Draper Temple Open House

Two days ago, March 9, 2009, we went to the Draper Temple open house, which was so cool.


Before going we stopped by IKEA, this was my first time, for a quick lunch. I definitely need to check that place out in more detail some day. I hadn't realized that it was Swedish. The food was good/healthy and cheap. During lunch Cynthia announced with a grunt "I pooping." Cynthia is potty training. I jumped up "Oh no, no poop!" This made me sweat bullets the whole trip, thinking .......please no poop in the panties. Disaster averted and we had no poop in the panties and no poop in the potty either. Waiting for the poop, that never made a formal appearance, made us late for the appointed temple open house time.

We then went to a church parking lot (the kids were confused and didn't think the church-house looked at all like a temple). We watched a short film which was interrupted by a few potty breaks. We then proceeded to the buses. We made the mistake of bringing a full size stroller and the baby's car seat/carrier with us. I think I hit a few people in the knee on my long walk to the back of the bus.

The kids were really excited to ride on the bus. I was wearing my high heeled dress boots and a long skirt. Again, I was sweating bullets trying to carry the hugeanormous stroller and herd the children to the exit. Trying to be as lady like as possible,(barely missing the bus drivers head), I made it down the narrow steps of the bus and onto the sidewalk. I felt a rush of false security to reach the ground. I immediately stepped into a hole next to the sidewalk. I stumbled....recovered.....and giggled nervously, as the polite temple workers asked if I was okay. I then awkwardly tried to get the dang stroller open (emphasis on the awkwardly and dang).

By the time we were parading down the long hallway of tents, the group had left us in the dust. Spencer turned around with a smile on his face and said that he was more excited for the kids to see the temple than anything else.

The tour was a "silent tour." So when Richard (4 months old) decided that the hour since his last feeding was up and wanted to eat again, everyone in the temple knew it. When we got to the "big bath tub" I was once again sweating bullets. Watching the children carefully, anticipating a splash....crisis averted. Later the kids fessed up and told me they wanted to go swimming in the "big bathtub."

We got special elevator privileges because of our hugeanormous stroller, which was fun.
We walked into the Celestial room and the baby stopped crying. Katrina (6 years old) was staring up at the huge vaulted ceiling accented with stained glass windows and a gorgeous crystal chandelier that was sparkling in rainbow colored light. Katrina then whispered in my ear, "When I look at that, it makes me think the Holy Ghost is here." Aawwww, how sweet. Alexander (4 years old) told me later, "I saw beautiful things."

We went into a sealing room and the doors were shut. A couple talked about the blessing of the Priesthood Power to seal together families in this life and those in the next. I had tears streaming down my face as I looked at my little family, wiggles and all, knowing that we would be a family forever. It was a special moment. I am so grateful for temples.

As we were leaving the sealing room, Spencer and I failed to notice that Cynthia (2 years old) had left the pathway and was climbing onto the alter in middle of the sealing room. The man that had just spoken was kindly redirecting her. She joined us on the beaten path as we tried not to laugh.

Afterwards there were cookies and water at the church house next to the temple. Which we were grateful for since the kids were again "starving." We took pictures there in the cultural hall. While heading out to the buses we realized that we were in the middle of a blizzard. Didn't see that one coming.

Overall it was a special day to be remembered.