Getting Sealed!!!!!!!!

Can I tell you how happy Jessi and I are?!!! We received a letter from the First Presidency last week granting our family's request to get sealed. Immediately we went into full operations mode to get all the details worked out with the Temple, our local Priesthood leaders, our families, a photographer, and the Olive Garden Restaurant. The day of all days is tomorrow, Saturday, November 29, 2008.

The day we received the letter, I had gone out to the mailbox to check for new mail. Over the last month or so, Jess and I have been vigilantly looking for that special envelope from the First Presidency. Well, on this day, I saw it in there and freaked out! I hurried back to the apartment and woke up Jess from her nap without any reservation, because I knew she would be absolutely ecstatic. I was right. :-)

Generally, people's reactions have included, "It's finally happened!" We have been through one heck of a "process" to get to this point. I don't want to go into any details, but we had significant opposition from outside sources (in addition to the adversary and his minions), and we are very grateful that we have overcome everything that's come our way. The Lord has answered our prayers, and our family is more than ready to enjoy the blessings of the Holy Temple.

Something to Ponder this Week (2008 07 28)

This week the power of prayer was underscored for me again. My two-month-old daughter Jocelyn was admitted to the hospital with an extremely high fever, and it turns out that she has a full-fledged case of the flu. How miserable she is feeling! As I held her there at the hospital, I felt helpless. As quickly as that feeling came it was replaced with thoughts that reminded me of God's power to answer prayers. I felt like I was being taught something very significant. Did I not know this before? Yes, I did know it, but for some reason, Heavenly Father likes to give me little reminders that feel like a fresh revelation. Jocelyn will get better, and I feel a quiet--yet powerful--assurance that my prayers will play a part in that process.