wrapping up 2013.

2014, you have a lot to live up to... 

i can honestly say that 2013 has been one of the best {if not the best} years of my life.

it's going to be hard to beat the birth of a child...but somehow, i think 2014 might just be even better.

and because you are all dying to know, no i didn't finish my bucket list, but i came pretty darn close.

and that makes me very happy! 

here are some highlights:
a quick side note:
 i have many, many more pictures,
which are way better than these,
 but they are on the husband's camera.
maybe i'll get a chance to share them someday soon!
until then, you'll have to live with my crumby iphone pictures! 

{chloe's first snow day}

{mom's mint meringue's...kinda}

{sugar cookie fest, 2013}

{our little elf. hat courtesy of chlo's aunt lindsey}

{chloe's first christmas. bib courtesy of grandpa and grandma at the beach}

{i couldn't be happier}

i hope you all had a fabulous holiday season, and that as you pack up your decorations, your home is still full of love and happiness.

here's to 2014!

baby blessing.

in the LDS church, babies are not baptized.

it is our belief that individuals can be baptized starting at the age of eight.

we see the age of 8 as"the age of accoutability"

which means simply:

an eight year old knows wrong from right.

then can choose to make good and bad choices.

at the age of eight, a child can choose to be baptized.

when a child is born into an LDS family,
rather than being baptized,
they are given a baby blessing.
this blessing is typically given at church
during their first couple months of life.

in the blessing the child is officially given their name
as well as a blessing of health and happiness.
each baby's blessing is unique to the individual child.
for those non-lds folk reading, a blessing is king of like a prayer.
 {i'll write more about blessings in the near future}

i was lucky enough to have many family members attend baby c's blessing.
all of of the husbands immediate family were there
along with some extended family who were able to fly in from out of town.
almost all of my immediate family came too,
which was lucky for me because i didn't ask most of them until the day before.
i was really nervous, and didn't want to pressure them to come,
and I was nervous because many of them had never attended an LDS church service before.

it was such a special day, and to be able to share it with family made it even better.
here are some pictures we took after church:

{two of my 3 older brothers}

{my mom...aka grandma}

{the husbands' dad and grandfather}

{all the girls}

{cousins}

{it's a good thing you cannot tell baby c had spit up EVERYWHERE and was screaming throughout all the pictures}

a place of peace.

i was asked if i might share some pictures of baby c's nursery.

but i want to preface the pictures with some thoughts...

as always.

when i found out i was pregnant, 

it was quite a shock.

after all, just a few weeks prior 

i was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome...

a syndrome that can leave you with many fertility issues.

in my case, i was lucky.

the diagnosis was wrong.

while i do struggle with extremely painful ovarian cysts,

i would not have to worry about the awful 'i' word so many struggle with.

(infertility)

the excitement kicked in and i was beyond overjoyed to plan.

ask anyone that knows me...

i am a list writer.

an organizer.

a planner.

one thing i couldn't wait to get started on was our baby's nursery.

i knew i wanted to go neutral with the bedding and many of the decorations.

i also knew i would add pops of either blue or pink depending on the gender of our child.

when we found out c was a girl, i was pretty shocked.

i had thought that our little one was a boy.

in fact i was pretty sure of it.

jokes on me i guess! 

thrilled to be having a baby girl, i wanted to jump into decorating asap.

the only problem:

chloe's nursery was currently a home office for the husband.

the next few months were as follows:

me: hey dear, lets clean out the middle room so i can start getting ready for the baby! 

the husband: we've got a lot of time, lets just hold off a bit.

you can just repeat the last few lines. 

overandoverandoverandover.

the husband was excited for her arrival, but not all that thrilled to be giving up his office.

of course, in time, we slowly packed things up.

moved his desk to our bedroom

 and cleared out what would soon become baby c's little place of peace.

i am beyond pleased with how it turned out.

you know how projects don't end up how you envisioned, 

probably like 99% of the time?!

well, this one i am happy to say turned out exactly how i wanted.

i guess all that extra time i had while the husband was dragging his feet 

gave me plenty of time to really plan

{and search pinterest}.

i didn't think her room would be super girly,

but the pops of pink i chose 

{the drapes, and scrapbook paper, along with some gifts from family members and friends}

made her room especially girly.

perfect for our little june bug.

{sorry in advance for the crumby pictures. they are from my phone}

 

pre-halloween.

every year, before halloween, our church has a party.

we call it 'trunk-or-treat' because after a traditional chili and cornbread dinner,

and the little ones parading across the stage in costume,

the kiddies take their pumpkin buckets outside to the parking lot and go car to car 

{or trunk to trunk}

trick-or-treating.

it's always a big hit,

and why shouldn't it be...

after all, it's like halloween on steroids for the kids.

they have to walk all of 2 feet to the next trunk...

and their bags are filled with gobs of candy in about 5 minutes flat.

i'd say that sure beats walking for a couple hours to fill up a bag.

or maybe it's not better...

i'll let you decide.

every once in a while, our family decides to dress in themes.

this year was no exception.

although...it took my sister-in-law and i some coercing to get the husband 

and father-in-law to wear this years choice in costume.

why you ask?

we decided to be rats.

the adult 'costumes' included a gray shirt, 

which i added the acronym: R.O.U.S. to...

funny right?!

well...only if you have seen 'the princess bride' it is.

and if you haven't seen the movie:

1) stop reading and go watch it now.

2) the acronym stands for "rodents of unusual size".

{see, a group of adults dressed as ROUS'...funny, i know.}

please note: clearly my sister-in-law and i wouldn't make good politicians because 

as you can see from the pictures below...

my father-in-law wouldn't be photographed in the costume 

and my nephew refused to wear it all together.

c'est la vie...

at least the baby girls look a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.

oh-- and you can bet there will be more baby-rat pictures to come after halloween.

...preferably ones that are not passed a specific little rat's bedtime.

...ones where she actually looks happy.

... and ones that aren't so grainy 

due to taking pictures of pictures 

because a certain larger rat forgot their camera.

4 months.

time is so weird.

tomorrow chloe will be 4 months old.

to all of you, that probably doesn't seem that long.

to me, 4 months seems like an eternity...

it seems like another lifetime ago that we were in the hospital with her for the first time.

at the same time--it seems like time has escaped me.

i cannot believe it has already been 4 months! 

how is that even possible?!

stay tuned for a halloweeny post on monday.

baby c makes the cutest...

well, you'll just have to wait and see.

i'm a salmon.

last weekend i had the opportunity to go to a local salmon hatchery.

i know... it sounds really exciting {note my sarcasm}.

the thing is...

it was actually very cool.

when you first arrive, you walk over a small bridge where you can see countless salmon.

these salmon are returning to where they were born.

 after a lifetime of making their way to the icy oceans

 {from this exact hatchery} 

and growing into mature fish,

these salmon return to their birthplace, to reproduce, which will end their life cycle.

 the hundreds of salmon we watched from the bridge were attempting to jump upstream 

passed a man-made fish barrier.

after repeated jumps, these salmon try the alternative underwater flow 

which leads to the fish ladders and ultimately, holding ponds.

the ladders at the hatchery are surrounded by glass walls.

this is to allow observers to watch as the fish use every last ounce of energy they have

 to make it to the holding ponds.

many of the fish die in this process, if not before.

many of the fish in the ladders are clearly bruised, beaten, and sickly.

so, i know you are now wondering why the heck i am writing about salmon.
i promise there is a correlation.

the thing is, after watching these salmon try to make their way back home,
i realized something strange...

we, as christians, are just like the salmon in a sense.
weird analogy, i know, but hear me out...

in the LDS church, we believe that we came to earth from a pre-mortal existence.
we lived with our father in heaven and chose to come to earth.
we are blessed with a body at birth
and are given free agency to make our own choices as we learn and grow.

just like the salmon who leave the hatchery to mature and grow,
and then do everything in their power to return to the hatchery...
we come to earth in order to gain experiences,
 to make choices {hopefully good ones},
to learn,
to develop and to progress into the best people we can,
all so that we can return to heaven again.

so, what are we, 

if not like the salmon...

spending our entire lives trying to build ourselves up.

trying to reach a 'higher ground' {or ladders in the salmon's case...}

trying to be better people.
trying to get home.

{my cute family on the bridge} 

{my sister-in-law and niece looking over the bridge at the salmon} 

{niece and nephew} 

{salmon watching}

{my beautiful niece} 

{grandpa loves his grandkids!}

{i spy a salmon!}

{baby c obviously had a great time too!}

the house that built me.

i was flipping through old photos yesterday.

some made me laugh, a lot made me smile, 

some made me reminisce on years that seem very long ago...

but the one photo that stood out the most to me wasn't a picture of me, or family...

the picture that stood out the most was a picture of the house i grew up in.

when i say grew up in, i mean it literally.

we moved into that house

{after my parents built it from the ground up}

 when i was just 3 years old.

i moved out when i was 18-- 

i went off to college,

and due to their divorce, 

my parents sold the only house i had ever known...

the house that has my handprints in the cement on the garage floor.

the house that i learned to ride a bike in front of...

the house that i had my first real kiss with the husband in front of.

 i am fairly certain i could tell you exactly how many stairs are in each of the staircases.

i could probably walk through the entire house blindfolded and not get hurt.

looking at this single picture brings back a flood of so many memories.

happy memories.

sad memories.

great memories.

memories that have lead me to who i am today.

my first few years in college were rough years for me.

looking back on them, i realize that i struggled with depression worse than i care to admit.

all the changes i was going through definitely attributed to the depression

i know that having to give up the only home i ever knew did too.

have you ever heard the miranda lambert song, "the house that built me"?

she puts into words exactly how i felt:

{"I thought if I could touch this place or feel it 

this brokenness inside me might start healing. 

Out here its like I'm someone else, 

I thought that maybe I could find myself. 

If I could just come in I swear I'll leave. 

Won't take nothing but a memory from the house that built me."}

even though the depression is gone now, and i'm married with a daughter...

i'd be lying if i said i wouldn't want to go back inside.

fresh start.

fall.

every year when the air starts to turn crisp,

i cannot help but feel a sense of renewal. 

i know the new year technically starts in january, 

but i cannot help but feel like fall is my time of year for a fresh new start. 

i love seeing the sun shining through the color changing leaves.

the fall hues of yellow, orange, and red.

bundling up for walks with the husband--

a tradition that now baby c can join us in.

sweaters.

rain.

pumpkins.

halloween.

mulling spices.

candles.

thanksgiving.

need i say more?

i think i say it about every season...but i absolutely love fall.

the new me.

since i have been gone there have been some big changes in my life.

a lot can happen in a year. 

but of course you already know that.

if you are new to my blog, or an old friend, i figured i'd 'reintroduce' myself and give you some background on the new me. 

brace yourself.

this will be a lengthy one.

if you were already reading my blog 

you knew i was pregnant from the post prior to my disappearance. 

i am no longer pregnant (obviously) 

and have a beautiful baby girl. 

right from the get-go, the stinker is just like her dad: stubborn.  

our stubborn little babe was 10 days overdue. 

and i had to be induced. 

that was a ball of fun. 

let.me.tell.you.

actually, i won't get into that can of worms. 

lets just say-- i hope to never be induced again.

baby c (the cutie from yesterday) is now 3 months old. 

she is such a bundle of sweetness in our life.

and obviously has dad wrapped around her pinky.

i mentioned yesterday i had a change in careers.

i am now a proud SAHM.

aka 

stay at home momma

it's been a big change, but a great one too.

i miss the smell of crayons. 

setting up my classroom.

 but mostly i miss the little ones in my class.

that being said...

i know that staying home with baby c will be extremely rewarding.

i am grateful for the opportunity to do so.

{maybe i will have to go buy a box of crayons and sniff them... mr. sketch markers anyone?}

ok. i'm writing too much.

{deep breath}

i overuse ellipses...

i don't type with capital letters {usually}.

i'm obsessed with diet coke.
and i love the rain.

disneyland IS the happiest place on earth.

i'm a sugar fiend. 

i want a 'big' family.

i now have an iPhone...i know. i caved.

the husband and i are high school sweethearts (kinda).

AND

ooooobviously, i'm mormon.

 hence the title of my blog.

but i haven't always been.

you can read my conversion story starting with this post.

well...i think this post is long enough.

if you just cannot get enough of me, because you love me that much...

 you can read some more fun facts about me here.

woah.

hey there.

hi there.

no, you aren't dreaming. and yes... 

i. am. back.

after almost a year long hiatus, the birth of a child, and a change in careers...

i am officially back on (in?) the blogosphere.

i have wanted to start back at it for a while and after requests from friends, 

and inspiration from a new friend, 

i decided it was time to make my 'big return'.

so hello! 

i hope you'll still have me. 

now, for your patience...

 here's some eye candy for you: 

it was worth the wait, wasn't it?!

fourth of july

how was your fourth of july?

mine was fabulous.

bbq

fireworks

 and...

CHINESE LANTERNS! 

they were so magical! 

i loved every minute.

{check out the video my husband made to watch all the magic happening!}

confessions of a convert.

this blog is about my life through mormon eyes right?

right.

on that note, i have something to share...

mormons talk about church a lot.

this is something i used to give my husband a hard time about {in a cute, joking way of course}... i used to tease him that he could take any conversation and "bring it back to church". in other words, he could relate anything to something "churchy".

what i have realized though is that as a member of the LDS church, church comes up every day. i am not talking a mention of the word "church", i am talking a full conversation, literally everyday, comes up naturally no matter how your day is going or what you are doing.

it is because being LDS it isn't just something you do on sunday, it is a lifestyle change. it is a part of who you are.

you could be on a date, with friends, at dinner, with family, at a theme park...it doesn't matter. sometime during the day church will come up.

i know that this is not true of other faiths...because i have lived another faith...i have friends and family of other faiths...i know many people of other faiths... it may be true of some church going people, but seriously...who talks about church everyday?!

well...i do. and i like it.

and that is my confession.

confession of a convert.

i had just finished dinner with the husbands family when my phone rang. i answered the phone to hear a lot of commotion and my brother saying, "hi, i have a really random question"...not thinking much of the situation i said "okkkk...."

this is what he said, "is it true mormons have to give 10% of their income to temple?"

OK... random is right, that really came out of left field! my brother is a self-proclaimed atheist so i am wondering at this point, which of his friends brought that up, and what else are they talking about?!

i answered his question, "well, we do pay a tithing of 10% of our income, but it doesn't just go to the temples. there are many other things the money goes to. it is also a choice to pay tithing, no one can make you do anything, we all can choose to pay or not, that is between us and the Lord."

he just couldn't seem to get over this fact...asking me how they monitor if we really pay 10%, if they check our pay checks and what they do if we don't pay the money...after explaining that it is all based on honesty he seemed to understand. i related tithing to the offerings made in the episcopal church we grew up in, this helped tithing make much more sense to him.

we finished our conversation with me reminding him that if he ever reads or hears something weird about the church to make sure he asks me before believing what he hears and he said "i know, i figured i would call you and brett because you are the the ones i trust about this stuff"

i am so happy that my brother was able to call me and ask for the truth about something one of his friends was just throwing around in a conversation.

it also made me a little sick to my stomach to think that my brother and his friends were talking about the church, when none of them are members. i know what a lot of people think about the church, and it isn't all good.

so here is the confession: it sucks to know that my family hears a lot of garbage and false truths about the church, and most likely believes it...it sucks to know that my family talks about me behind my back.

{my brother and i on top of tiger mountain}

"psh, dumb kids. i never was a kid, really."

what is it with some people?

i just left my end of the school year celebration with my first graders...the one where i promised i would wait to cry until i got home...felt tears forming, but bit my lip as hard as i could and held it back! success. (how awkward would it be to break into the ugly cry with all the parents there?!)

i am going to miss this group of first graders SO much! :( i had the best time student teaching. it has been an unforgettable experience.

but it has made me think about something.

it is obvious by my career path that i love children. what i don't get is how there are so many people in this world that don't like kids, that have that "i never was a kid attitude" and no patience. who do you think are you?!

i understand those who don't want to be a teacher, but how can you look at a child and not smile. they are so full of love and innocence.

the other day a woman walking out of a parking lot into a crosswalk got extremely mad at a young boy, no older than 6, for being "in her way" when she was definitely the one who did not have the "right of way" as she walked directly into his path without looking.

it made me sad that she was so upset at such a young child, when it was not even his fault. ok, ok... maybe she was having a bad day...but still, he's just a kid!

the Savior taught us to be as little children. to be meek, humble, full of love, innocence and to be mold-able. if we can always keep this in mind, not only will we be more understanding, but we will be able to find true happiness in life.

look to the children in your life as examples of who you should be.

advice...i need it!

ok, so i need advice.

blogging: i love it. i love being able to express my feelings {good and bad} and i love having somewhere to write everything down {other than my personal journal}.

mostly i love that when i am confused about something, upset or struggling, or just trying to better understand, i can write about it and through the writing process i am able to more clearly think about the topic/issue and really evaluate.

here lies the problem: i don't mind putting myself out there for strangers... at all! in fact i love it! i was just featured on one of my favorite blogs "that wife" {you can check out her wonderful blog and read the post here}. the thought of strangers and new friends reading my blog was exciting.

i also don't mind sharing my blog with friends from church. what i have found is that it is uncomfortable, for lack of a better way to put it, telling or sharing my blog with non-member friends and my family. i feel embarrassed telling them about it.

my friends who have read my blog tell me i need to be more brave to just post the link on my facebook account because it is worth sharing!...but i can't do it.

in fact i've tried... two days ago. i posted the link under 'my website' and then after i clicked submit and went straight back and deleted it.

i am worried friends will no longer be my friend because i am LDS. that they will think i am weird and gossip about me behind my back {something i know is already going on, and hurts to think about}. THE WORST PART ABOUT IT IS: those are the types of friends i would never want to have in the first place AND all my real friends already know i am a member and i am still embarrassed to share my blog.

what is my problem!? if everyone already knows, and i am in no way ashamed of my choices, then why is it so hard for me to tell those people who are close to me about it?

also, and this is a BIG issue. as you may have noticed, i have a very good relationship with my mom. i love her so much! she means the world to me and i tell her EVERYTHING {save some details of course}... she has no idea i have a blog! so many of my struggles as a convert are family related. surely i wouldn't be able to voice my true feelings as a convert {the very purpose of this blog} if they are mommy related and mommy is reading the blog! at the same time, maybe she should know?!

help!

"i'm a convert, not a convert-er!"

since being baptized into the LDS church i have really only focused on myself. what i mean by that is that i have been busy growing my own testimony and learning more about the gospel and the church to help me grow.

i cannot count, or even remember, the number of times i have been asked if my family is interested, or been told i should talk to my mom, my brothers, my dad, step mom, step siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents...my cousins...my dog.....{just kidding, i don't even have a dog}...about the church.

i have to admit, it made me frustrated having so many people pressure me about my family, and hearing them say "they'll be members some day". i would think to myself:

'what do i care if they are members?! i was just baptized...let me figure myself out!'

well... everything's changed.

last sunday my husband and i watched a movie: "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration". i had seen the movie just twice before sunday, both times i was very emotional, and both times included a LOT of crying {even the first time i saw the movie which was before i was a member of the church}.

this time we watched it, it was much different.

the entire movie i could not stop crying. i cried harder than i have even cried when watching a movie in my entire life.

as i watched i couldn't believe that i was a part of what i was watching... that everything Joseph Smith did, everything he went though {losing friends, children, being tarred and feathered, being killed for what he believed} has become a part of my life and has made it possible for me to be where i am today.

and then i started crying even harder. i wished so badly, for the first time, that my family would know what i know. that they could share with me in the great happiness that i feel because of my membership in the LDS church. i wish their hearts would be softened and they could feel what i do, that they could just... understand.

i want so badly to sit by my mom at church on sundays. i want my family there with me. i want to go to the temple with them... to be sealed to each one of them.

i am filled with so many emotions.

love...

sadness...

faith...

hope...

anxiety...

pressure...

but mostly gratitude... for those members of the church who came before me. who showed me the way, and led those to come in the greatest way possible- by example.

i hope i can be that light for someone else. i hope i can be more like they were.

if you just believe...

christmas can be a hard time of year.

amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and in spite of the holiday parties and sugar cookies galore, it is also a time where we reflect on ourselves and our families.

for me it is the time of year that reminds me that my family is not what is always was...

what i mean is that it is this time of year that really makes me think about my parents divorce and how much i wish that it never happened, how much i wish that my cute little family was one again...instead of little pieces.

i have been told that i shouldn't be bothered by it...that i am 23 and i should just grow up and get over it. but i don't see it that way. whether you are 3 or 43 i think it would still be hard to see your family going through something like that.

regardless what people say, i cannot help but be a little sad at this time of year thinking and dreaming about christmas past.

when i am feeling this way i turn to josh groban's song "believe":

"children sleeping, snow is softly falling

dreams are calling like bells in the distance
we were dreamers not so long ago
but one by one we all had to grow up
when it seems the magic's slipped away
we find it all again on Christmas day

believe in what your heart is saying

hear the melody that's playing

there's no time to waste
there's so much to celebrate
believe in what you feel inside
and give your dreams the wings to fly
you have everything you need
if you just believe"

if you haven't heard the song, find it on itunes and listen to it, it is beautiful... {from the polar express soundtrack}.

i especially love the part in red because it is so true. no matter how we are feeling before christmas...the joy, laughter, smiles, and company -no matter who it is- on christmas make the day truly magical.

i wish everyday could feel like christmas.

with that...

"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house..."

...you know the rest of the story. get off your computer, snuggle by a fire, and go finish it with your family and loved ones.

and please, have a VERY merry christmas!

love always,

giving thanks.

yes i know it is the day after thanksgiving...but it is never too late to give thanks.

i am so thankful for so many things in my life:

for my family.

for my friends.

for my amazing husband...and his incredible patience.

for a roof over my head.

for the ability to choose.

for my health and strength.

for the LDS church.

for prayer.

for the seasons...each one of them and the beauty they bring.

for the amazing technologies we have in this generation that keep us safe.

for school {most of the time :] }

and for everything in between.

this is truly and amazing time of year... cherish the small, tender moments in life. those are the ones that last forever in our memories.

what does it mean to be sealed?

we have all heard the words "until death do you part"...but have we all thought about what that phrase actually means?

in a typical wedding...and by typical i mean non-LDS wedding or in other words: a civil ceremony, the words "until death do you part" are spoken as the officiant announces the newly married couple...this has a significant meaning that many people do not really think about...this 'phrase' means that the couple is married here, on earth, only so long as they are alive...the moment that either of the married pair passes away the marriage that bonded them together is broken.

what is different about an LDS wedding is that the bonds of marriage are placed on the couple forever...for an eternity. this unbreakable bond is known as a "sealing". as a couple enters the temple for their wedding they enter a sealing room: kneeling before an alter the pair make promises to each other and they are not only pronounced man and wife but they are sealed to each other for time and all eternity. how amazing is that?!

a little over a month ago, on august 6th, 2010 i had the amazing opportunity to be sealed to my, now, husband. yes, you did read that right...in the time i have been away from my blog i was married..and what an experience it was.

i will be the first to admit, and i am being totally honest which is the purpose of this blog...the real life thoughts of a convert to the mormon church... i was nervous the morning of our sealing. with all new things in life we get nervous. however, that nervousness vanished instantly when i entered the sealing room in the temple and saw the familiar faces of my friends and soon-to-be family.

the spirit was so strong in the room that i don't think there was a dry eye. i tried my best to keep it together but was so moved by the words of the temple sealer (the man who married/sealed us together) that i couldn't contain my tears and was crying (hard) next to the man that i love, who was also crying (something that i have not seen in the six years we have been together).

the feeling was amazing.

i still feel amazing.

although it was very difficult not having my family inside the temple, i know in my heart and have been validated through feelings of the spirit that being sealed in the temple is what i was supposed to do.

i will never regret it.

love and marriage... and....temples?!

so...first, i apologize for the long period i have been away from my blog...i guess i am not as consistent as i thought i could be...second, so much in my life has changed...

on february 12, 2010 by boyfriend of 5 1/2 years proposed in, what i think is the most romantic way possible...but this isn't a personal blog so i will skip the details...sorry!

with a wedding in the near future it is time to think about the temple.

as many of you probably know, or have heard, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have the opportunity to be married inside one of the many LDS temples...as a convert to the church this idea, of being married in the temple, is a new one to me...

first, you must be a member of the church to go into the temple, and second you have to be living your life in a way that is worthy of going inside the temple...although i am a member of the church and i try my best to be the best i can, not a single person in my family is a member of the church...this means that NONE of them will be able to see me get married inside the temple....this, as you can imagine, has created a roller coaster of emotions for me, and i am sure for my family as well...

however, with all the turmoil, the mix of emotions, and the big question marks that are no doubt looming over my families head concerning the temple, the lord always finds a way to help us when we are in need....

this week, something very special is happening. a temple in vancouver, canada was recently built and is open for the public to take tours...this means that non-members, like my family, will have an opportunity to go inside an LDS temple and see how wonderful it really is. because i will be getting married in august and my family will not be able to join my fiance and i inside the temple, this was a chance that i could not pass up!

my mom and i are driving to canada this weekend to see and visit the vancouver temple. i know that this is going to be such a blessing and even though my mom and family will not be able to come inside the temple on my actual wedding day, at least my mom will have a vivid picture in her head of the temple and the types of rooms we will be in...specifically the sealing room (which i will be writing about very soon!)

if you would like to visit the temple...go. i would highly recommend it! i have never been inside a temple myself but i know in my heart that is going to be wonderful...i am beyond excited and cannot wait to go...what a great opportunity this is going to be for everyone who goes...and it does not happen very often...please take advantage of it...you have until april 24th.

here is a link to the LDS website with more information:

http://www.lds.org/temples/main/0,11204,1919-1-594-2,00.html