A Walk Down Memory Lane - Going to the Temple

I've been thinking lately about what is important to me in my life. These pictures represent one of the single most important days in my life. Doug and I were sealed to each other in the Salt Lake Temple on November 25, 2003. As you can see, we also had Paige sealed to us. She was 4 months old. There are several things etched in my memory from that day. My dad was able to be there. Doug and I were seated in the endowment room before everyone else so we got to watch my parents, Doug's mom, my sisters and a brother-in-law all walk down the aisle to be seated near us. I remember sitting in the Celestial room with Doug and feeling close to him in that beautiful room. I loved having our family with us in a small ceremony. I will never forget that special day in my life. I was worried about Paige because she would be in the temple nursery for 2 hours and didn't take a bottle or do well with strangers. I was worried for her comfort. Luckily I was able to get her to sleep before we did the endowment session. She slept until it was time to put on her white dress and meet us in the sealing room. We could hear her coming as Doug and I were being sealed. Apparently when she woke from her nap she wasn't happy with the kind women caring for her. She wouldn't take a bottle and screamed all the way up the elevator and into the sealing room. I picked her up to comfort her and she wouldn't be comforted. Delores (Doug's mom) held her and put her hand on ours as we were sealed for time and all eternity. I don't remember a word that was said because Paige screamed the entire time. We hugged our family and then rushed Paige downstairs to the nursery where I calmed her down. Now THAT is quite the memory. Here she is with her precious daddy - she's a daddy's girl.

I am grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life. It was a wonderful experience to welcome Preston into our family knowing he was born in the covenant and would be our precious son for all eternity. I love my family, which includes Doug and my children as well as extended family, with all my heart and I want to be with them forever. I love going to the House of the Lord regularly and living in an area where this is possible. I know I am watched over and protected when I keep the covenants I've made there. I am happy to serve my ancestors by performing ordinances in their behalf and I feel them near me as I serve them. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of the gospel of Jesus Christ and for my membership in his Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have lived contrary to its teachings in my lifetime and through repentance and the gift of the atonement I have found not only greater happiness and joy, but true happiness and joy. I'm not saying my life is easy or without sorrow, but I know that through Christ I am able to bear my burdens and find happiness despite sorrow and adversity. And one day Doug and I (along with our family) will receive an eternal reward for our efforts.