ten years of forever.

Golden doors at the Washington D.C. temple

Ten years ago during a dry summer in the year 2003, I was sealed for all time and eternity to an amazing man and two beautiful little girls in the Salt Lake Temple, and each year we celebrate our sealing anniversary by attending the temple to seal other families forever.

Sierra, and Lexie-Circa, Salt Lake City- 2003

We are no longer surrounded by the vast mountain area which houses at least 13 temples, but have always managed to celebrate this special day by attending one...even if it's two and a half hours away.

Ten years have past since entering the temple for the first time, and the memories will always be etched in my heart.

Sweaty hands, feelings of  excitement and a heart palpitating 100 miles an hour was a sure sign that I was at the right place at the right time. I knew that this is where i needed to be. I knew that this was it. This was the cream of the crop, and this is the place where I would be sealed to my family forever. To feel the presence of Heavenly Father, and to know that we can reign with Him and His Son forever.

I sensed silent angels clapping their heavenly hands throughout the temple as I was getting my endowments, and then again when we entered the sealing room. Endless mirrors surround the room as it was forever. And it is forever. 

Not "until death do you part."

Looking at our sealing picture reminds me of simplicity, love, beauty, innocence, and forever. Temples bring knowledge, gifts, answers, peace, tears of happiness, joy, confidence, and the will to do better as a person. 

The feeling that it brings permeates so strongly through the soul that you never want to lose sight, forget, or let go.

It's a feeling of appreciation, and gratitude to know that there is a place...even if it's just for a few hours to escape the "noise" of this world, and it is a beautiful world.

It is a responsibility. My responsibility to help those on the other side.

Sanity, patience, and a stronger faith is returned afterwards. Our bodies feel rejuvenated, put together, and we are a better judge of character for it. 

Ten, twenty, thirty years will fly by in the future, and with fervent prayer, hope, and faith those feelings of the temple will never change.

"The temple is a House of God... a place of love and beauty."

And the work will never grow weary.

How eternally grateful I am for this beautiful building we call the House of The Lord. 

Update: This story was also published on Deseret News, and you can see it here if you'd like. 

Temple Anniversary

Salt Lake Temple~ July 22, 2003

Today marks our eighth anniversary of being sealed in the temple as a family for all time and eternity. Every time I look at this photo it seems as if we were sealed yesterday. I look at both of my daughters in this photo and I can see the joy in their faces. Sierra was eight and Lexie was three.

Time flies when you're having fun. Although we had a civil marriage 17 years ago, being sealed in the temple required a lot of faith and commitment. I had a lot of issues I had to work through before entering, but by the grace of God and huge support from my ward in San Antonio, I was able to enter into the House of the Lord. It took me eleven years to get there, but it was worth the wait, and all the effort I put in on my behalf in order to accomplish that eternal goal was life changing. 

 I cry every time I look at this photo. My husband who was born and raised in the LDS church waited 11 years for me to get my act together so that we could be sealed to each other and to our children forever, and we did it! Look at his face...he looks like a little boy in a candy store!

 I took out my endowments in the Jordan River temple the day before my sealing in the Salt Lake Temple. Stacie and Susanna were the two sister missionaries that taught me the gospel discussions back in 1992, and I asked both of them to be my escorts. It's amazing how 19 years have passed and we still keep in touch!

 The Parrs, The Peterson's, Grandma Patsy, Aunt Jackie, Stacie, Susanna, and mom and dad (Jon's folks) were all present to join in on our special day.

It brings me great comfort, and joy to know that I am now an eternal family with everyone in this picture. Blood or not we are all family. I'm so grateful for the temple and to know that I am sealed to them forever. I know that if I continue to live the covenants I made inside the temple that we can all return back to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to live with them forever.

To listen to a beautiful & inspirational message, please...click here.

And an update: my story of our 10 year anniversary of being sealed in the temple was published in Deseret News. You can read that story here if you'd like!