Families are Forever.

Families can be together forever, are words I have heard my whole entire life. I often didn't understand fully what that meant coming from an incomplete family. It was something I always longed for. I didn't take the traditional route of creating an eternal family. You usually start in the temple and work together at the same mutual goal. I had to develop habits of an eternal family to help get to where it could actually happen.
 April 5, 2016 will be a day I will always remember. We were sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple for all eternity. The day couldn't have been more perfect. I couldn't have been surrounded my more people that I love. It was an amazing day. The most exciting part of it all was to watch my little girls in the temple and see their excitement about the beautiful place they were in. The sealer let them stand on the chairs to be able to see into the mirrors better. As they looked into the mirrors and realized their reflections went on forever they were surprised and excited. The sealer ask what they could see and Savannah answered herself. Then he mentioned that that is your future generations or you kids. Brittlynn let me know that she could only see girls and he didn't know if they were going to have boys and girls. He didn't have lots of advice for us

As everyone left the room they gave us hugs and congratulations. This is something I am not used to doing...but everyone has to change sometime. There were a few people there from when I was younger that I had to introduce to Eric. As they left I realized there were people from all different walks of our lives. I remember when I was in college thinking about being sealed in the temple and only having a handful of people there with me. It broke my heart because I didn't have a large strong family that supported me in my faith. This day was special because my mom was there. She had just gone through the temple herself two years before. Its probably the only sealing of her children she will ever see. My sister was there and the rest were friends...but they weren't just friends. They are my family. Some from high school, college, Texas (when we were first married), Colorado, and Idaho.

To say my heart was full with love is an understatement. It was a special day with some amazing people that I have touched my life. I would be me without the influence they had and their love and support. Eric would be Eric without the unconditional love they offered him.

Families are Forever and it is made possible through the holy temples on the earth today.  

Dressed in White

There are certain moments in your life that you never want to forget. Without pictures I know there would be a lot of things that I would to easily forget. I decided to have someone take pictures of my family in our white dresses. I actually paid someone to do this which is so not like me. Each time I look at these pictures I am so grateful I made that choice. There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words...but I would say its more like a million memories. I love how I can see our personalities in each of the pictures. I forever grateful for Heather Telford for taking these and making my memories last forever.

10 Years

Wedding anniversaries are very interesting in how and what you do to celebrate. There is a whole guide line on what you should get for each year you are married. There is always the big trips planned for the big ones. I guess you could call them milestones. I would always say I wanted to go to Hawaii on for my ten year anniversary. Its a place I have never been to, but I hear it is amazing.

So that was the plan until everything changed in our family. Change in a good way and a blessing better than any trip to Hawaii. We spent our ten year anniversary in my favorite place on earth. Its the closest place you can get to heaven. Even though I haven't been to Hawaii, this place is way better. We spent the night at the temple. Eric received his endowments and we were able to enjoy an amazing quiet evening with friends and family. As I sat there watching my husband in the temple for the first time, I was reminded of the the reassuring promises given to me a few years before when we traveled to Nauvoo. That day, I knew he would one day join me in my favorite place, I just never imagined it would be so soon. 

It was the best anniversary present ever and I couldn't ask for anything more from him. Through out my life there is one thing I am most grateful for and that is the blessing of the temple. I am who I am because of the temple and I know that my family has been blessed because of the covenants that I make in His holy house.

 The best part of it all was Eric asking me when can we go back. He shares the same love for the temple that I have.