Monday, April 30, 2012

On March 8th, my amazing Grandma Edith Rowan passed away at the age of 92. We knew it was coming and we knew she was ready and are thankful that she can be reunited with her loved ones and is happy once again. I was very thankful for the fact that I am here in the states and got the call on Thursday morning that she had passed away and got in the car on Friday morning to drive to Utah. I took the kids and we enjoyed a beautiful weekend remembering her life and being with loved ones. I was blessed to give the eulogy at her funeral. If you have a moment you can read it here and then you to will know how amazing she is. I’m grateful that I get to tell you a little bit about my Grandma. I know that if everyone who has been touched by her love were able to be here today we wouldn’t have a building large enough to house everyone. But of course, many could not make the trip in time and still many more have already passed on and are celebrating with her there. When I was told that I would have the privilege of reading her obituary I felt like it was only right since I was her favorite. It wasn’t until I was reflecting on this during my long drive to Utah that I realized that everyone probably thinks this. It was one of her gifts to make you feel like are the most special person in the world. Her love for others was all encompassing and ran very deep. I have spent my life watching her love and serve everyone. She was always writing cards, sending candy, going on visits or inviting others in. My parents say she could take a meal meant for 4 people and turn into to one to serve 20. No one ever left grandma’s house hungry and you were always treated with a dish of ice cream. She was born November 7, 1919 in Provo, Utah to Edward William Payne and Lucy Alice Farr. She was the last surviving child in a large and loving family of 13 children. She married her sweetheart, Jerald (Jake) G. Rowan on August 19, 1940 in the Salt Lake Temple. I loved to hear her tell the stories of how they met when he stole her umbrella at that fateful church dance. Theirs was a love story of devotion and selfless service. They enjoyed 60 wonderful years together and I have so many memories of watching them walk arm in arm just so happy being together. My Grandma was active in the LDS church where she served as president and counselor in the ward Primary and Relief Society and in the Stake Relief Society. I remember in her later years she told me about how much she loved her calling of going in to the nursery every week to help the kids with their snack. There was never a time she wasn’t serving everyone around her. She loved music, especially the piano, and it was said that at the age of 3 she could play any tune she heard on the piano. She taught piano for 50 years; teaching her children, grandchildren, and countless other students how to love and cherish music. I know for me it is a gift that will last forever and I am now able to share it with my children as I teach them to play the piano. She loved flowers, especially roses, and spent so many hours sharing the beauties of the earth with us. Flowers always make me think of grandma and the way she would love and care for each one just the way she loved and cared for all of us. She was known for making candy (that the kids never got), and Mexican food. Her tostados are legendary in the family and she shared them often at ward and family parties. Most of all she loved her family and spending time with them. She leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love, as the Savior taught, and her kindness and smile will be greatly missed. She is survived by her four children: Lana and Roger Moon, So. Ogden, Utah; Jerry Rowan, Jr., Provo, Utah; Bill and Kay Rowan, Provo, Utah; and Jack and Robbi Rowan, Sandy, Utah; 27 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren. I am so grateful that we can be together today to celebrate today to celebrate her amazing life. I know that her examples of love, service and all that was good will continue to influence me forever. I will literally walk in her shoes in hopes that when I grow up I can be just like my Grandma.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Our Friend Shanda is in this movie that they made about First Descents. They even went out to her house to get footage of her darling little girls. It just won an award at the film festival where it was released. Hopefully can we watch the full video sometime. Check out the trailer: