June 17, 2008

A couple of you asked for some details on our special day at the temple while we were in Utah. We decided that while we were out west, we'd go ahead and get sealed as a family. Last time we were in town Ryan and I decided we wanted to be sealed in the Mt Timpanogos Temple. When I lived in UT it was the temple in my district and I grew very fond of it, and for Ryan the outside of the temple attracted him. So we prepared. Ryan was ordained with the Melchizedek priesthood, then on the 7th of June went through the Atlanta temple and received his own endowment. His best friend Michael was his escort. We had friends from the ward there as well and it was a neat and different experience for Ryan. Then on the 17th of June, the day the temple re-opened, we were sealed. We had to push the time back because my brother John and his family were driving up all the way from St. George and their car overheated and they had to turn around to get a different car and then start all over again. Also, my best friend Andrea had a temple recommend debacle that you can read about here, and so it all worked out perfectly. Little did we know though that we needed Escorts when we got to the temple- luckily my family all walked in about the same time we were needing someone to come, and we quickly snatched John for Ryan and my mom for me. It was special to have my mommy there, she helped dress me and got to hold Ben during the ceremony and had a special experience there. Ben was wonderful during the ceremony- and didn't start crying until after it all ended. Having him there, on the alter with his hand on ours made the whole ordinance so tangible and real to me. Our precious boy was sealed to us and everything made sense. The cute sisters that watched him brought him in dressed in white and they looked so proud. They took him out as well, and we met them down at the nursery so we could all go out and take pictures in our white clothing. They were wonderful, and he was spoiled because he was the only child in the nursery!

My WONDERFUL sister in-law Samantha hosted an open house before hand for us and went to so much trouble to get tables and chairs and table cloths and lots of food. Our family took a good portion of the room, and I appreciate all the trouble she went to for us. She even bought a cake for Ryan's birthday the next day that we were all able to dig in to when we got home.

Shauna made it special for the kids and lit fireworks with them and they had a blast. The sparklers were a hit. I hope its a good memory for them.

It was a beautiful, wonderful day- and one we will never forget. We had such great love and support from our family and friends that were there to attend. And we are grateful to John & Claudia and the kids for travelling so far to be there with us. And I'm relieved we have sealed our little family together finally. It was as if we had put together a puzzle and waited for a while to put in that last piece. Our little puzzle is complete and it's so reassuring and comforting to know we will ALWAYS be together, FOREVER!