Temple Trip #10 - Oquirrh Mountain Temple - July 25

After celebrating birthday bashes with both families the icing on the cake was a trip to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House.  This was Parker's second attempt at seeing the inside of the temple but apparently he chose to "ponder" his way through this tour as well.  Having all of Melissa's family there made it nice, not to mention increasing the odds at getting more cookies at the end of the tour (this part Parker did wake up for though!).

After seeing the simple beauty that the temple has we walked outside where you could see two other temples in the valley (Draper & Jordan River).  Melissa's dad put it best when he said, "Brigham would have been proud".  Having now 4 temples in the Salt Lake Valley truly is a testimony of the strength of the Lord's kingdom here on earth.

Carter giving Parker a hug (After all this is his and Cali's temple)

As we drove home from the temple we discussed what we liked about this tour.  It was unanimous, we both left with a greater desire to come back more often and to re-dedicate our lives to serving in the Lord's kingdom.

The trip was made complete with a stop at Great Grandma and Grandpa's house in Spanish Fork where he showed off his walking skills.  

Total miles:  280

Temple Trip #9 - Mount Timpanogos Temple

There is no better way to celebrate an anniversary than to be in the sealing room with your eternal spouse and that is where we found ourselves for our 5th year anniversary July 10, 2009.  With a baby sitter nearby (Scott & Janice), we were able to sneak away to the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

Upon our checking in to perform sealings we had an insightful conversation with a temple worker that went something like this:

Temple worker:  "How are you doing this day?"

Us:  We're doing good.

Temple worker:  "Of course you are you are in the temple"

Us:  "Well how do we STAY in the temple?"

Temple worker:  "You keep repenting" and then he followed up with this statement, "you know the temple is a place of sanctification!?"

After performing some sealings and spending some peaceful time in the celestial room reflecting on our 5 years we returned to rescue Parker from his baby sitters.  Finding all well and not believing our luck at their willingness to watch him longer we ventured to Pizza Factory for a nice dinner.

The night was topped off with a game of Bocce ball in Scott's backyard and a trip home kept awake by singing along to some sappy love songs.

Total miles: 236  "lovely" miles

Highlights:  

Pre temple Cafe Rio Trip

Post Temple Pizza Factory

Bocce ball at Scott's 

Reading book on the way up

Sing along on the way home

Game of "coins while waiting for dinner