Tayson's First Temple Trip

Todd and I took Tayson to the Provo Temple to do baptisms.  We went Friday while my mom and dad were working in the baptistry.  Since BYU is out the temple was empty and we got to spend lots of time with my parents.  Tays did family names which I think always makes the experience sweeter. It was so amazing to take my son to the temple.  He is so grown up! 

I was talking to my dad about when I was 12 and how different my youth was with going to the temple.  The closest temple to us when I was 12 was Washington DC.  Then the Chicago Temple was built (1985) and my first temple trip was when I was 14 and our youth went to the Chicago Temple.  It was a weekend trip and we did museums and the temple.  I only went to the temple a few times until I came out to BYU. 

Eternal Families

Last night my parents wanted to kick off the 50 year anniversary celebration at the temple doing sealings.  Talk about the perfect way to celebrate eternal marriage!  I love my parents and the example they are to me.  Next part of the party will be in Cancun. Ah yeah.

Moroni and the Mayor

I am lucky to work right next to where the new Provo City Center Temple is being built.  It was so sad to watch the Tabernacle burn down but has been so amazing to watch it become a temple.  Because I work at Nu Skin we got front row seats to see Moroni being placed on top.  Kami dropped off Sophie and Glen after school too.  

Provo's mayor John Curtis was watching from the Nu Skin building where we were so when he came over to say hello I introduced Sophie to him.  I told her how he was the one who was responsible for our new rec center and getting us Google fiber.  Then they had a lengthy conversation about the band-aid on his thumb and how he got it and did it bleed and she showed him her injured finger nail.  It was hilarious.  He's a great mayor and an even better person.  When Sophie got home she told the other kids all about meeting the mayor - but forgot to mention she got to watch Moroni get placed on top of the temple.

I love being greeted by Moroni every morning as I walk into work....and I find myself singing "High on the Mountain Top" almost every day :)

Grandma's Temple Work

Most of us who were there but not all of us

What an amazing day. My mom got permission from the First Presidency to do my Grandma Giboney's temple work a few weeks early so we could do it over Thanksgiving.  George baptized Kenadi, then Brandon confirmed Emma.  Then I got to be the proxy for the initiatory and my mom officiated.  What an incredible experience for me.  Sherry did the endowment then we headed over to do the sealings.  The spirit was so strong in the sealing room and my mom was glowing.  It was so amazing being in the room with my parents, Todd and 8 of my 9 siblings. I am so grateful for eternal families!!  All during the sealing I could feel my grandpa so strong.  He and my grandma were so in love until the day he died and he waited a long time for this day to come.  I kept thinking about how proud he always was of his grandkids and his posterity.  I could hear his voice talking about his beautiful family while the sealer was talking to us.  My mom and aunt Danna were also sealed to their parents - seeing my mom's chain completed was so special to me.  I know how much this meant to her and I am so grateful for my testimony and that I was able to be a part of it. 

Manti Temple Girls Trip

Traci's parents are the temple president and matron at the Manti Temple and they only have a few months left so she organized a day trip.  What an amazing day it was.  We got special attention because Traci is a rockstar there being the "president's daughter".  After our session we got to go around the Temple with her mom and her dad spoke to us for a few minutes.  I was so touched by the things he taught us.  He talked a lot about how the Temple is symbolic and how often is it referenced in the scriptures. He taught us about our garments and how sacred they are and her mom talked about the creation and that God gave us this beautiful world and everything around us should remind us how much he loves us.  I am so glad I could arrange my schedule to spend a day doing something so great with girls who I love and admire.

Waiting at the Temple

While we were waiting for Timmy and Megan to come out of the Temple Todd took lots of fun and crazy pictures.  These are a few I liked.

And the very best picture....I love how happy they both are!!

 

Families are Forever

What an amazing day to be at the Temple all together.  All 10 kids with all of our spouses and my parents in the sealing room at the same time.  This means so much to me.  I am so grateful for my testimony that I  know that Families are Forever!  I am so grateful to be part of my family and for the strength that they give me. I pray that someday I will have the same experience with all 4 of my kids in the temple. 

Grandpa Pearson's Temple Work

We had the opportunity to do Grandpa Pearson's temple work this month. Todd did the baptism &  confirmation one day.  Then he and I went to the Provo Temple to do the initiatory and endowment.  Then when we were all in California we went to the Newport Temple for his sealings.  He was sealed to his parents, then to Grandma then Jan was sealed to both of them.  It was such an amazing experience to be a part of.  The spirit was so strong.  I am so grateful for my testimony of eternal families.

Friday Night Date

This picture is freaky. The shadows were crazy and you can't see us. We only had Todd's phone to take a picture for today so this is how it turned out.

We had a great time going to the Temple to do sealings with the family then to Training Table for some dinner.

Draper Temple

Yesterday we took the kids to the Draper Temple open house. I was so excited for a wonderful family event and a chance to teach my kids about temples and feeling the spirit. The temple was gorgeous and I loved feeling the spirit there. However, here is what my kids got out of the trip.

• Every time we went into a new room or hall the boys would say "1...2...3...4" as they pointed to pictures of Christ on the walls then they were keeping track of who could find the most pictures of him.
  
• As we walked by the baptismal font Luke said "mom it's a pool. Can I get in?" So I explained that it is where we do baptisms and they both said they wanted to get baptized in the temple. So I told them we don't get baptized there unless we're doing temple work. That didn't go over very well. We'll deal with this when they get older.
• In the sealing room they were talking about eternal families and I whispered to Claire that her daddy and I got married in a room just like that and she said in a rather loud voice "mama I'm going to marry you here too"
• When we walked into the Celestial room I was asking Tayson if he could feel the spirit and that this was similar to Heaven and I over heard Luke say "Dad, look it's a big shiny rocket" about the chandelier.
  
• On the bus ride over they told us that there would be cookies at the end - so they whole time the kids kept asking if it was over yet and if we could have cookies.
• Then as we were leaving and they could see the temple from the bus Tayson said "Mom, why is Moroni holding a gun?"
  

It looks like we'll be having a few Family Home Evenings on the temple.

Flashback Friday

I thought I would flashback to the last time I went to Temple Square to see the lights. It was in 2002 right after Tayson was born. I remember it was freezing and we did a quick walk through, went in to see a concert in the Tabernacle and only stayed for a few minutes because Tayson was his normal crazy self. He might look adorable but he was the hardest baby!!!

My cute boys

Family Picture

Temple Square Lights

Last night for YW we took the youth to SLC to see the lights at Temple Square. We left at 6:00 and it took us FOREVER to find a place to park. It was really, really cold and there were about 100 other youth groups there last night so it was really crowded with a bunch of kids the same age. There were only 3 leaders so it was stressful trying to keep an eye on all the girls, and I had to drive in my car without another adult to talk to so I had to listen to crazy singing the whole time. But even with all that...it was fun and I do LOVE the lights at Temple Square.

Our Young Women's Group

The Youth Group