Experiences

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience." ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

September 9

Jordan River Temple Trip

I like how it makes Kris look like she's wearing a crown.

So tonight we were doing sealings, a few family names but mostly temple provided names. We were in there with 3 other people, so when it came our turn to do some names the temple worker asked how we wanted to do the family names. Since they were male names, me and Derek were the parents while my brother was the sons so we both could be apart of the family sealings.  

After the end of the children being sealed to their parents, I felt the spirit burn so strongly it was if I almost couldn't breathe. The joy I felt in that room as that family was finally reunited after all these years was immeasurable. We sat back down and as everyone else was engaged in more sealings, I felt the spirit so strongly again, and it impressed in my mind that it was my Grandpa Nelson- my dad's dad whom passed away when I was a baby. 

The feelings that spoke to my heart in those moments, told me just how much he loves my Grandma and my dad. It was overwhelming, I cried on the way home.

We had to stop at my folks to get my things (it was easier to change at their house after practice than go back and forth) I hugged my dad and told him what I felt. It was one of the best times I've ever had in the temple and I'm so grateful to have this eternal knowledge of families being together, and that one day I'll be able to hang out with all this family I've never known and never be separated from them again.

Bonus: Norman H. Bangerter was the sealings coordinator for the evening and spoke with us briefly while we waited on Derek to find a tie.
Is he the same former Utah GOV. Bangerter? We may never know...

September 17

Constitution Fair, Bountiful

For at least the past few years, a group called Freedom's Light (http://www.freedomslight.us/) has held a Constitution Fair in Bountiful.  And for the past few years we have taken the kids down there for a field trip.  It has never disappointed us!

We saw/listened to stories from:

Joan of Arc

Christopher Columbus

The Mayflower

Jamestown

Stories of the singers of the Declaration of Independence

Stories from ladies role playing females who were "heroes"

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington 

Mountain Man

Descendant from someone who came through Ellis Island

USAF Col. RET. Jack, WWII fighter pilot

Plus activities to test your knowledge on the Constitution and other activities that the kids enjoyed.

Mr. Jack...

He shared stories of when he was a fighter pilot in WWII, stories that broke my heart and don't want to repeat because they were just so cruel (the Germans that is). He flew over 120 missions, and NOT ONCE did any of his airplanes get even a single bullet hole- this he attributed to his faithfulness of still following church standards.  He got over 10,000 hours of fly time.  He learned how to play the trumpet (which he played a little jazz for us-amazingly well too!) and was never without it during his deployment. He played a part in training the Tuskegee Airmen, sharing stories of just how amazing those men were and how he wish he could have some of them fly in his squadron. 

He has ALL of his OWN teeth, doesn't need glasses, doesn't have any of those lil tremors that someone pushing 95 years would have, he moves around pretty quickly and has an IRON grip (he made sure he walked around and shook everyone's hand- he said "that's what happens when you milk cows all your life"). He shared with the students how important it is to live a positive lifestyle and to make right choices- that's how he has the "blood of a 20-year-old".

He worked at the Pentagon and at NASA (both FL & CA locations).  He was on the board that picked Armstrong and Aldrin.  He spent time with all the engineers, making sure that everyone was happy.  He was picked to go on that weekend's honor flight, but because he knew some of the other veterans were worse off than he is, they should go first and he'll wait for next year- because he's "as healthy as a horse!"

At the end of his story time allotted, the students each took to shake his hand again and thank him for his service.  When it came to my turn, he clasped my hand with both of his.  I asked him if he ever met or knew a Gordon Loose while working for NASA, he was Canadian but with American citizenship. Jack said he doesn't remember names but remembers working with some Canadians.  Then Jack decided that he worked with my Grandpa so that he (Jack) could have that honor.  I of course started to tear up again and he kissed my hand! I asked if I could get a photo with him and he practically pulled me off my feet with how TIGHTLY he held me to his side.

What an AMAZING person.  I am so lucky that I got the chance to meet such an inspiring individual and hear his stories before he returns to our Father in Heaven and re-joins his wife (whom he gives credit for the reason why his lip muscles are so strong to keep playing the trumpet).

September 21

Ogden Temple Re-dedication 

(Not my photo, from the mormonnewsroom.org)

My third Temple dedication & Derek's second.

Isn't President Monson so amazing? I think he's the best speaker I've ever listened to. Before he even got started he just smiled, looked around the room and gasped in awe and commented on just how beautiful the House of the Lord is.

It was an amazing ceremony!

We're excited to get to work and see the inside of our temple :)

Crazy to think that after all the temple's we've visited this year and over our lifetimes.

How lucky are we that we have a Temple within minutes of our home!