We are blessed!

Harper's blessing May 11, 2013

Taylor blessed our girl the other day and it was beautiful and perfect just like her.

 

A remarkable woman

Yesterday we celebrated the life of Taylor's beautiful grandma who passed away on November 15th. It truly was a celebration. I am so grateful to have known her; she was a remarkable woman and always so loving and supportive.  How grateful we are for the Gospel and the Plan of Salvation. We know we will see her again, but will greatly miss her in the meantime! 

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Helen Jeannette Greene Sargent

       1918 - 2012

At ninety-three years of age, our beautiful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend quietly completed her earthly mission on November 15, 2012 and returned home to be with her beloved husband. A quiet peace and tender sadness surrounds her family as we say goodbye to this remarkable woman.
Helen was born December 14, 1918 in Akron, Ohio, a daughter of Benjamin Harrison Greene and Florence Livingstone Greene. She graduated from Iowa State University in June 1941 with a degree in Home Economics and Food and Nutrition.
She married David L. (Lee) Sargent, Jr. December 20, 1941 in Des Moines, Iowa. Their marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in May 1952.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she filled positions of leadership in the Primary and Relief Society organizations. She served with her husband in the LDS Hospital Branch and served as an ordinance worker in the Salt Lake Temple for a number of years.
She enjoyed many years of association in Ladies Literary Club, Pioneer Theater Guild and Dinner Set Group.
Everyone that knew her loved her. She made friends wherever she went with her gifts of conversation and love. She had an unfailing optimistic attitude in life and always wore a smile. She had a phenomenal memory and a wonderful sense of humor that kept her children laughing up to her final day. The things she treasured most were her life, her husband, her family, the gospel of Jesus Christ, her friends, work, and the beauty of the earth. Her first concern was always for the comfort and happiness of others and she was always generous with her time, talents and means. She supported everyone in all of their activities. She loved to entertain and was a gracious hostess. She loved to bake and take her delicious breads, rolls and cookies to family, neighbors, friends and to those who least expected it.
She is survived by her children, Lynn (Steven) Haslam; David Pearson, son-in-law; Anne Haslam; Cathie Manwaring, daughter-in-law; Jeanne (Tony) Fenton; Steven (Helen) Sargent and Lorrie (Jeff) Allen, 29 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and daughter Mary Lou Pearson and son David L. Sargent, III. 
The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to the medical staff at LDS Hospital and Curo Hospice Services for the tender care they provided. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund. On-line condolences may be shared at www.larkincares.com.
Services will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East 10600 South in Sandy, Utah on Monday, November 19, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Friends and family may visit Sunday, November 18, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. on November 19, 2012 at the Sandy location. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.

Being a mother...

I brought Sage home early from church. She was being a terror even as Taylor and I took turns walking the halls with her. She is napping now and so I wanted to take a minute and write some thoughts I have about being a mother. I love being a mother. I am not a perfect mom. Sometimes I lose my patients and count down the minutes until the clock strikes 6 pm. Sometimes I forget to brush her teeth or forget to give her her medicine. Sometimes I tell her "no no" a little too much. But every day is a new day and every day I try to love her a little more than the day before. I am so grateful for the trust Heavenly Father has in me to be a mother to our sweet Sage girl. One of the talks today at church a woman was sharing some thoughts about her own mother who just turned 100 years old and said how her mother has always been her best friend. I want to live to at least 100 years old and hope that at that age Sage could say the same about me. Being a mother has taught me a type of love that I never knew existed. It has opened up my heart in a way that I didn't know was possible. Being a mother gives me just a little glimpse of the love our Heavenly Father must feel for us. I have also decided that Mother's Day cannot pass by without mentioning  and expressing how grateful I am for my other best friend, Taylor. I know he has his day next month, but really I could not be the mother I am without him by my side. He helps me remember what is most important on days that I try and do too much or days that I try and do anything at all and cannot get a single thing done because I have a little munchgin reaching her arms up to me and whining while I am trying to do things of no eternal importance. He reminds me that the other things can wait and lets me know how unimportant it is to him if the house is in perfect order and dinner is made, but that my number one job is to take care of and just love our girl. That job can be overwhelming at times, but I sure do love it and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

We have had a busy and fun weekend. Friday afternoon Taylor took Sage on a date for ice-cream and to the park while I went to the gym. After putting her to bed Taylor and I went on our own date. We were going to go to a drive-in movie to see Mirror Mirror, but decided save that for another date. Instead we went to dinner at Paradise Bakery and then went ice-skating. We also drove around and looked at some homes and decided that there are some nice homes in the Salt Lake area. Since the night was still young we walked around and looked at books at Barns and Noble. On the way home we stopped by Target and walked around and had some good laughs. It was such a nice evening. I really did marry my best friend. Today we went to the temple for the sealing of Taylor's good friend Garett and his now bride Angie. I love going to sealings. We have been fortunate enough to attend two in the past couple weeks. It really puts life into perspective. Afterwards we went to a birthday party for one of our favorite little men, Cole. We all came home and took a little nap and then barbecued for dinner and watched an episode of The Biggest Loser. This evening Taylor has been reading and I have been working on our family journal/ photo book. 

Folded arms

The gospel is a great blessing in our lives. If there is just one thing we can teach our children in this life, it is to love their Savior by helping them gain their own testimony of the Gospel. Sage folds her arms when we pray. They do not always stay folded, but she folds them. This is not something we taught her. One day she just did it. She saw us fold our arms and so she folded hers. It is a powerful testimony of the power of example. I know she is watching and soaking everything in- the good and the bad.  Being a parent makes me want to be better and do better.