawing Clouds – great granddaughter Bella
- Sewing Machine – making clothes sewn with love
- “Eagle Dancer” Bolo – permanent fixture around Grandpa Homer’s neck
- Golf Clubs – two Grandpa’s playing golf together
- Big Wheel – favorite grandson toy
- Pillow Cases – ironing pillowcases was a childhood chore
- Young Mother Sitting at the Table – Cindy, the author of this book
- “I Love You…a Bushel and a Peck” – Grandma’s favorite song to sing
- Moose – vacations to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone, grandson Bryan’s moose collection, and “Madeline Moose” (great granddaughter’s nickname)
- Volleyball – grandchildren played volleyball in High School
- Remote Control Car – great grandson Benson’s love for wheels
- White Bear – when Cindy’s family moved to Japan, she had to leave her stuffed white bear behind
- Black & White Cat – Bastian, Mitty Kitty
- Cheerleader Doll – Grandma was a song leader in college
- “You Are My Sunshine” – a favorite song Cindy sings to her grandkids
- C-124 Airplane – the plane Grandpa flew in the Air Force
- Dogs – Car Bears, Tucker, Boo, Taffy, Maggie May
- The Pines Gate – entrance to Uncle Ken’s cabin
- Train – grandsons Ethan, Preston, and Luke’s favorite toy
- Little Brunette Girl Drawing Clouds – Amariah, the illustrator of this book, as a young girl
- Blue Marlin – a fish caught by Grandpa Homer
- Large Wooden Spoon and Fork – still on Grandma’s wall
- Fishing Poles – catching trout at Smith-Morehouse Reservoir and on Weber River
- White Fluffy Pillow with Grandpa Homer’s Name – homemade Christmas gift Cindy made for every family member
- Rattan Chair – purchased in Japan while living there…still used today at the cabin
- Three Girls Playing the Piano – three great granddaughters taking piano lessons…Tayla, Bella & Sophie
- Scrapbook Letters A.N.C. – Amariah and Cindy
- Beanie Babies – Grandma collects them
- Plate of Chocolate Chip Cookies – Cindy’s favorite cookie!!!
Cindy Noorda is a wife, mother, grandmother, and an author of children’s books. She lives with her husband of 36 years in Henderson, Nevada, where she raised her family of four children. The kids are all grown and married now, and are raising cute families of their own. Through her children, Cindy is the grandmother of ten beautiful grandchildren (and counting), who have become her purpose for life. She cherishes the times her family spends together, and loves her large, loving, and growing family.
When there is spare time (and it is not very often!), she enjoys watching a good movie and spending time in the mountains. Her favorite things are laughing and chocolate chip cookies.
Growing up as the daughter of an Air Force pilot, Cindy has lived in many places throughout the United States and the world. She learned that you make your home wherever you are, and you collect as many memories as you can along the way. The world is a big place, and there are so many things to love about it. Cindy’s passion has always been in writing poems, and it has been her lifelong dream to turn those poems into books that she can share with others.
If you would like to contact Cindy, you may email her at cindy@pilesoflovebooks.com.