"I Love to See the Temple..."

Chad and I took the kids up to South Jordan this weekend to visit friends, and go to the Oquirrh Mountain temple open house. Usually you have to be 12 to go inside a temple, but before it's dedicated, anyone can go. The kids were SO excited. This particular temple was designed with many circles inside of it -- etched into windows, painted on the ceiling, in the design of a lot of the upholstry, and even cut into the carpet in the celestial room. We pointed this out to the kids, and explained that it was meant as a reminder that the things that happen here last for eternity. They loved discovering and pointing out the circles for the rest of the tour.

The temple was so beautiful, and even though it wasn't dedicated yet, it was peaceful, and the feelings were sweet. I loved it, and loved even more that my children got to feel what a special place it is.

It was a day that I hope they remember for , well, eternity.

In the hospitality tent, after the tour, there were cookies and bottled water, and more information about the temple and the church, and one special treat for us. This painting. It was painted by Chad's BYU roommate, Shawn Perkins, and he and his family were the ones with whom we spent the weekend, and with whom we took the tour. Shawn is so talented, and we can't wait to have a copy of this hanging in our home, to remind us of a wonderful day.

I wish I had taken more pictures of our weekend. We went to the "beach" in South Jordan, went to the Thai Chili Garden with the Steeds(Chad's other college roomate, and his wife), and discovered Red Mango frozen yogurt. We let the kids play outside, (all 14 of them! 20 when the Steeds were there! Wow, we've come a long way since our college days!) enjoyed Lyndy's wonderful cooking, and stayed up 'till at least midnight every night because we just knew the weekend would end too soon. Thank you sooooo much, to the Perkins. I am looking forward to repaying the favor as soon as possible!