Philadelphia Temple and Cultural Celebration

The bulk of July's end, all of August and September's

beginning have had one over-riding theme. 

TEMPLE. 

 

Yes, eight years ago, the Philadelphia Temple was announced,

four years ago they broke ground,

and last weekend they finished with a celebration,

dedication and it is now open for use. 

What has that meant for my family. 

 

Well in 7 weeks, we have made 13 trips to Philadelphia,

usually in the worst of traffic times (2-3 hours each way) 

on the Schuylkill Expressway. 

Locals know I deserve a medal. 

Add another few times that my family or I

have been there but carpooling with others. 

 

Those trips were volunteering to help give,

guide and clean after the many tours that went

through during the open house. 

Over 140,000 visitors attended in that time. 

Then there were the many practices

to prepare for the youth cultural celebration. 

 

And amazingly enough I was asked

to be part of the Cornerstone Choir,

which practiced quite a bit too, but mostly 

locally and just in Philadelphia on that last weekend. 

So I waited a week to write this post

because directly after, all I felt was exhaustion,

but now that I've had a week to recover,

I feel absolute

JOY.

 

So what was it all for:

It wasn't for the pageantry called the cultural celebration

although that was fun for my kids.

It wasn't for the glory of participating in the
Cornerstone Choir, although flattering,

or standing near President Eyring.

 

It wasn't for any of these things.

It was for my deep and abiding

LOVE

for the temple, for the gospel and for saving covenants.

It was so my kids could increase

their own love, their own faith and own testimonies of temples.

 

And despite my bone weary tiredness

it did just that.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Sewing "colonial" clothing

In the middle of the show,
Wyatt sees Bella and runs to share his thoughts.
Best summed up with his thumbs up.

 



The view at night!

 

I came out to find my boys all quietly contemplating it.

 

Summer Wrap Up and August Review

The summer flew by, faster than ever before.  I don't think I did much relaxing or vacationing or pool side sitting.  I also didn't do my typical summer curriculum for the kids.  So what did I do, I think I really just played chauffer to my kids and all of their activities. But Isabella did get her braces off in there, Issac and Kody still had plenty of time to play in the back yard with the neighbors and I got a nap or two.  It was a time warp summer.

This summer we did "summer swim team" that took quite a bit of time and commitment. Also with the kids getting older they each were gone for a week or so with church activities.  Isabella had girls' camp and youth conference, Wyatt had Scout camp, and the two younger boys went to Cub Day Camp, but it lasted a whole week.  So right there is 5 weeks of crazy.  Add in tons of things to prepare for and carry out the Philadelphia Temple Open House, Dedication and Cultural Celebration.  Then we added Band Camp and athletic training for Cross Country and Soccer.  Throw in two weeks to Texas, one to the Beach, and one week of family (William and Lacey and kids) being in town and boom summer is gone.