Holiness to the Lord

Tonight we went to a Fireside about the temple, where we heard several speakers talk about their experience of going to the temple. I have spent some time pondering about the temple and its meaning for me personally. The final speaker made some remarks that really touched me. His words had added meaning for me, because I know that a year ago his wife was taken from him in a tragic car accident. I listened closely to the wisdom he has gleaned over the past year. He said that he often wonders what he needed to learn from this experience of being alone. He said that he has never had a harder year and that he has been so lonely. It has helped him to see that he doesn't want to be lonely in the eternities.

Most weddings performed end with the line, "Till death do you part," or, "As long as you both shall live." The difference with being married by one who has priesthood authority in the temple is that we are sealed together, "For time and all eternity." What a marvelous promise for someone who loses a loved one and what comfort to have the knowledge that we have claim to our family.

The temple gives promises of powerful blessings. We can go back through in proxy for another to be reminded of those promises. Every time I return to the temple I am able to see my life in eternal perspective. My troubles are put into place and I see more clearly. I receive instruction both from the words spoken and from the whispering of the Spirit.

I make promises in the temple that help me to keep track of where I am in my life and to pinpoint where I want to be. When I find I am straying from that path, I can readjust my course. The more I go to the temple, the more I want to return to the temple, the House of the Lord.

Before and After

This afternoon between sessions of General Conference we took the kids on a tour of the city hall. We also did this about a month ago, and I thought it would be fun to have a before and after blog to show the progress after 30 days.

Here is the outside before.

Here is the outside with the stucco nearly completed.

This is the inside of the library before:

And after:

These are the library offices. I really like the lettering they used and the two-toned paint.

The story room lets out onto a semi-circle patio. It's a huge room and will be so nice for story-time.

This is the front door from the inside before the windows were installed.

This is after:

The wood panels are beautiful.

This is the previous picture of the council chambers.

They were working on setting up the dais while were were there. It is beautiful.

This was the City Clerks office before:

This is after:

Here is Public Works.

These were the bathrooms a month ago:

Here they are with just one stall left to be installed and the automatic dryer.

This was the front of the building from the City Hall side:

Here is is after with a sidewalk and the stucco:

Here is Nathan's office:

Here is the computer/electrical room. There are a LOT of wires:

This was the parking area. It was pretty difficult to negotiate.

Now the sidewalks are all poured and it is prepped to pave this week.


Nathan celebrated his 37th birthday last month. He has always had a desire to have a positive influence in our community. This will have a lasting impact for years to come.

After all the challenges it is nice to see the fruits of his labor.

Mama's Taking Us to the Zoo Tomorrow

Andrew had another doctor's appointment in Pueblo earlier this month, and there was such nice weather I thought it would be a perfect day to take the kids to the zoo. The Pueblo zoo is just a little one, but it doesn't cost much and is perfect for a day trip.

It was Danielle's first time at the zoo and unlike Brandon who threw a fit the first time we took him to a zoo, she loved it! The highlight of the day was definitely the lions! They were pacing back and forth right in front of us.

Danielle's favorite were the otters. We got to them right at feeding time, and they were swimming around like crazy trying to pull the fish out of the feeding plastic bottles in the water. It was a crack-up!

Brandon stayed behind, because he has a Science class that he attends every day at the middle school and then football practice. The rest of the crew thought it was a great day.