What It's All About

So, this weekend Ryan and I were able to attend the dedication broadcast session of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple. I realized a few things during this service...

When we really look around us...eternity isn't that far away. Sometimes we feel that heaven is so far away and unreachable; that our ancestors gone before us aren't really still around to watch our families grow. When I think about my grandma Mimi, it is hard to imagine, sometimes, that I will really get to see her again and be able to wrap my arms around her and tell her how much I've missed her. I know that I will and always know that such a reunion will take place. It is easy to get a little sidetracked with the whole picture when you are going about your day to day routine of cooking meals, tending children, changing dirty diapers and disciplining a two year old.

Love in this life is fleeting, eternal love is lasting. As I sat with my arms cuddled about my husband I realized that, even though we may not always agree or be completely on the same page, because we are sealed for time and all eternity in the temple and have higher goals to obtain, we can work through anything. If this life is all about learning to be more like Christ in order to live with Heavenly father again, then what a better candidate to work with to learn how to love purely than your spouse.

I know I view the world through eyes that have not been able to reach beyond the veil, but it is very comforting to know that someday I will be able to learn all things and understand all things. I know I don't understand a lot about the designs and plans of Heavenly Father and someday it will all make more sense to me and to all of us as we are all to pass through the veil. Attending the temple really does help me to be able to look at things in my life, that I may be working through or experiencing, in a way greater and more important than how the world would view them.

I am so grateful for the temple and hope deeply that my children will grow up knowing how much it means to me and to Ryan that we are sealed to them and that we can be together forever. The temple is the place I feel closest to Heavenly Father and I am setting a goal to become better at my attendance therein!!!

Quiet Time

So, here is why I have decided to begin this habit...


Yesterday as I was making lunch for my little Lillie, she escaped my presence. I realized that the house seemed eerily quiet and decided to investigate. We have all had those moments and you just brace yourself to find toothpaste all over the carpet or nail polish on the wall or unidentifiables in the toilet bowl. Well, this wasn't any different and I just knew she was doing something wrong. I ascended my staircase to find that her bathroom light was on and the door shut. First reaction...she's in there with lotion all over her hair and toothpaste on the wall just having the time of her life and now I have to act like I am really mad at her when all I want to do is take a picture because I know what a cute little grin I will receive upon opening the door. What I really found, however, was nothing of the like.

So, here's how this started. We have been potty training and trying to do it according to her interest and desire. She wanted to go potty when she woke up yesterday, so, of course, I take her to the toilet. She goes #1, steps down, then reveals a look of...I have to go #2. So, I convince her to get back up there and try. I reassured her that it would be fun and ran off to get some books to read. We read, and we read, and we read but nothing happens. I get her down, wash her hands and move on for the day. Apparently, she remembered how much fun it was and wanted to show her dolly the same courtesty!