About two weeks before Trent passed away he was really struggling mentally. He was tired of being in pain and being frustrated by the seemingly endless setbacks he was experiencing. As we were talking he mentioned how much support I had been given through this blog. He was right. It has been a tremendous strength to me to read your comments of love and encouragement. However, because I am the author of the blog, it seemed to him that the comments were more for me than for him. I know that is not the case but he needed a little pep talk. I had been meaning to write this post then but the hectic events of those last days got in the way.
Now more than ever, I need to preserve his memory, especially for my little ones who may not have many memories to hang on to. Please share your memories of Trent if you knew him, or how he affected your life if you did not. It would mean so much to me and our children. They need to know what he was like at all stages of his life, not just what I can tell them.
Thank you for taking to the time to help preserve a memory.
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I did not know Trent, but through this blog have gotten to experience the true love of Christ. I have learned how selfless Trent was. It seems no matter how hard something was/is if you go in with the right attitude you can face anything, even when it seems impossible! This blog has made my family want to be better. We have taken a hard look at what is important to us, really important, and have taken steps to prioritize our lives and live in a way that our Heavenly Father would be proud! Thank you for being willing to share your darkest days to help others, your family has changed my life!
ReplyDeleteI did not know Trent personally. I started following your blog when a saw a benefit for him on the Cocoa Bean door and around the Rexburg area. I followed the blog almost daily until life got hectic. Today, for some reason I decided to read the obituaries in the Rexburg paper. I now know why. I have spent the last few hours reading about Trent's last day and the days after his passing. He is added to my list of people that I look to for support in my trials. What a fighter he was. Although Trent was scared many time he fought the fight with dignity. You blog is an example of trust, faith, and submitting to the will of God and accepting that will.
ReplyDeleteI remember standing near Tyler at church one day several months ago and we were talking to Trent. It seemed to have been a particularly hard day for him and it was evident that he was in a lot of pain. Tyler asked him how he was doing and Trent replied without hesitation: "I cannot complain. God is good and life is beatiful." I will never forget the beauty that shone from his face in that moment. I realized that his statement was, in no way forced. He had a testimony, a personal, private testimony of God and it came through to us in a powerful way as he expressed his gratitude.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite recent memories of Trent was when you guys were living in Providence and I had come down to run the Top of Utah marathon. Somehow, Trent managed to find me in the crowd of runners and drove alongside me for about 1/2 mile to cheer me on. He wanted to take pictures with his camera and I didn't have the heart to tell him if I stopped running to take pictures, I probably wouldn't start up again. (I still have those pictures; I'm so glad I stopped.) He flashed that big grin at me from through his truck window and pumped his fist in the air as he cheered me on, telling me I looked great (although I looked like hell) and that I was almost there (although I still had eight miles to go). I think he even offered me a sip of whatever he was drinking and an air-conditioned ride to the finish line. It was just the distraction I needed at that moment and I've never been able to think about it ever since without laughing to myself. Trent was such a loveable kook.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with Trent out in good ole' Hibbard. We are actually cousins, and I remember playing at Trent's house a couple times as a kid. I remember Trent being kind and reserved....until either Troy or Trevor pushed all his buttons. In fairness, Trent did the "big brother" teasing to get even and they chase around in the basement. I also remember Trent going on his mission and thinking how cool it was that I actually "knew" a missionary. I looked up to him since he was the first cousin I immediately knew to serve a mission. He was a great example. Trent's example didn't start when he got sick, but refined and has now created a legacy of faith. Thank you Trent, and thank you Holly for sharing such tender mercies in this blog.
ReplyDeleteI had the joy of meeting Trent when your family moved to Nebraska so he could study Community & Regional Planning at UNL. I was an adjunct professor and I always enjoyed getting to know him, hearing about the birth of your youngest son. He was special and I always enjoyed my conversations with him. Blessings to you all, Julie Hendricks
ReplyDeleteI found out about Trent's story from my son who was participating in a Rexburg fundraiser. I found this blog and followed Trent's journey. He exemplified courage and faith despite every reason not to. I have been going through the process of getting a double-lung transplant. Several times while experiencing some difficult medical tests, I would remind myself "It Trent can do what he does, then I can certainly do this!" Trent's example has given me courage to face hard things in my life too. I am amazed at his strength. May Heavenly Father bless your family, Holly, with peace and strength. Thanks for sharing Trent with all of us.
ReplyDeleteI first met Trent just about a week after his family moved into Lincoln. I went with Bishop Teuscher and visited him and a couple of his kids. We got to work together closely after that in our capacity as clerks for our ward. He was always very helpful and was great at taking pictures of different families to update for the ward directory. He was also very funny, always joking around with me. One of my favorite memories of him was when we were all challenged at church one Sunday to give out a Book of Mormon to somebody we knew. We were asked if there were any volunteers to do it, and immediately Trent volunteered...ME to do it. So they gave me the book. He told me later that he was just joking about it and apologized, so he took a book too. But his "joke" was a great representation of his commitment to the gospel and it led to great results...because both he and myself were able to give out a Book of Mormon to our peers in our respective graduate programs within a few weeks after that. I will always be grateful that Trent was spiritually in-tune enough to play that "practical joke" on me.
ReplyDeleteMy impressions of Trent are mostly seen through watching his children and listening to his testimony on Sundays. As I am the lucky one to serve as a Primary president I get to conduct in primary. The Sunday after Trent's funeral I asked Mallory and Jarom if we could sing a song for them because in Primary we sing for everything. Mallory chose Nephi's Courage. This is a song the children know very well and sang the chorus with conviction, "I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands. I know the Lord provides a way. He wants me to obey." I felt that song witness to me and those children the same thing Trent testified about many times. He has exemplified unwavering faith and obedience to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Outside of church grounds He was no different. He loved his children fiercely. I remember attending a swim lesson for my daughters that Jarom, Mallory and Jonathan also went to. Trent was well enough to go that Saturday morning. I feel lucky to have chatted briefly with him and Holly. Because I was sitting behind him, I was drawn to observe him. He soaked up every "regular" moment of it. He asked Holly if she got pictures or video of this or that. He specifically watched Jonathan. And even from his spot on the balcony wanted to be involved in teaching his son appropriate behaviors. Few people have impacted my life and my testimony the way Trent has. He taught me about FAITH, FAMILY, and humble OBEDIENCE. I know he wouldn't accept the comparison quickly, but in my eyes, Trent showed the same courage as Nephi. Thanks for choosing that song, Mallory!
ReplyDeleteJennifer Delaney
As Megan and Zachary find themselves in the throws of teenagedom and all the rest will soon follow I would like them to know somewhat of the ways of their father in those same years. He was a friend to ALL. There were no "groups" in your fathers eyes. Everyone in his school was an equal. Your father never spoke ill of anyone. That is an amazing feat in any teenagers years! There were times that he would take two girls to a dance so that no one was left out. He loved his peers with a Christ like acceptance of them even as a very young boy. But when you become a teenager, when being a part of things is so important, Trent never left anyone out. They could look to him for a smile any day, any hour. Be that kind of teenager. There are many young people in your school who may not be blessed with all that you have been given. Share yourselves. Share your talents and gifts and use them to lift your peers. Your dad shared. He changed lives even in his youth. He would expect no less of you. That also goes for your brothers and sisters. Trent was a tease and drove his siblings a little crazy but at the end of the day he always had their back! They were tight and there was never much fighting. The motto in our family was "no fighting, no biting.". It's the title of a children's book and we lived by that code. Your dad was sensitive to all. Guys.....be that kind of teen and you will develop the same kind of love of people that he developed. You have within your soul the same attributes. Nurture them. Yeah for team Trent! You will rock the world....just as he did!
ReplyDeleteTrent is one of the most amazing men I have ever known. He cared so much for everyone around him. He loved life and wanted others to love it as much as he did. Trent made that apparent every time I was around him. Even a simple trip to the store, during which he would buy way too much candy, would turn into a discussion about how he wanted the whole family to take a trip together. Lately he wanted to take an extensive trip somewhere with all of us to a place where we could rent a series of cabins, or even stay together in a large resort. It really didn't matter where, he just wanted to go somewhere different, away from home and do something adventurous with the people he loved. To him it was about building memories, creating traditions, eating good food, laughing, playing, experiencing new things, and in the end to witness others loving his dream-turned reality.
ReplyDeleteTo say Trent was a devoted husband and father would be an understatement. I witnessed these traits, or at least paid closer attention to them while he was ill. Perhaps because it was much more noticeable when he would go out of his way to hold the door for Holly, or insist on family time when most people in his position would be focused on themselves.
For Christmas he gave me a gift. It was a jacket that he found at the gift store in one of the hospitals where he was receiving treatment. During the time he was supposed to be getting well, he was thinking about a gift for me. When I opened it, he apologized that it wasn’t a nicer gift. In truth, I was deeply moved. I didn’t tell him that at the time, but I wish I had. That jacket will forever remain one of my most prized possessions.
This type of selflessness was also very apparent as he became very active in events that promoted cancer awareness. He even made me feel a little guilty as a cancer survivor that I was not more involved and yet he was still very sick and still made every effort to show others that cancer was beatable. He knew it and wanted others to catch the same spirit. It is no wonder they did just that after spending a little time with Trent.
There is so much I could say about Trent as a friend and as a brother-in-law, but I think the highest praise I could give is to say that Trent was a true disciple of Christ. He wanted the best for everyone, no matter how he felt. He wanted to see people happy, despite his pain and anguish. He wanted to serve others, despite his weakness. He displayed these attributes at all times, without hesitation or apology.
One thing is certain, Trent has inspired me to improve, to find joy in the joy of others, to become more selfless and most importantly, to become a better husband and father.
Just like one of his favorite phrases, Trent was and is "CRAZY GOOD!"
The first time I met Trent, I was immediately impressed by him. It was when your family lived in Providence and Matt and I were just starting to date. I believe you were sick in the bedroom pregnant with Johnny. I was nervous, awkward, quiet, and he welcomed me into your home with such warmth and brightness I was immediately at ease. I remember watching him bounce to and fro in the kitchen, smiling and chatting without missing a beat. I remember thinking, "What a great guy!" I could tell right away that he was amazing. I also remember the food that he prepared was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe minute Matt and I got into Matt's car after our visit, I turned to Matt and said, "Trent is soooo nice!" Matt nodded his head, smiled, and replied, "He really is just the nicest guy." I never thought differently of him, he was always so genuinely kind.
I remember when your family came to California and we all had dinner together. I loved our in depth conversations about Disneyland and how Sea World didn't quite impress him. He was so positive, so outgoing, so fun loving, and there was a distinct light beaming around him. It was so sweet to see your family enjoying a family vacation, you deserved it more than anyone! It was apparent how selfless Trent was. He was trying so hard to provide a fun experience filled with wonderful memories for your family. I will never forget how strong Trent looked during that trip.
Trent has changed our lives! We are striving for that same light that Trent always gave off. Love you guys!