Week #25, 29 May - 4 June 2017

It was one of those perfect days for us on Monday.  We took Nelson's family out to breakfast and then joined everyone at the Tucson Temple for our private tour.   What a wonderful family we have!  We missed Jay, Bobby, Mariah, and Jack & Ansley being with us.

It was time for our tour and Nelson led the way.  He was great at the task and shared insights to the construction and purpose of the temple.  The grandchildren were very respectful.  Nelson was great with answering questions, etc.

The last room we entered was a sealing room.  Nelson closed the door and we had a quiet moment.  He then asked Bob and I to say a few words and he followed afterward.  We each spoke of the sacredness and blessings of eternal sealing as families.  All we do in living the gospel points us to this most sacred of ordinances.

It was a tender moment for all of us.  To see our children and grandchildren gathered in this most holy room prompted the tenderest of feelings and love for our Heavenly Father.  He most assuredly does not leave us alone to flounder on this earth as we journey back to him.

We took family pictures before we went in for the tour.

Jared & Kim.

Hal, Jeanna, Hanna, & Jeremiah.  Jason, Halie, & Clark.

Trevor, Juliann, Adele, Brynlyn, Collins, & Dakotah.

Thor, Katie, Lorili, Gabe, Henry, Caleb, & Eliza.

Bob, Becky, & Charly.

Nate, Kendal, Bridger, Sam, McKenna, Eme, Nick, Carter, & Koa.

Nelson, Julie, Isabel, Pearson, & Jack.

Tyler, Elizabeth, Jashar, Carson, Marissa, & Emily.

At the end of the tour we exited out into a tent where each family could get their picture taken in front of this picture and then it was emailed to them.  Here we are.

After this amazing experience in the temple some of us went to Nelson’s where we enjoyed food, being together, and visiting.  I was able to give gifts to all the grandchildren as reminders of the importance of the temple and living the gospel.  Some of the families headed home with long drives ahead of them.

We went to Tyler’s for the night.  They had a delicious meal for us and we enjoyed visiting  and played games with the girls.  Family night came along and Jashar did an awesome job with the lesson.  We topped it off with waffle bowls made with the waffle maker from the yogurt shop days.  It was indeed a most amazing day.  We have the best family on earth!

We flew back to St Louis on Tuesday and made our way back to Nauvoo.  It had been a great trip and we were ready for the rest of the week.  Attendance at the temple has picked up and we were patrons on a session as well.  Our car got fixed and Bob was off to Peoria to pick it up.  The rest of the week was busy with our shifts, shopping, cleaning, laundry, etc.

Kendal and her five oldest children came in Saturday just after we got home from our shift.  It was great to see them and they were excited to be here.  After church on Sunday, we found time to visit the temple and get some pictures. 

Bridger, Sam, McKenna, Eme, and Nick.

Kendal joins them.

You gotta have one with Grandpa and Grandma.

From Home:

Bobby was off to El Salvador for three months volunteering as a nurse with the Phoenix Allies For Community group.  He is on his way with fellow co-workers.  What a great way for him to share his  nursing skills.