Anniversaries

This time of year is always an interesting one. Devin and I celebrate our wedding anniversary just one day after we remember Chris and the anniversary of his death. These two events have caused me to think this week about how much I appreciate and love the blessings that are available in the temple. I sometimes share my thoughts and testimony here, but not that often. I don't intentionally not share, but my beliefs and religion are a big part of my life, so I feel that I should bear testimony of things that I feel and know more often. During one of our lessons in church this past Sunday, I just felt a strong spirit and a comfort come to me as I thought about the loss of Chris and others in our lives. The reason I feel this comfort is because I know that families can be together eternally, beyond this life. I really can't imagine recovering from the losses that our family has experienced without the knowledge I have that the sealing covenant is available and that we have access to it. I know that saying that I know this is a strong statement, because some people may feel that they need to see physical proof in order to know something. I don't have physical proof, but I do know that I have had the Holy Ghost powerfully witness to me many times that the temple is the way to access these, and many more blessings.

I have had a love and reverence for the temple long before I entered it. When I went through the temple for the first time, I didn't understand everything (still don't), but I felt such a peace and love there. I wish I could explain the feeling there, but I can't. I often don't want to leave and come back to the real world after I have spent time in the temple. I know that there are so many wonderful blessings available  in the temple, with the sealing being the pinnacle. I am blessed to be able to be sealed to Devin and to know that our relationship is not just "until death do you part." We can be together eternally, along with our children, once we leave this life. I can't think of anything more beautiful. This is what makes the loss of Chris, and Linda, and Charlie, and my grandfather, and the others, bearable.

I love the temple. Seriously, no place on earth is more beautiful to me.

Just a few of the beautiful temples that mean a little something to me.

The Idaho Falls temple- where Devin and I were married. 

The Salt Lake Temple. I just love it. Lots of wonderful experiences here (including the 2nd session I ever did--it was a deaf session- all in sign language! Ask me about that sometime if you want to know how that went!)

The Oakland Temple- where my brother Mikey and his amazing wife Lara were married. They were married just days after my grandfather's death and I remember distinctly feeling his presence at their wedding. 

Not completed yet- but the soon-to-be Provo City Center Temple. This will be our new Temple when it is complete (if we still live here!) So excited for this one as it is being built from the old Provo Tabernacle that was burned in a fire a few years ago. 

The Guayaquil Ecuador Temple. I am sure I have spoken of this temple before on my blog. In  a time of desperation and feeling completely out-of-control, this is where Flor and I went for a short time after we got her visa to come back to the US. Just being on the grounds of the temple for a short time brought me immense comfort. It was like being at home in a land far away from home. 

The Provo Temple. Our current Temple and one that I used to think was just not as beautiful as many of the others, but one that I have come to love deeply. I think it is beautiful now, especially set up against the mountains. This is where Flor was sealed to our family- a day I will never forget as it was one of the most sacred of my life.

The Jordan River temple- where I received my endowment.

Pictures to come of Devin and I's golf date for our 6th Anniversary. Just you wait...they are pretty great (and by great, I mean they show our really amazing golf skills. Ha.Ha.)

P.S. For the Relay for Life this year, my amazing sister has put together another FANTASTIC raffle- this time the grand prize is a $300 gift card to Amazon. Who doesn't want to win that?! All proceeds from the raffle go to the American Cancer Society. Please consider donating. And, if you do, be sure to put it under my name so that it counts toward my fundraising goal. THANK YOU!! Hope you win! :)
http://www.relayforliferaffle.blogspot.com/2013/04/raffle-time.html