Feels like Home!

Being back to the Manti Temple was a wonderful experience.  As we entered on Saturday, September 18, it felt like coming back home again.  I love Manti for that reason.  We were able to load up the car with Heather and Tommy Eden, their kids, and of course our little Parker.  We first headed to Price to drop off Parker with Grandma and Grandpa, then on to Mt. Pleasant to drop off the Eden kids to their grandparents house.  It was worth going the extra few miles so we could have them watch the kids.  

We pulled into Manti and just the site of the Temple makes me happy.  It was such an amazing spirit as we went through the session with the Eden's.  I was so overjoyed to be sitting by Heather and know that we were in the right place.  It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget! The temple is such a sanctuary and a privilege to have one so close to be able to experience a little piece of heaven on earth!

Tara's Temple Trip

On August 15 my dear friend, Tara Sullivan, entered the House of the Lord in St. George, UT to receive her own endowment.  I love this girl and was so ecstatic to hear of the news.  I wouldn't have missed this session for the world.  She is one amazing sister and I love her.  She is so true and faithful and has made it top priority to be back to church and serve!  It was a gorgeous day and so amazing to see her in white.  I love the purity and equality of the temple.  We are all children of our loving Father in Heaven!  Each time I attend I am reminded of the worth of our souls in His sight and I want to strive to be with Him and my family and friends forever!

Temple Trip #12 - Oqirrih Mountain Temple Dedication

What do you do on a rainy August Sunday?  If you are Dr. Seuss you invite The Cat in the Hat to play.  If you are a baseball fan, you sit in a rain delay.  But if there is a temple dedication with all of Utah invited you put on your Sunday best and make a trip to the dedication.

And so it was today.  There was no rain delay and there was no cat in the house to play.  The gloom of rain hovered most of the day but didn't dampen the spirit of this sacred occasion.  Our friends the Eden's brought their kids over in the morning so that they could go to the dedication.  Parker was in heaven as he colored and ate graham  crackers with them.  The favor was returned as we participated in the afternoon and final dedication in the church house in Orangeville.

The dedication was uplifting and enlightening as Sister Allred, Elders Zwick and Ballard, as well as President Monson each addressed us.  President Eyring's reading of the dedicatory prayer sealed the session as Elder Ballard led us in the hosanna shout.  Coming out of the building and out into a drizzle of rain reminded us of many valuable lessons that the gospel and rain bring.  

1.  A sense of freshness and a new beginning

2.  Heaven's open with bounteous blessings

3.  There is always a refuge from the storm

4. The Lord is the source of all blessings 

Fittingly as we drove home we saw in the distance a rainbow, another reminder of God's love for His children.  And so it was that on this rainy Sunday the heavens were opened in many wonderful ways.  

Why Temples???

Why temples?  Need we say more?

Attending Mia's blessing was just another reminder of the importance of temples and covenants in our lives.  Thanks Mia for the reminder!

Temple Trip #11 - Vernal Utah Temple - July 31

As a seminary teacher it is our hope that all of our students have their eyes fixed on the temple and achieve that goal.  It isn't always possible to know the outcome of all of our students but know and trust that they are in good hands.

So what happens when one is able to see their students go to the temple?  Well this trip was one of those experiences.  While Melissa was a senior at Carbon High School she had a seminary teacher that influenced her greatly by teaching her the the power of the atonement.  

Brother Walton's influence continues as he teaches in the same area as us in Vernal.  So, while on our way to Green River, WY to attend Mia's baby blessing, we stopped and visited the Walton's.  We went to dinner to a Chinese restaurant followed by a sealing session with the Walton's in the Vernal temple.  On our way home to rescue the baby-sitter's from Parker's madness  we picked up some yogurt from Maverick.  By the time we got home it had become soup.  This was the least we could do for the brave baby sitters Rachel and Emily.  They had discovered that the "only thing" that worked for Parker was a ride in the stroller.  The night was topped off as Brother Walton and Melissa reminisced of their seminary days in Price as he pulled out old photographs.

We are grateful for those that have an influence in our lives and point us to the temple, and then pay them back by finding ourselves there (ironically we are the one's that are rewarded!).

Total Miles:  286 Temple Miles

504 Round Trip Miles

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