For my mom...

A year ago today I was asked to give a talk in church about my mom. That was the easiest talk I've ever written in my entire life...seriously!! I decided to talk about not only my mom, but the other amazing women in my family who helped my mom become so amazing. I talked about my Grandmother, Marlene Larkin, as well as my 

Great-Grandmother Leona Kemper.

It was very emotional writing this talk because I have a very soft spot in my heart for these 3 women. I was able to spend just a short time with My Great-Grandmother because she died when I was about 6 I think, but her example has stuck with me. 

Here's some stuff from my talk about her: 

"What I do remember though, is hearing stories all throughout my life of the many trials she had to overcome. Some of these trials included her home being struck my lightening, then burning to the ground just after the repairs from the lightening strike were complete, losing a set of twins to premature childbirth, and then a few years later losing her husband in an automobile accident."

Even though she experienced all of these trials, she never let it stop her from pressing forward. She taught her children the value of an education, hard work, 

and what it means to be a family.

She was such an amazing women, its no wonder her daughter, 

My Grandmother, is equally special.

"My Mom’s mom, we’ll call her Grandma Larkin, was truly supermom. My mom is 1 of 7 kids. I just have to share with you the years that the children in her family were born, it blew me away. My grandma gave birth to her first child in 1957, and then continued to also have children in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1967. And to make things even more stressful, my grandpa was called to be the bishop in their ward in Napa, California when my Grandma was expecting that last child. She had to corral 7 kids all under the age of ten all by herself."

Grandma Larkin was the perfect example of perfection. She was patient, loving, kind, and very hard working. She taught the things her mother taught her. My mom learned the value of hard work, how to serve the family as well as others, and how to faithfully 

serve in church callings.

"Although I only got to be with my grandparents for short while, I’ve been blessed with a truly amazing mother who has been teaching me all my life the same things her parents taught her. She’s done the usual things like teach me how to cook and clean which I am grateful for, but I’m mostly grateful for the things she has taught that I’ll be able to share with my kids someday. She’s such a good example of patience, and I know she learned that from her mom. She’s an amazing cook, which she learned from her mom. She can sew pretty much anything, which I know she learned from her mom, who learned it from her mom. I’m grateful that I’ve been taught those same things that will help me SO much when I become a mother someday. "

Lets hope my sisters and I can carry on the amazing legacy of the women in our family. 

I love you Mom!

Happy Mothers Day!