From A all the Way to Z: I love to see the Temple

Well with Kale coming on the 15th of April I kinda thought we had witnessed our last really big blessing for a while. Him serving our Heavenly Father was one of the best blessings a family can get. We watched him grow and change and then come home get in the groove and get back into everything again. But I was kinda missing the spiritual high that comes from anticipating something so wonderful. Then Aunt Boo (Sloan Fowler) told us that she was getting her own endowments out in the Orlando Temple on May 1. I was able to go and I am so grateful for that opportunity. At 5:00 am, bright and early, Aunt Randy pulled into our driveway with the Tahoe and climbed into the far back seat. She wasn't feeling well but we all know that a little issue like that would never keep her from the temple and enjoying the blessings of see Aunt Boo there. She relinquished, astonishingly, the driver seat to me and mama settled in the second seat. We stopped and picked up Aunt Katrina and then Amy. With Aunt Katrina riding shot gun next me we began our adventure. What a lucky girl I am. I got to spend 5 hours in a car, as the driver and thus controller of the radio, with 4 of my favorite women. Cause that's the way we roll. All together always. AWESOME! We even tease a lot about us being together all the time because even when they were having us younguns they would call around when the time came to have the baby and everybody would go together. Just another one of those things that I have come to love as I have been raised by these amazing people I call family.

When we got to the temple we could just feel the excitement in the air. It was like a starving man coming to Christmas dinner. We were all there needing a little 'somethin, somethin" as Aunt Randy would say. Life has been kinda getting the best of us lately. While waiting in the chapel for the session to start we got to talking about our favorite things in the temple and the work that we were so fortunate to be able to do. I was going through for Memaw's (Aunt Margie) grandma which was very special to me. Heather had 3 sisters to do and she gave them to Mama, Aunt Katrina and Aunt Randy to do and that was wonderful too. Just so many neat experiences and we hadn't even really started yet. Mama's dress showed her feet and I was walking on 2 foot of mine so we ran and traded. It was probably one of my favorite things of the day to be in the temple with my mama, her 2 sister, and my grandma. It don't get much better than that. But if it did, it would include Memaw and Aunt Boo. And it did.

We filed into the session and she was there, pretty as you please, just waiting to soak it all in. Memaw was so happy to finally have Sloan in the temple it looked like her feet were floating off the floor. We sat in a row, Cheryl, Sloan, Memaw, Heather, Brittany, Me. In the row behind me was Aunt Katrina, Aunt Randy, Randy Peddie, Grandma. The row behind them found Mama and Amy and several more all seated and ready to go. It was like we were all holding our breath, and then the magic began.

As we finished up the session and all entered in the Celestial room I took a seat in the far back and just watched everybody come in one by one. I laughed, I cried and I prayed, oh how I prayed. The first person to hug me when I got there was grandpa. I don't think I could have chosen someone I love more than that man. Strong, steady, I should just call him Chevy, because he too is like a rock. There we all were, family and friends, gathering up once again. Tears were shared, soft whispering laughter, hugs, kisses, handshakes and handholding. I can't help but think that is what heaven is going to be like. Everybody filled with joy, together, waiting on the rest to make it through. She did so well and for the first time in my life I saw Aunt Boo as Heavenly Father does. A Beautiful, Kind, Loving, Sweet spirit, choice to him and to me. She radiated happiness and joy. Calm and collected. How I love her.

Of course afterwards we had the usual picture session and we loaded up and brought it on to the house. Many goals achieved and many more set. I think the next best day in the temple will be 24 July when Kale will take Whitney to the temple to be sealed forever and become his wife. The blessings of the temple are too many to count. If I just started with the people that Heavenly Father has blessed me to know I probably would be well over a 1000. What can I say, I am one lucky lady.