A Girls Weekend in The City!

Once in a while we all need to have a little get away not only with our family, but with our girlsfriends too. Just the other day I was talking to a girlfriend of mine of how I wish we could have a girls getaway" and how it's been years since I've actually gone anywhere with a friend. We mentioned how time, and money can become a factor, and the fact that we just love our families so much, and feel that it's okay to stay home, and not do anything is really okay, but then we looked at each other and said, "but we still need a break!" And it's not because our families annoy us, or that we wish to be away from them, but to get away because we'll love, and appreciate them even more when we return, and to also keep our sanity as a mother, wife, and overall human being! 

This past weekend one of my dearest friends Maggie had texted me asking if I wanted to spend the weekend in NYC. Surprisingly enough I didn't jump on the opportunity only because it was so spontaneous. I know, here I am the supposedly spontaneous mom who will go anywhere at the drop of a hat, but hesitated at this opportunity! Well, after about ten minutes of thinking I texted her back saying yes! She also had me at temple too! We have gone to the temple many times before in Manhattan, but have never spent the entire weekend away from my family. I love that she was so willing to provide for me, and because I am moving out of South Jersey wanted to do something nice. I love the fact that we were able to get away from the things that can be weighing us down whether it's relocating to a new area, packing, and just...life! 

Attending the temple was the highlight of this trip. I hadn't gone since Sierra was here, and when we attempted to go a couple months ago it was closed! So going to the temple recently was something that my body, and soul really needed. I know how important it is to return frequently to the temple, and the blessings I receive from going are unimaginable! 

When you're in the city the day tends to go by so fast, and even though it was sprinkling drops of rain we walked around for a bit. I was craving a cookie from Levein bakery, but didn't really want to stand in line, (and believe me the line was super looooong) so I wasn't able to satisfy that craving. That's what we get for coming on a Saturday close to closing time! Guess I'll grab some next time I come! We had such a grand time even though it took us forever to find a hotel.  And, because it's the weekend we had to take what we can get so we ended up staying in this small rinky dink motel, but man oh man was it fun! Totally reminded me of our college days, and Maggie and i were laughing at all the cons that this motel offered! Too bad my snaps from that night are now erased, because they were pretty hilarious. As long as the room had a bed to sleep on was fine with me.  

Another highlight of the trip was going to church on Sunday, and can I tell you how humbling this ward was! It totally felt like the United Nations. I loved seeing so much diversity, and everyone was so welcoming! One thing I love about this church is that it's nationwide, and no matter where I go there is always going to be a church around where there will be brothers and sisters welcoming us with open arms. It was a wonderful weekend, and coming home to see my family brought such joy to my heart. No matter how much I love my family, I know that having a little getaway is refreshing, and doing just that this past weekend is a reminder to me that I need to do this more often! 

  

Don't worry, be happy.

There are days when I wake up and things aren't not going as planned, or the day isn't agreeing with me. Days when our children are hurting both physically, and emotionally. It pains me to see that I can't take away their physical pain, but with loving words the emotional hurt can go away. I look at all of our kids with awe wondering how they are surviving, and tolerating everything that they do. Church, school, activities, recitals, drama productions, friendship, breathing, and living.

I was talking to my husband the other night how back in my high school days I didn't pack my schedule with extra curricular activities. At all! The only thing I remember being involved in elementary school was U.I.L. Spelling, Picture memory, and trying out for the spelling bee competition in 5th grade.

I was in pep squad, safety patrol, and in the student council in middle school. I hardly remember doing anything with those activities except helping the cheerleaders cheer the mavericks at games, and wanting to be in the picture for student council because I had a good hair day.

In high school-oh good ol' high school how I really don't care too much about those years particularly because I didn't apply myself too well, and didn't graduate with honors, or at all! The only thing that kept me active was being in the Kings Ladies Drill team my sophomore year, and because my grades slipped that year I didn't bother trying out the following year, and that's where I messed up.

High school...that is for a later date to go into depth with writing.

Both of our older daughters have started out at a very young age being involved in so many activities, and have so much on their plate right now.

Honors classes, AP classes, jazz band, indoor band, All south Jersey Choir, piano lessons, violin lessons, Renaissance club, Teen pep, early morning seminary, church activities, temple trips, plays, chorale, making time for chores, and trying to squeeze in some time to have fun with their friends which is very rare. 

As much as I tell my girls to relax, slow down, and take a breath they think they are invincible. They want to be a change for the greater good, and for the most part they do succeed.

I believe that's good and all, but if I had their schedule back in my day I don't know how well I would have handled it...if at all! Luckily my girls are great multi-taskers, and have alligator skin. I don't know how they handle it, but I know it's gotta be tough.

I know that deep down inside the exhaustion can be so overwhelming that it can cause stress. Stress that is not good, and can make your body do weird things. I know the feelings of stress, and what pain it can cause. Not fun, and it hurts...literally!

I believe our girls know now to take a breath, meditate, and relax. They have seen how stress reacts to their body, and I tell them time and time again not to worry, because in the end it'll all work out. 

Having a foundation of God in the home does do miracles, and helps life become easier. I know that because I've experienced it. Not as a youth, but as a parent. I didn't have any type of foundation of God growing up, and things throughout a part of my youth were blah.

Luckily our kids have us as parents, a firm foundation of who the Lord is, and how He plays an important role in our life. They know that with blessings of faith, and prayer they can conquer anything. I also know that if they choose their friends wisely they will never have any problems with trouble. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is what helps them endure any kind of emotional or physical pain, and attending the temple on a regular basis gives us the strength not only as an individual, but as a family as well in coping with "worldly issues." 

I continue to pray for our children that they will always appreciate the love for The Lord as well as the scriptures, because their lives will be a lot easier when they seriously apply them every day in their lives. 

the ability to create the greatest gift.

Attending the temple with one of my long time dearest friends was the perfect 41st birthday gift and the icing on the cake. Most of us would rather attend the temple with our husbands instead of our girlfriends, but you know what...I needed this, we both did.

Sometimes we need that girl time. We need to reminisce of days of old as if it were a verbal journal to talk about how we started out as single rookies in an unfamiliar church to converting into compassionate, hard working loving moms.

I like to take pictures.

For the past two weeks I have been preparing for the arrival of one of my dear friend's from high school. She is someone that I have know since elementary school. Someone whom I've never had one altercation with throughout our 12 years of public school. Someone whom I haven't seen in a very long time, and I am so excited that she contacted me to let me know that she wants to visit me, and do something fun for her 40th birthday. She is someone who is brave enough to travel from Texas to New Jersey, and I am ecstatic!

"For time and all eternity", not..."until death do you part."

"Each holy temple stands as a symbol of our membership in the church, as a sign of our faith in life after death, and as a sacred step toward eternal glory for us and our families.

~Russel M. Nelson

I told myself at the beginning of March that I wasn't going to blog on Sunday's or have anything to do with the internet on the Sabbath, but I couldn't let this weekend end without blogging about the special day that I had yesterday. It was such an honor to not only have been a witness to this sister's sealing to her family, but to have been her escort at the temple as well, and it was an honor!

I also had the privilege of witnessing another family being sealed at the temple in D.C. for time and all eternity. As I heard the words that were being said to these two families from the sealer it reminded me of my own sealing, and the spirit was so strong. Listening to those words gives me more strength to continue to keep the covenants I made nine years ago in the holy temple. It also testifies to me that families can be together forever as long as we continue to live right by the Lord.

The look on their faces as they left from the temple will be etched in my mind forever. They all had a look of love, hope, and relief in knowing that they are all going to be together forever, and not separate when they pass on.

This day was so special, and it went by too quick. My daughter and I honestly never want to leave when we come here. The temple is so holy, so serene, so peaceful, so calm, so beautiful, so inspirational, so reverent, that you wish you could dwell inside all day.

The more I come here my mind is clearer. My heart is more full of love. I feel more at peace. I love my family more. I love my neighbors more. I have more patience with others. I have more compassion for others. I love my Heavenly Father more. I know that Jesus Christ hears my prayers as I enter in, and in return answer them on His own timetable. I also know that as I walk out of that building He is clapping his heavenly hands, and the spirit is whispering to me, "Thank you for giving the Lord equal time in coming here...thank you."

I know that He is pleased.

I pray for those of us who hold that special card, and know the significance of the temple will attend more often. It is our key to happiness. It it our key to escape all the stresses of the world. It is our key in strengthening our weaknesses.  It is our key in helping us find answers to our prayers. It is the key towards eternal happiness.

The Lord will bless us in preparing, and finding a way to get there if we really want to be there. It is my hope that we will put the mundane world aside, and come to this holy place to be spiritually uplifted. No matter how busy we are, I hope...I hope.

Watching this short sweet video brings joy to my soul, and a lot of tears too!

A very memorable saturday.

Sandra Turley, me and my daughter Sierra

I had the most amazing weekend ever with a triple dose of spiritual feed. I think I'm going to get some much needed shut eye for the rest of the week! I can't believe I have the energy to even blog at this hour (it's after midnight!) You'd think that with the time change, and losing one hour's sleep one wouldn't have driven to D.C. after waking up at 8am on a Saturday morning to attend a conference at church in which we received some spiritual enlightenment.

Well...my daughter and I did, and it was the best weekend ever.

After listening to some edifying classes taught by some wonderful sisters, the morning ended perfectly with songs sung by our special guest Sandra Turley. She is the most amazing person you'll ever meet. She is sweet, funny, cute, and has a fabulous Broadway voice. She played Cosette for Les Miserables in NYC for three years.

Besides her talent she brought with her the spirit of Christ, her love & her testimony of the Savior. Before she sang a song she would describe her feeling that came with it, and by singing and listening to the words behind each song she sang taught her something in which has benefited her life today. Sierra and I loved every minute of that morning, and our spirits were once again rejuvenated.

Leaving the church building gave me a spiritual boost and the energy to continue on with our day in driving to Washington D.C. to see award winning pianist Paul Cardall in concert.

Having three daughters play the piano was all the motivation I needed for the drive. Then again.. I really didn't have a choice when all my girls are constantly playing the piano. They were so excited to see, and hear him play.

I have to say that this was the most uplifting, and inspirational concert that I have ever experienced inside the visitors center. He was born with congenital heart failure, and lived long enough to find a donor. He plays the way he feels, and all of his songs have a meaning behind it. For those of you who don't know his story you can read a little bit about it here.

He is so down to earth, and we really enjoyed visiting with him and his wife, among some mutual friends who drove up from North Carolina to see him as well. We were the last ones to leave the visitor's center at 9:30. It was so nice to have seen him, and his lovely wife. His parents are serving a church mission at the visitors center as well, and it was very nice to have met them!

Our Saturday ended with a late dinner at Subway. Although the drive back home seemed longer... losing that extra hour of sleep, spending the morning with my eldest daughter, and spending the rest of the day with my girls to see Paul Cardall was all worth it. Especially when you see this beautiful building.

It is a reminder to me of how much my family means to me, and every time I come...I love my family even more. 

It'll be a girl's night out we'll always remember.

Inspirational thought

Boston, Massachusetts  temple

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of...throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. 

He intends to come and live in it Himself.

~C.S. Lewis

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! 

Downtown Boston & the Temple

On the last day of our spring break we made sure we put time in to attend the temple in Boston. We are a family that likes to have fun, but if there is a temple close by we make sure we make equal time for the Lord. My husband and I went on Friday evening and Sierra and her dad went on Saturday morning.

After Sierra and her dad attended the temple I asked her how it was. They combined together with a youth group from Vermont. Apparently the youth up here attend the temple regularly. Sierra had mentioned sitting next to a 13 year old girl and asked her how often they come. She said ONCE A MONTH. Sierra was impressed with the youth and the fact that they drive three hours to come once a month. Wow! 

No matter our circumstances, I know that Heavenly Father will allow us to get to the temple no matter what. We attend the Washington D.C. temple which is about two and a half hours away and the youth in our area don't attend as much as I would like, hence taking our family to the temple on our own when it is feasible. I know that it is important, especially in these days of living in a world where there is a lot for the youth to fight against. Attending the temple is our shield and strength to overcome all adversity and to be better. We attend the temple as much as we can, and as a family we leave feeling closer than ever before!

And the feeling to know that we have done service to those who have passed on...is worth driving any distance to any temple in the world!

Like I said before we are a family that likes to have fun.

On our last day of the break we also went downtown to Boston Commons where there is a lot of history and the freedom trail. We didn't get to walk the freedom trail because it was under construction, and blocked off. It seems as if they are building a monument or something. Hopefully it'll be complete next time we visit so that we can walk the trail. 

We had the kids ride on the carousel and they had fun.

Noah was a little nervous as the carousel began to move, and when the animal started moving up and down he began to freak out a bit. After a few seconds he was calm and began to enjoy the ride. Phew! 

Before the six hour drive home we had the kids run amok around the park. 

It was a perfect weekend with beautiful weather. We love visiting New England. Until next time.

*Ever been to Boston?

*What things do you like to do as a family during Spring Break?