Today's Thoughts

I am once again able to travel with Lynn and so on Monday morning we left for Glendive Montana.  He had a home visit to do there for an adoption.  I mostly came with him so that we could go to the Temple.  It's better to come with him and plan our temple session around his work schedule rather than finding another time to return to Billings to attend the temple.  We made it a goal early in our marriage (almost 30 years) to attend the temple a minimum of 1 time a month.  For the most part we have kept that goal.  In the last 3 1/2 years since moving to Montana and being 3 1/2 hours from the temple (if the roads are good) we have been able to keep that goal as well.  It hasn't been without it's challenges.  It takes a lot more planning than an impromptu date night.  It is a full day's event.  But I don't mind because I love the temple.  I love going, I love being there, I love the personal revelation I receive while I am there, I love sitting in the celestial room and feeling the presence of my parents.  I love the talks Lynn and I have while we are there and the peace!  I love the peace of the temple.

As we were driving to the temple this morning we commented that we would probably be the witness couple again!  I can probably count on 1 hand the number of times in the last 3 years that we have NOT been the witness couple.  So we talked about that for a few minutes ~ being the witness couple isn't a bad thing just an interesting observation.  Then Lynn asked me if I ever remember seeing young couples in the temple when we are there.  I told him I only remember a time or two.  Now of course "young" couples would be anyone younger than we are but particularly the age of our children ~ so in their 20's.  Young couples with young children.  We have attended the Billings temple at all different times of the day.  This morning was the 8:00 am session ~ we have gone in the late morning, the early afternoon, the late afternoon, the evening.  Usually it is people that are over 40 I would say.  We wondered if it is because couples don't get babysitters anymore ~ or do they figure it just isn't their "season" to be able to do that ~ are we just missing them ~ are they too busy to work it into their schedules ~ are there just not enough members in Montana?  There has to be enough members or we wouldn't have a temple in our midst.  But it makes me sad that the temple isn't full to capacity!  This morning there were 10 of us ~ only 10 in a room that could easily handle 40 or 50 or more!  And that is typical.  One day we attended with only 7.  My heart aches for those missing out on the blessings of the temple because it takes some planning to get there ~ or for whatever reason they aren't attending.

I pray for my family.  I pray that they are MAKING the time and planning the outings to the temple.  There is power and strength in the temple!  Forever families are begun there but more importantly FOREVER families are kept by going there!

I am grateful for my parents and their example of service in the temple.  My dad especially loved the temple!  He would go even when mom couldn't!  Mom found herself - her real, beautiful, important self while she served in the temple.  She came to understand how important she was as a person while she served there!

I'm thankful that my husband takes me to the temple and sits beside me and holds my hand and wants to be there with me.  I'm thankful that my children were married in the temple!

I'm thankful today that there is a temple in Montana and that it is only 3 1/2 hours away and that my husband travels here and that I can come with him again!  And I'm thankful that I was there today :)  The temple is one of my treasured blessings!