Peter: Week 11

The House of the Lord

On Sunday Cooper was ordained an Elder in our church. This is an important step toward being a missionary.

Yesterday, he took another step. He went to the Philadelphia Temple for his own endowment. This is a very big deal. He was excited and a little nervous. Bryan, Peter, and I went with him and were so happy he made this choice.

Traffic was pretty intense. It took us about two hours to get to the temple. Luckily, we left early enough.

The underground parking garage makes it feel like we're not in the middle of a big city, even before we officially enter the building.

We arrived in time to stop at the Distribution Center, then head into the temple itself. I got a few before shots while we waited for the elevator.

This is the shift that Peter has been serving in for the last six months or so. Several people, when they realized we were Peter's family, told us how wonderful he is and what a great job he's been doing. That was a lovely, unexpected perk of going on a Thursday evening.

There were several people that came to support Cooper. We use last names at church, but for the sake of privacy, I'll list them my first name here:

• Tina and Richard, dear friends from our old ward, they helped prepare Cooper to go to the temple
• Scott and Robyn, Cooper's seminary teachers from his freshman year, they were in our old ward and they moved into the new ward with us, Scott wrote Cooper's letter of recommendation to get into BYU, and they also helped Cooper prepare for the temple
• Dave and Colleen, friends who are in our old ward, Dave is one of Cooper's biggest cheerleaders
• Kim, a good friend from our old ward, she brought her two sons to do baptisms while we were in the endowment session, just so they could be there to greet Cooper when he came out, that was at least three hours in the car just to give Cooper a hug and show their support (her husband was our Bishop in our old ward and would have been there as well if he'd been in town)
• Spencer, Cooper's good friend who went to the temple on Saturday for the first time to prepare for his own mission, and his dad Joe, both from our old ward
• Michael, a good friend from both the old ward and new ward, he serves in the Bishopric and has been one of Cooper's Young Men leaders
• Graham, another one of Cooper's Young Men leaders in our new ward, and the youth Sunday School teacher

It was really meaningful having these friends join us in the temple. They were all so happy for Cooper!

Cooper had a positive experience. He had so many questions that we couldn't answer them all before we had to leave. In fact, just before we stepped outside to take this picture after the session, the security guard locked the doors. Cooper is eager to go back.

We love you, Cooper!

Forty-Six Sounds Like a Lot More Than Forty-Five

I had a birthday! 

The day before we took the kids to see Toy Story 5 for an early celebration. The kids enjoyed it, but the messages definitely hit harder for the parents. There were tears. Many tears.

On my actual birthday, Bryan and I were able to go to the temple (a birthday miracle!) and have lunch together. I failed to take a picture of us at the temple, but I did take a picture of some of our lunch.

While we were gone, the kids decorated the house for my birthday. We always do this for the kids, but almost never do it for the parents, so it was a sweet surprise.

I was in charge of singing time this Sunday, so of course I made it birthday-themed since it was the day after my birthday. Cooper, Phoebe, Sophie, and Topher colored and cut the candles while Bryan and I were sitting in our in-person ward council meeting before church on Sunday. And Phoebe drew the cake. I'm so glad they carried out my vision and made the activity possible. That was its own birthday gift.

 And Topher told the whole primary how old I am. I'm fine with it, but the other adults in the room had some worried looks on their faces.

The actual birthday was kind of crazy busy (and included writing some of the talk I posted on Monday), so I opened my presents and enjoyed delicious enchiladas that Bryan made and ate my sweet potato-based gluten-free cake the next day. 

Also, I've been tired all week, so maybe being 46 wears you out?

In the Right Place

I just got this from a friend who was with my middle three at the temple tonight. Our calendar has been packed full, so I'm thankful they were able to make time to attend the temple.

A Place of Love and Beauty

On Saturday I was one of the drivers for our youth temple trip. Phoebe had to stay home for a rehearsal, but Cooper and Sophie were able to go. It was a long day with a lot of crazy Philadelphia driving, but I'm always happy to be in the temple with my kids.

Photo credit goes to a member of our Bishopric who brought his nice camera and took pictures of all the families that attended.

Lovely Day

Valentine's Day itself was very busy, but it started with some sweet treats waiting for the kids when they woke up.

Bryan gave me a bouquet of beautiful roses and we had a proper date of dinner and a movie. We saw a sweet film called Solo Mio. It was wonderful to have Cooper and Phoebe available to watch Topher so we could do that.

Peter celebrated by joining the other service missionaries at the Temple in Philadelphia. And Sophie had her first solo babysitting job, so she earned some money for Valentine's Day!

Off to the Temple

Heaven on Earth

Bryan and I spent part of Saturday in the Philadelphia Temple. A sweet family that joined the church about two years ago was sealed together. The sealing room was full of some of my favorite people. I'm sure it was a little glimpse of heaven.

I'll Go Inside Someday

Another exceptional evening took place last Thursday. Peter attended the Philadelphia Temple and made sacred covenants. Bryan and I accompanied him. It was a beautiful and profound experience for all of us.

To Go Inside Someday

Cooper and Sophie both gave talks about the temple on Sunday. Cooper jotted a few notes, but didn't write the whole thing down. He did a great job, I just don't have the talk to post here. Sophie also did a great job and she wrote down what she was going to say. And now you get to enjoy it, too.

“I love to see the temple I’m going there someday. To feel the holy spirit, to listen and to pray.” A few weeks ago I had the privilege to go to the temple. I love going to the temple, every time I go I feel so peaceful and calm. I love that I get to go with Phoebe and Cooper. When I was too young to go to the temple I was always sad when my older siblings got to go in but I didn’t. I remember waiting in the foyer of the Manhattan meeting house-which is in the same building as the Manhattan temple-waiting for them to be done, it felt like forever. I wanted to be inside, I wanted to see what they were doing and I wanted to help as well. The words of I Love to See the Temple described the way I felt, I wanted to go inside someday and be there with my siblings. Now that I am old enough to go inside, serving in the temple goes by so fast, I wish it lasted longer. Whenever I hear that there is an upcoming temple trip I am overjoyed to go. I can’t wait until Topher is old enough to go inside. I bear my testimony that going to the temple is important and it is a very positive experience. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Divide and Conquer

On Saturday we had to divide and conquer. Cooper was scheduled to take the ACT about an hour away from home. We found out the Sunday before that the youth in our ward had a temple trip planned for the same time as Cooper's test. Bryan and Topher shuttled Cooper while I took the girls to the temple.

The Philadelphia Temple is just a few blocks from the Free Library of Philadelphia, so when we finished at the temple the girls and I walked over to the library. The building is nearly 100 years old and beautiful. We found the teen section in the basement and enjoyed perusing the titles. We even found my friend's book!

Any resident of Pennsylvania can have a Philadelphia library card, mine gets lots of use. The girls signed up for their own while we were there. Then the librarians asked if they wanted to do the summer reading program. I explained that we live far enough away that we might not be back during the summer. They said that was fine and that if they signed up they could each have a tote bag and pick out two new books.

The girls immediately said yes.

Bryan and Topher had fun at a park with cool statues.

Cooper is glad the test is over.

I'll Prepare Myself While I Am Young

Sophie had a very special day on Saturday. She attended the Temple and did baptisms for the dead for the first time. Cooper performed the ordinance for both Sophie and Phoebe. I tagged along and handed towels to the kids as they came out of the font. Bryan and Topher looked at the pictures in the Visitor's Center and kept warm in the van. They happened to walk out to meet us afterward just in time for a picture. It was a wonderful, spiritual experience.

A Glimpse

I just got home from attending an Endowment session at the Philadelphia Temple. I went to support a sweet friend from my old ward who was going through for the first time. If my count is correct, there were at least twenty-one of us in attendance to encourage and support my friend and her husband. I've never been in a session with so many people that I hold dear. None of us wanted to leave the Celestial Room when it was over and I kept thinking, "This is what heaven will be like."

It was wonderful.

PA to NJ to CA