Gila Valley Temple

Temples are a very important and sacred part of our faith. We refer to temples as the "House of the Lord". In temples we learn about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ. Recently a temple has been built in Eastern Arizona near Safford. When the temple is finished they have an open house where people of any age and faith may go inside and look at the temple. After the open house, the temple is dedicated and only faithful members of the church are allowed to enter.

Today was the dedication of the temple. All church meetings were cancelled so that we could attend. We took Hanna and Kamary with us to the church where they broadcasted the dedication live. It was a great experience.

Last week we had the opportunity to go to the open house. It's about 3 hours drive from here. Hanna actually went with a group of youth from the church and then we went together as a family. It was kind of funny because we didn't plan it, but we saw her all throughout the day. We kept going to the same places the youth group went. We even met up at the same grocery store on the way home.

The Gila Valley Temple

Brynlie's friends on the journey.

Friday night, Brynlie got sick and started throwing up. We were worried because we were planning on going to the temple open house. Jason and a neighbor gave her a priesthood blessing. She stopped throwing up after that and was well enough that we were able to go. We felt very blessed. We had other experiences too that could have stopped us from going, but we were determined and have been greatly blessed.

Here we are just after walking through the temple.

Kamary really enjoyed it. She quietly came up to me and thanked me for bringing her to the temple. She had a special feeling walking through the temple. Her favorite room was the Baptistry. Alyssa liked the Sealing Room and Hanna's was the Celestial Room. Kohler loved the lighting (which was funny to me). They gave us brochures and he kept matching the room we saw with the one on the brochure. A tour guide was walking with us and took Kohler under her wing, showing him all of the different rooms. It was very sweet.

After the open house we had some refreshments on the lawn of the church.

Dad and Brynlie hanging out.

Lauren with the temple in the background.

After visiting the temple, we took the kids to Golden Corral. We thought of Grandma & Grandpa the whole time!

After lunch we headed over to the childhood home of Spencer W. Kimball. He was the prophet of our church when I was a kid. A family actually lives in the home, but were nice enough to give tours. We arrived there just as Hanna's youth group was leaving. The kids really enjoyed walking through the home. Kamary even listened to the stories they told us about President Kimball.

In the picture above we are standing next to President Kimball's desk. They told us that after he had throat surgery he couldn't sleep so he sat at this desk and wrote a book.

This is the front of the home.

They made a lot of modern improvements to the home, but left some of the woodwork and brickwork so that we could see what it was like. There was a secret toy room in the loft-- the kids really enjoyed that!

Anyway, it was a great day and a great experience for us to have a new temple here in Arizona.

Happy Mothers Day

I heard a song on Pandora the other day that really touched me and I thought it was a perfect song for Mothers Day.

It's called "Who you are" by Hilary Weeks.

I tried to do my own slideshow with the song attached, but I'm not that technologically savvy.

So here are the words to the song, and I found a slideshow on youtube that had the song. I really have no idea who the people are, but I just added it so you could hear the song.

So this is dedicated to Mothers everywhere!!

Who You Are- by Hilary Weeks

I know you wonder if you'll ever have a day

When the kids stay calm, the laundry's done and the dishes are put away.

And sometimes you feel like your days are spent and gone

And the question running through your mind is "What I have gotten done?"

And when you finally have a moment to slow down at the end of your day,

I know Father would say,

"Believe in what you're doing. Believe in who you are.

And hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter of God.

Believe in who you're becoming. Believe in who you are."

It may seem simple, all the little things you do.

But the lives you touch matter so much and there's no one else like you.

And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful.

To be all that you can be, oh, if you could see what he sees,

You'd believe in what you're doing. And you'd believe in who you are.

So hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter of God.

Believe in who you're becoming. Believe in who you are.

When it's hard to believe in yourself and you feel like you're beginning to doubt,

Remember,

He believes in what you're doing. He believes in who you are.

So don't loose sight in the truth that you're a daughter of God.

That he believes in who you're becoming.

He believes in who you are.

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Yesterday was my birthday.

I have to say, I love facebook. In the past a lot of people forgot my birthday because it is on the first day of the month (at least that's what they tell me). But yesterday I logged into facebook and had tons of birthday wishes from my dear friends. I felt very loved.

I had to do some training for my new job and was gone for most of the day. It was kind of a bummer that I didn't have the whole day to do birthday fun, but I still had a good day. In between training sessions I was able to catch a movie. Life is very ironic. As a teenager I thought that going to a movie or really anywhere else by yourself meant that you were a major looser. But I have to say, I had no qualms about going all by myself!

In the evening we had a birthday dinner of chicken dippers, potato skins and spinach/artichoke dip. Then we had cake and ice cream.

Jason forgot about candles and so we just used what we had. I don't mind being 21 again!

It was a busy day, but a fun day too. The kids were very sweet. Hanna painted me a picture and Kamary made me breakfast, gave me a back rub and wrote a poem. Kohler gave me a kiss on the cheek and both Alyssa & Lauren gave me sweet hugs. Brynlie just smiled.

It was a great day.

Whenever my kids have a birthday, I spotlight them. So I thought I'd spotlight myself.

Favorite Food: Chinese

Favorite Dessert: Brownies with cherry pie filling & ice cream on top

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Song: This changes constantly, but right now it's "Why" by Rascal Flatts. I'm really on a Rascal Flatts kick right now.

Favorite Band: Right now, Rascal Flatts

Favorite Activity: Writing & Reading

Favorite Movie: Pride & Prejudice (but any Jane Austen is up there)

Favorite Book: Traitor by Sandra Gray

Favorite Scripture Story: Joseph in Egypt

If I had $1,000,000: I would be sensible and pay off my debt, then I would travel the world and reside in a beautiful victorian beach home. I would like to do some research on epilepsy and autism. Other things I'd like to do is pay off my in-laws mortgage, take my parents on a cruise, learn how to sail... maybe a million dollars isn't enough. :)

Goals: My biggest goal is to have a happy, eternal family and somehow raise my children to be happy well adjusted adults. The other less significant dreams and goals are: to be a published author, publish my songs and musical arrangements, and to see this beautiful world (I have a whole list of places that I want to see).