Forever Family

It has actually been a month since we were able to take the girls through the temple, but I was waiting to post until I got the pictures that my good friend Jen took. The pictures are great! But, nothing on film will ever really capture the deep feelings parents feel to see ALL their children walk into a sealing room dressing in white clothing. All of life purposes come into sharp focus in such circumstances. You know exactly who you are, why you are here on earth and who you can become in the next life. The blessings that are poured out through the sealing covenant are both immediate, eternal and vast in nature. As a brief explanation, the sealing covenant is actually the Abrahamic covenant that was made between God and Abraham of the Old Testament. God promised Abraham and all those throughout the history of the world who would accept and keep their end of the covenant (two way promise) that he would bestow on them all that he hath. And that is more than we can comprehend, but keeping our end of the deal is easy to understand. From Luke 10:27 "And he (the Saviour) answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

So here is Julia's 2 minute primary program talk she was asked to write about her temple experience and what she learned. A little help from mom of course on the scripture reference.

MY TEMPLE SEALING

On august 14th, I was really excited. Our family was going to the Salt Lake Temple. Olivia and I were getting sealed to our mom and dad. When we where there, a lot of people were there too. They were getting married and working at the temple. I was scared. But when we went inside, it was beautiful. I felt happy and I felt the Holy Spirit. I know the Holy Spirit because my heart felt happy. Inside the children’s area, they had baby stuff like baby cribs. And I thought, “You know, this is awesome.” And then my sister started to play with it. Then all of the Perry kid’s dressed in all white clothes and went in to the sealing room. Of course, we had some tears. We were really happy. Later, we took some pictures, ate at the Lion House and we went home!

I know that the temple is important because you be married in there in a different way than anywhere else. In the temple you can be sealed to each other for eternity not just for this life. And then your children can be sealed to you and you can go to the Celestial kingdom and live forever. And what is really special is that someday you can become a king or Queen. In D&C 132:19-20 it explains this when it says “If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed…and it shall be said unto them-Ye shall come forth in the morning of the first resurrection...and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions…And then shall they be gods, because they have no end.”

President Hinckley also talked about how important the temple is. He said “know that the ordinances of the temple are upon the earth, the great sealing ordinances under which we may be bound together as families for time and all eternity. It has been built for you, my brothers and sisters, that you might have the opportunity of coming here and receiving the wonderful blessings that can be had nowhere else in all the world, except in other temples, where you may be sealed together as husband and wife, where your children may be sealed to you, where you may work in behalf of your forebears, who have gone beyond.”

I bear my testimony that I know that the temples are very important because you can help yourself and your family go to the Celestial kingdom. And then when you die, you can see them. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ AMEN

Little Pig Little Pig let me come in!

At this point, if someone huffed and puffed and actually blew the house in, I think I would live in a tent the rest of my life. The last 3 weeks have been some of the craziest and hardest on my brain ever! It is a good thing that Guy is such a trooper and spends all the time he does scrutinizing everything that the subs do. At this point, I just don't care anymore about little things like lights being put in that are .25 inches of center in a big room. But, Guy still cares. He drives some of the subs nuts I know it as he is right along side measuring away,thinking and rethinking every detail. As for me, even on big things like what tile I want, "Just surprise me!" Yeah, I wish it were that easy. I need to get another picture as we have windows and doors in, too and a lot of the roof done. Getting Oh so close to the 4 way inspection before sheetrock.

Rainbows and smiles in Yellowstone(and Jansen off chasing crickets!)

Cozy cabin in Silver Gate, Montana

Where the buffalo roam, make wierd noises and kids laugh

We did get a break 2 weeks ago when we got to go to Yellowstone for Mart and Linda's wedding. It was a very cool wedding at the top of Daisy Pass right outside the northeast entrance of the park. A very special moment that we were so happy to be able to take part in. Guy and I most especially loved the wedding vows that were read. That is something that in not part of the LDS marriage tradition and I wish it was. I was just really touched by the personal commitment that was offered to one another. Both vows were extremely thought out and from the deepest parts of thier hearts. Very awesome and wonderful. I think if every couple did that upon getting married and then read them once a week, that maybe relationships would be so hard to keep together for some people. Losing love for someone is hard to do when you remind yourself of why you married them and what you are willing to do for them to make their life better. It is hard to hate the people you serve.

School starts on Monday. I would have to say that I am excited. It has been a busy summer. The kids really have been great. As far as that goes, I have enjoyed them more than ever. The hardest part was getting work done on the house. It will be really helpful to have them in school now while we finish building. We have moved Olivia up a grade so that she will now be going into the 4th grade rather than 3rd. When she came home and started school last November, we put her in 2nd grade since we had a choice given her August birthday between 2nd and 3rd. I am so glad we started her there. It was the best situation at the time. By the end of school, though she could already do read english instructions and do math on grade level. Even some other things too. Then Julia and Olivia did a LARGE amount of spelling paragraphs this summer. It was through that that I realized she was indeed very smart as I had suspected and would do better in the long run by moving up. Addititionally, she really needs to be with Jansen and Denver and their good group of friends. She is little miss social and will appreciate that too.

A picture the day after Olivia's 9th birthday.

Astro Camp, Hair and Vernal

This last week was fun for everyone. Cade got to go to Astro Camp Utah for the 3rd year. This time it was Academy camp which is all the space shuttle mission simulations plus leadership,service and time at Camp Williams for teambuilding courses. His call name was Pepe' which is the call name for his old soccer coach that flies F16s. You can tell by the video how much he has grown through the experience.

Jansen and Denver spent a great week with Grandma and Grandpa Perry in Vernal. They got to do all the cool things like shoot guns, go fishing, look for deer, ride four wheelers and work for their food. Thanks a ton to mom and dad for that! The poor girls were so sad that they didn't get to go out again. They had their turn a couple a weeks ago plus got to play dress up with family wedding dresses. What more could a girl ask for? Unless it's me and once upon a time I would have suggested a game of flag football or hunting down a new Star Wars trading card.

Oh yes and the mom training continues with a hair lesson this week. Karen Anderson did a great job helping learn how to do an "updo" for the girls now that their hair is getting long enough. Also some great tips on hair bands and such. I practiced the updo today for church and can you believe it? I did it! Took longer than it should have I am sure, but I never did practice on those toy doll heads when I was little. Although, Karen told I could come play with her practice doll head to get up to speed on different braiding techniques. Uhmm...maybe after I cross the Pacific in a raft with no wind. I am sure it will make the list of things I want to do at that point.

Oh and my favorite house building task for the week? Picking toilets! I guess the Cadet 3 is the plumbers favorite so I choose the higher standing oval shaped one(it's what Guy wanted.) I guess I thought they were all the same. Guess not. Who knew? Lots of happy flushing for years to come!