We packed up and took taxis to the temple. It took three cars to get the 8 of us and al our stuff there.
Then we spent 7 hours on the temple grounds. Resting, eating, walking, stirring. At 4:45 we went to go see if Jaxson could do a baptism. And if we could maybe do something.
Landon baptized Jaxson and a few others. His parents went and did intiatories and then went and saw the celestial room.
I swapped with them and went and did intiatories. But literally we could not communicate. After I did three I tried as best as I could to explain I just wanted to go see the Celestial room. They first took me to the sealings. Then they told me the session was closed. Then they told me the celestial room was closed. Then I tried to get my phone to translate. But someone was in my locker room and then ended up taking me someone else to have someone explain to me that the endowment session was closed til 7. I kept trying to say I didn’t want to do that. But we just couldn’t communicate. Finally after 25 minutes a lady said in broken English. “It is closed til 7. You can go so Intiatories or go sit in, how you say Celestial Room”. I was like YESSS!! That’s exactly where I want to go.
So they took me. And I was there alone. I was about to leave but then had the thought “take in this moment. Don’t rush. You have time.” So I stood in the middle of the room and took 10 deep breathes and try to find three things that I could remember. And listen to the sound of silence. And feel the ac. I guess I tried to be present. After that, I went to open the door and when I did, Landon was pushing on it to come in!
I guess he decided to run back in and try and meet me in the Celestial Room. He said he prayed the whole time through the intiatories that we’d end up in the celestial room together. And he just knew it would work out. I told him all the reasons why It’s crazy that it did. But I was so happy to cuddle him for a minute and enjoy the gift from God. Maybe that’s why it took me 25 minutes to get there. And it took him 30 seconds :).
I realized in that moment that one of the fruits of the spirit is determination. I kept thinking while trying to explain myself “why am I even trying to do this. I don’t need to go see the Celestial Room. Seriously, normally in other moments I would have just given up. It wasn’t really that important. And I assumed everyone was waiting for me. I had no idea Landon was trying to meet me there. But every time I thought that, I just kept thinking “no! Let’s me it there.”
It was kind of a special way to end the trip.
Finally at 7:00 we headed to the airport. We are here now. Our flights leaves at 10:15pm. We get to Dallas at 7:15am. Should be a fun ride. The boys are good and exhausted. I love them. Tablets are great when traveling!
Ps: Luke had my phone most of the day. So most pictures are curtesy of Luke. I also did some temple work for a Marcia Luque(luk-ay) which made me smile.
