Wednesday, August 12, 2009

It's GREAT to be EIGHT!

My baby girl is eight!! How the heck did that happen!?
She turned 8 on 8/8...must be her lucky birthday! :) She was also baptized the same day. What a sweet, sweet day.
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Happy eight years, sweet girl. I can't believe how big you are!
I love you so much!!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

I love to see the temple...


I love to see the temple. I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, To listen and to pray.

When Rob and I visited Utah in June, I was just amazed by the mere sight of so many temples in one area. I loved it! It was an amazing sight to stand in one spot and to be able to see 3 temples. (Especially coming from a state with one temple) We were fortunate enough to get to go to the Salt Lake Temple and the Jordan River Temple, as well as the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. Each temple has it own distinct differences, but it's amazing to go and feel the same, wonderful spirit in each. And what a treat to get to sit in on a sealing ceremony. It happened to be the same week we celebrated our 9th anniversary, so it was extra sweet to remember our own special day, 9 years ago when knelt across the alter and were sealed for time and all eternity.

I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday.I'll cov'nant with my Father; I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I've learned this truth; A fam'ly is forever.


I especially find comfort in these words. A family is forever. As I have gotten older, that simple statement has come to mean more and more to me. But even as a child, I remember the power it had on me. Losing a sister when I was very young, I remember making promises that I WOULD do the right things so that I could see her again one day. And now, as I get older, with my Dad passing away, and my grandparents getting older, I find myself going back to that promise I made long ago. Because I need my family....FOREVER.

The Atlanta Temple, the closest temple to us, is now closed for about 18 months. This makes it much more difficult to go to the temple. Rob and I used to go on a weekday while the kids were in school, since he rarely has Saturdays off of work. Now with the closest temple 4ish hours away, it's not possible to go on a whim. And I miss it. I struggle with the idea of not knowing when we can go to a temple again.

The primary song "I love to see the temple" has long been one of my favorites. I remember singing it when I was young. And now, as I hear my own children singing it, I love it even more.
"For the temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young. This is my sacred duty."
While I can't find an immediate solution, maybe simply being prepared for any opportunity to go to the temple is what I'm supposed to do for now. Being able and willing to go when the opportunity arises. I am determined to do just that!