Eternal Joy

I don't know if words can adequately express the incredible experience we had last weekend, but because I don't want to ever forget the moments we experienced I will try to write a few words that will help us remember the weekend.

I felt extremely blessed the few weeks prior for the promptings of the spirit that helped us prepare. We were able to have a few family discussions about the events we were going to participate in. I felt a peace and love in our home and appreciated that our children love our Savior. I was so grateful for their worthiness to participate and witness the sacred ordinances we would partake.

Sheldon and I were able to prepare our home physically so that there would be order rather than chaos throughout the weekend. Sheldon had kept things picked up and put away, which gave me time to shop, prepare meals, bedrooms, and clean before family came and the events began. I will ever be grateful for how clear things were in my mind that I needed to accomplish, how simple the tasks were to do, and the energy I had while I was doing them. Not only were we touched and helped by the Spirit, but numerous friends/sisters offered help which I was so grateful for. I felt the incredible love of our Savior over and over as I'd receive phone calls asking how each could help or just offering items that helped lift many burdens from me. I was also overwhelmed with love for a bishop and high councilman who helped prepare Christiana in a two week period meeting with her to teach her and prepare her to receive her endowment.

Friday night we were able to go with Christiana as she received her endowment. Sis. Montague was her attendant and she took great care of her. It is so incredibly tender to have an attendant that is there for your every need, and she was. I was so touched as we met with Sis. Ballard and she gave us instruction. She was so concerned and loving to Christiana, teaching her, learning about her, and inspiring her to return often. Then as we walked into the chapel, filled with many people we loved who were there to support us, tears came to my eyes again as I felt the incredible love of my Father in Heaven and Savior, who had made this opportunity available not only for Christiana but for me. As we attended the endowment, I was made aware of how much I have learned, but also how much more I have to learn. I wanted to continually lean over and say "this is really important", but I didn't need to Christiana was taking in what she was ready to learn and she will have a lifetime to learn the rest. As we gathered after with family and friends again in the celestial room the love that I felt was sacred and overwhelming. It was so tender and I knew that my Heavenly Father knew not only me, but all those that were there and supporting us.

Sheldon had arranged with my dad to have a simple Family Home Evening once we arrived home. The kids were tired, but cooperative. He simply explained what would happen on Saturday morning, he talked of our Heavenly Father's plan and how celestial glory was obtained as families. We read from D&C 84 and talked of the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant, and we partake of these covenants as families. We talked about D&C 132, and we also read Exodus 28 about the robes of the priesthood. Then Sheldon gave Sarah a Father’s Blessing, that was very powerful

Saturday morning everyone was up and ready to leave, no problems, just simply ready. We arrived at the temple and the kids were taken downstairs (the temple was a little confused at first and took them to the baptistery and started getting them dressed for baptisms for the dead, but eventually they realized they needed to go to the children's room and they were dressed there. Vicki Deaver met me there and after we met with the recorder Sheldon and I went to get ready. Vicki had my mom and Christiana go upstairs, then she sweetly realized that we should have my mom place my robes. It was a tender moment that I will always cherish. Then Sheldon and I met in the waiting room. We had over a half hour before the sealing and we just sat and pondered. It helps prepare me so well to not be rushed or worried, but to take a moment to ponder the sacred ordinance we were being blessed to participate in.


Vicki came and got us at 8:00 as we walked to the sealing room she said, "You are going to be so touched as you walk in". She was so right -- I wasn't expecting to see what was waiting for us as we entered the sealing room. I have witnessed numerous children sealings, but have never witnessed what I witnessed that day. As we entered the room was filled with many friends and family, but the moment that overwhelmed me was as I entered all of our children were there waiting for us. Sarah was seated next to where I would sit, and the other five were positioned sitting in the front row ready to witness the sealing. It was amazing and I didn't know if after that moment I could feel any more joy, but yet I did. My dad talked to us for a few moments about God's love, the Saviors love for us. How our Savior knelt to take upon Him the sins of the world so we could kneel and take upon us the blessings of eternity. He reminded us that the feelings we felt were the love of our Savior and to focus on that. Then we came to the alter and knelt. As the simple amazing ceremony was performed I felt as if my heart would burst with overwhelming love. During the middle of the sealing such an incredible, amazing, overwhelming sense of joy entered my heart, something that is indescribable in words. Then it was complete, and we went and stood in front of the mirrors and all of our children gathered with us in front of the mirrors and witnessed the most amazing gift our Father In Heaven has made possible for us -- Eternal Families. As I took a mental image of what I was witnessing -- I still am overwhelmed with the love and spirit we were able to partake of that day. Thank you to all who made it possible especially my Savior.


I will stop there for now, The weekend continued to be incredibly sweet, but hopefully pictures will capture just a small portion of the sweet moment we were able to participate in.

 

Graduation/College = Ends/Beginnings

As I just returned from taking Sarah to school at BYU-I I realized this year is a year of ends and beginnings, but probably most are, but for some reason these seem real significant and real to me at this point.  For some reason, I didn't get the camera out for either Meagan or Sarah as I was dropping them off.  I'm not sure why -- maybe a little "mental" block, maybe I'm just not good at remembering that camera anymore, but I have some sweet mental pictures that I am grateful for.  These pictures show some significant ends.  This one on the left is a picture with both Meagan and Sarah on the stand at graduation of Centennial High School.  Sarah is in

 the front row on the left, she read a part of the  program, because she was the  Senior Class Secretary, this year, Meagan is in the second row on the right, because she is one of the valedictorian's and will give an amazing speech later in the program.  (One her grandpa helped her write).  These pictures signify the END of high school for two of my children.  Wow, that makes three now that have graduated, and chosen to go to college.  It is kind of odd that I've prayed and hoped that my kids would make the choice to go to college, but as I dropped them off something ironic happens and my heart hurts and jumps all in the same moment, and emotions I can't control  overcome me.  Gratitude, excitement, saddness, worries, and thank goodness peace, but that doesn't mean tears don't stain my cheeks as I reflect on these moments.  It has seemed to be a year of tears. 

Meagan, Starlee, Alex, Sarah, Daryn, Sarah (Friends - Great Friends)

Coincendentally, It was a night of beginnings for us too.  After we returned home from graduation, Corey Sharpe asked Sheldon for Christiana's hand in marriage.  WOW!!!!                                                   

 Although it is some ends, I'm grateful it will never be the end of our family, or the friendships that we have made over the years.  How grateful I am for good friends who have shared in the joys and sorrows of my children.  But with ends come beginnings.  What a great joy to have a new beginning and get to go to incredible colleges, BYU and BYUI with amazing professors, undescribable devotionals, and new roommates.  I'm so thankful that Brianna and Meagan are rooming together.  Brianna is such an incredible niece and I'm honored that Meagan can be her roommate.  New beginnings of unpacking and being very overwhelmed by the whole "college/dormatory" process.  New roommates who we've never met, but are so kind and gracious and warm as we enter Meagan or Sarah's new dorm.  Meagan was definetly overwhelmed by the process as was Sarah, all that excitement is just sometimes a little to much, but within a day of me leaving, the joy of "college" was good. and adjustments have been made

 and they both know they can do this.

Sarah with her biological Dad and cousin Marco

I was so excited the day Elizabeth called me and asked if I would go with her and her mom to take her to BYU. Elizabeth started BYU in the summer so less than two weeks after graduation, we were on our way up to BYU.  I love this young women and am constantly amazed at her persistance and love for life.  It was quite an experience being in Utah with Elizabeth and her mom.  Elizabeth wanted to take her mom to Temple Square, which we did.  It was sweet to take pictures of them.  Again, a goodbye and hello.  As I prayed this year that Elizabeth would get into BYU, I appreciated her diligence and effort to make that happen also.  We miss her, but know she has a testimony and is growing spiritually through so many experiences.   It was good-bye to our Vegas friends who were Meagan's age.  Danica is off to Dixie and as just stated Elizabeth is going ot BYU.  So many of them will go right out on missions,  a few others to college, but these aren't permanent good-byes either.

 The end of Awards from High School for Meagan & Sarah.  Great job Girls

The end of Student Council for Meagan -- What a great opportunity Coach Collins gave her, and boy did she love being on E-Board her senior year -- many dreams fulfilled and great tender mercies from our Savior

End of Meagan's dress up days,  another great joy for her this year and boy did she take it to the extreme -- I'm hoping this will be the end of mid-night sewing projects for costume making

A Fun end to Senior Prom, but an end to "High School Dances for Meagan and Sarah".  We had a lot of fun preparing and getting ready for these dances. 

We'll never have and end to the joy and excitement a Father feels as his children are going through these ends and beginnings.  He (the father) takes it all a little different than I do.  Mostly joyful, but he will admit concern for them.  It's the sweet insight our Heavenly Father gives, I believe from his perspective

This also is the end of Elementary school years for me.  Sydnee is in 5th grade.  I think I'm in more shock over that than I was with graduation.  She is increidble and knows who she is -- A daugther of God.  She is beautiful, but I won't deny I really am not ready for this END, and would like it to drag on this year.