Jess and I woke up around 8:00 to get ourselves fed and ready for the day ahead of us. We then woke the kids up around 8:45 and with Grandma Karen's help we were able to get the kids fed, dressed, and out the door by 9:20. We arrived at the Salt Lake Temple at 9:50 with one hour and 50 minutes before our scheduled sealing time.
After showing our recommends at the door, we were escorted down to the nursery to drop off the kids. They were dressed in regular church attire and were able to play with toys and have snacks until Jess and I were sealed to each other. Once the kids were settled in the nursery, Maddy Horn stayed with them to keep them comfortable while we went to get dressed.
Once we were dressed we were able to spend some time together in the celestial room. I was smiling from ear to ear knowing that the next time I would be in any celestial room would be when Jess and I were ETERNAL companions. Walking in to the sealing room, I looked around at all the faces of people who loved and supported us. I feel truly blessed to know that my family and I will always be surrounded by good people. Our sealer gave us beautiful advice about clinging to one another and no one else. I know that he says this because although we will always love and be loved by our children, one day our kids will grow up and move on and Jess is the only one in my life that will be by my side day in and day out for eternity; I wouldn't have it any other way.
After we had knelt across the altar and had been sealed to one another, the sealer spoke a few more words to us. As we listened, we quickly heard our kids coming down the hallway....screaming. As a safety precaution the children have to be in a stroller to go from the nursery to the sealing rooms; they definitely did not like this. However, as soon as they opened the doors and could see us, the kids immediately started smiling. I felt as though the veil was so thin at this moment. Seeing my three beautiful children dressed in their white clothes reminded me of how lucky I am to get to spend every day serving them as their mother. I will never forget the love that filled my heart when all three of them looked at us; they gave us a look like, "HE is proud of you for your hard work, and you will be blessed and protected forever." Maycie leaned towards me saying, "Momma!" with a big grin on her face, while Kingston started waving and pointed out everyone he knew. Once a few more tears of joy streamed down my face, I realized that I was being sealed to the people I enjoy every day; its my very own happily ever after.
Because we were unable to actually hold the kids while being sealed to them, more tears started to come. Our kids are pretty feisty and were not happy when someone was trying to put their hands in certain places or stand in a certain place; they wanted to go play with all of their grandparents and friends. Brendan was able to keep Kingston standing pretty calm on his own, Maddy cuddled Kasen to keep him happy, and Crystal handled Maycie's tantrum like a champ. The sealer held the kids tightly so that he could recite the words quickly so that we could hold them. As soon as the sealing was done the kids were happy and we felt an immediate peace fall over us... We were officially an eternal family!
As I listened to the sealers words, I felt comfort. As I knelt at the altar with my family, I felt peace. But as we stood up and stood in front of the eternal mirrors, I felt love. I know that being sealed to my family was worth the wait and the dedication for 3 years. As I go throughout my life now, I can feel comfort in knowing that if anything were to happen to any one of us that everything will be okay; we will always be able to see each other again. I know that My Heavenly Father is proud of me, and he loves me. He blessed me with these beautiful kids and husband because he knew that I would do my best to take care of his precious children. I know that he doesn't put any trials on us that we won't be able to handle. I know that he has given me my trials to test my faith, and that I have made him proud by living faithfully and enduring to the end of this process. I will forever continue to greater my knowledge of this gospel and strengthen my faith, but now I can do it with a loving husband and children eternally by my side.
We truly appreciate everyone that helped us get to this point in our lives and are now literally ETERNALLY grateful to you.
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