Temple Ready

My plan for the temple groundbreaking, was to have all of us go to the nice warm stake center and watch it from there.  It was bitterly cold that week, and looked like it would be just as bad during the early morning ceremony.  However, I was honestly very disappointed that such a neat experience would be happening just 2 blocks from my house and I was not going to see it in person.  Well, the night before Chad was able somehow to get 2 tickets from a guy at work that was not going to use them.  I was excited, but knew that both Chad and I couldn't both go because who would watch the kids?  Chad's parents had tickets too, and all of my babysitters in the ward should be going with their families as well.  Chad, bless his heart, knew that I wanted to go badly and sweetly offered to stay back with the kids while I found someone to take with me.  

I called my good friend Sheila, who was more than happy to brave the cold with me.  I was impressed to find out that she wanted to be there so much that she would have gone down to stand whether or not she had a ticket.  So early the next morning, (8 a.m.), and one hour before the groundbreaking started, Sheila and I walked down the street towards the temple grounds.  Yes, it was cold and raining and by the end of the ceremony I was very much aware that I did not dress warm enough, but I didn't care.  I was the presence of Elder and Sister Dallin H. Oaks, and heard him bless and dedicate that piece of land for what I am certain will be the most beautiful temple I have ever seen.  The excitement was palpable, and the spirit was strong.  

Like Sheila said, "When will something like this ever happen so close to where we live again?"  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be apart of the many who froze that morning.  To hear the first shovels turn the dirt.  It will be an experience that I will always cherish.

A couple of hours later, after Chad and I took the kids out to lunch, we decided to drive by the temple site.  We were so happy to see the row of golden shovels still there, and people still coming to take a turn.  We quickly got the kids out of the car, as messy as we were, not wanting to miss the opportunity.  What a neat thing for the kids to say that they got to dig in the dirt on that special day, for the temple that in later years they will be doing baptisms for the dead in, and maybe even receiving their endowments and getting married in.  From the news reports, it looks like construction on the temple will not continue until the spring, but that's okay.  We are still very much excited and ready.