Draper Temple Open House

After Katie's baptism, we left my sister's house on Sunday afternoon and drove to Spanish Fork where we spent Sunday evening with Bryon's sister, Alicia, and her family. We had a great time visiting. The kids loved playing with their cousins.

Monday morning we got up and went to the Draper Temple Open House. The temple was beautiful. After the open house we went back to the Stake Center for a cookie and bottled water. A lady there offered to take our picture in front of a huge picture of Christ. Here are the pictures from that. I always catch a lot of flack because I am not in the picture very often. My mom often comments about how can I know if I was actually there if I am not in any pictures. So here is proof that I was actually at the open house!

Attending this temple open house has made me do a great deal of thinking. My children are adopted and so have had opportunities to go to the temple to be sealed to us and the older ones have had the privilege of going to the temple again to watch as their new siblings were sealed to us. But more than this I have thought what a wonderful time this is for my children. I remember growing up and attending the open house of the Logan temple (when it was open after having had some remodeling done). We also went with my cousins to the Boise temple open house. However, that is about all of my temple experiences until I was old enough to do Baptisms for the Dead. Besides being sealed, my children have had the opportunity to go to the open houses of the Rexburg, Twin Falls and now Draper. We have plans to attend the Oquirrh Mountain open house later this summer. What a great opportunity for them to learn about the sacredness of the temple. When we were in the Draper Temple as we entered the Celestial Room, Natalie said, "Wow." She was in awe. She kept looking around. The Spirit bore witness to me that she felt the Spirit in that sacred room. I hope all of my children will be able to remember the special feelings that they have felt when we have been in the temple together as a family. I hope this will increase their desire to live their lives worthily so that they too may one day receive the blessings of the temple in their own lives.

I am so thankful for the blessings of the temple and for the blessing of Eternal Families.

Katie's Baptism

Our family left here on Friday, January 30 to attend the baptism of our niece and cousin, Katie. Sam had ski school on Friday. We hated to have Sam miss ski school and so we let him go up with the school and then we drove up and got him out of ski school an hour early so we could be on the road a little earlier than if we would have had to wait for him. Conner was so freaked out all week about driving at midnight. I hate driving at night and so I knew most of the driving would be up to Bryon. I did promise Conner that I would stay awake to keep Bryon awake. I am proud to say that I did not sleep a wink in the seven hour drive to Richfield, Utah. However, I am not so sure Bryon was thrilled to have his "co-pilot" awake the whole time!

Saturday was such a special day to be able to see our niece and cousin, Katie, baptized. She looked so pretty in her new dress. She is such a beautiful girl and there was such a sweet spirit there. It was so much fun to be all together with my family. Like my sister mentioned, she can't remember the last time we were all together, usually we are missing at least one husband.

After the baptism, we went back to Lori's for a delicious luncheon and then we went swimming at the community indoor swimming pool. We had a blast!

Sunday we got up and went to church with Lori and her family. My sister, Lori, leads music in the primary. I went with her and filled in as the pianist. It has been a long time since I have been in primary.

Congratulations Katie on your baptism. We love you so much and are so proud of your decision to be baptized.