So, Saturday, amongst what turned out to be one of the worst snow storms of the season, Frank, me, and our children made our way to the Denver Temple to be Sealed as a family for time and all eternity. A second wedding and a first in some ways.
The snow started about the time I came home on Friday and it didn't let up. We had 2 ft. of snow on the ground easily by Saturday morning. It prevented my dear friend Laurie from making it in from Vernal, it prevented some nearby friends from getting out of their driveways, but we decided if the Temple was open we were going. We've waited long enough. Frank called the Temple on Friday and asked if they thought they'd be opened. Their response made us chuckle. They'd only closed twice in 15 years. Once it had reached a 38" snowfall. So...we knew we'd be making the trek in my 4-wheel drive Jeep.
It was amazingly white Saturday morning. Everything covered in the heaviest, wettest snow. The kids weren't put off the least bit. We got on our Sunday clothes and snow boots. Frank dusted off the Jeep and let it warm and off we went. First stop, our friend the Dougherty's as Mylynda offered to warm food for us for the open house after. We came into their cul-de-sac and Frank ran in. He jumped back in and ... spin...spin...spin go the tires. We were stuck. We tried everything but no luck. Finally we had to get Dave out to help Frank push the Jeep. Craziness.
Once we got out of our little town and onto the freeway, it was much easier sailing. It was slick, and white, and bright and a bit scary at times, but we made it there unscathed. I tell you, walking in the Temple with our kids was like no other experience I've ever had.
We've been preparing our kids for most of the year for this day. I've taken Kenzie on mom/daughter dates where we've ended at the Temple grounds at night - we've gone to the back and sat in the bride's garden and talked about what the Temple is and how it blesses our lives and how it would one day bless our family together. Frank brought Jacob with him as he prepared and purchased what he needed for our time inside the walls. They've had questions, for the most part, we've had answers. They walked in the Temple knowing where they were, being wonderfully reverent and ready. Kenzie's eyes were the size of silver dollars at the beauty of it all. Jacob was holding steadfast to the things my friend Chris had taught him about the Sealing room...he was ready to see for himself.
One of the more amazing moments for me was when I was asked for our witnesses names. Cal was a no brainer. And had Chad and Julie made it in, that would have made the second witness a no-brainer as well. But we hadn't really thought about it. And there I stood, stuttering when without any static at all I heard it should be Jeff. Melanie's husband. Now...there's no secret, Jeff and I have had our problems over the years. We butt heads. We're both pretty strong in our personalities. He has said things to me that in most cases would be unforgiveable. The anger had dulled over the years apart, and I have found the space for forgiveness more recently. So, to have Jeff's name ring as a witness took me off guard. But the one thing I have learned, inspiration received in the walls of the Lord's house should not be discarded. So I turned around, and low, there's Jeff and Mel, fresh from their arrival. I walked over, asked him to be a witness, and returned to report he accepted. And it was settled, and I felt at ease.
The kids got to stay in a youth room with some really wonderful sisters while Frank and I went to prepare. There they got to learn more about what we were doing this day and they got more questions answered. Our Sealer met with them and was sweet in his report back to us about how prepared the kids seemed. Frank and I got to sit together for a time quietly waiting for our guests to arrive. One was Paxman, one of the missionaries who gave Frank his lessons. He came all the way from St. George, Utah and made it ahead of the storm every step of the way. He made it to Pueblo the night before and got into town about 20 minutes or so after we were to start...so we waited. We weren't going to have him come so close and miss this day. That gave Frank and I so much peaceful, quiet, wonderful time together to talk about what we were there to do. The best memories were made.
Finally it was time. And we entered the room with all our friends sitting as witnesses to watch our eternal marriage begin. We held hands over the altar and had the most beautiful blessings bestowed upon us, our marriage, our family. The children joined us and were Sealed to us forever. We confirmed new vows to work together towards the promised blessings. 13 years and a month after our first go-around, we still would choose each other again. You really can't know fully who you are marrying when you say I do...only time can tell the true nature of who you are with. And time has told me that I had no idea how well I was picking. Frank is an amazing companion who caters to me like a princess at the same time he doesn't take my crap. And now I get to have him eternally, beyond the bonds of time. Pretty amazing.
There wasn't a dry eye in the room, except for ours. And I think that was because we were so joyful, so sure in the convenants we made that day. Having our children there with us I felt like we were in a bubble; a safe, warm, strong bubble of protection and love. Something that will never be broken. I had no room for tears. I was full of joy and gladness. And that has carried with me from that moment to now. I hope to hold it forever.
