One Week, Two Temples

"I should not like to contemplate an existence, especially one that is going to 

continue forever, if I could not enjoy that existence with those whom I love. 

And so we build temples in the name of the Lord."

—Hugh B. Brown

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, temples are our crowning jewel.  We are very blessed to live where we do. I have 5 temples within one hour of my home.  Isn't that extraordinary?!

The newly renovated Ogden Temple is open for tours right now.  We have gone twice as a family and we've enjoyed the spectacular beauty of this sacred place.  Once it is dedicated for use by LDS members, only those in good standing with the Church (aged 12 and older) can attend.  Till then, all are welcome!  

Free reservations HERE

My kids were in awe of the pretty rooms inside.

And the water feature outside.

My future missionaries

Oh how I love this group.  These kids are my biggest joy and some days are my greatest heartache.  But nearly everything I do in my life is directly or indirectly for them.  My energies, my prayers, my thoughts, my money, my time. I want them to develop into just the kind of person their Heavenly Father knows they can become.  With my sweet husband by my side, we will do our very best to help them along.

President Boyd K. Packer stated, 

“The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to 

unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 

that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, 

linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the 

presence of our Heavenly Father.” 

Yesterday our family had an errand to run in Logan, UT.  I told the boys to dress up so they could attend the temple while we were there.  As the girls are too young, I would hang out with them on the temple grounds while the boys did their temple service.

I had driven past it before but had never been on the grounds.  How beautiful!

Love my precious girls

(5 yr old Rosebud took this one)

 I've never seen hydrangeas successfully grown in Utah!

 I loved the look of the limestone exterior

And the window arches

Princess took this pic of the valley below.

Just. So.  PRETTY.

President Howard W. Hunter stated, 

“In the ordinances of the temple, 

the foundations of the eternal family are sealed in place.” 

I am thankful for temples!

Garden 2014

The growing season is in full swing in my little corner of the world. We're happy with our garden this year.

Here is a random Mother's Day flower from church that I planted at the corner of the garden plot.  I don't even know what it is, but it's doing well and blooms prolifically.
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Peppers and tomatoes are doing fairly well.

Sunflowers behind the corn.  The very, very short corn.

First attempt at beans.  I planted a TON and figured we'd have too many to use and I could can a lot of them.  Not so many, though.

Gorgeous sunflowers before the rainstorms pelted them this week.  Now they look a little sad, but they were glorious last weekend.

Post - rainstorm.

Zucchini makes us happy.  We bake a ton during August!  We also got our first yellow squash today.  Time for a bbq.  :)  We like to make chicken kabobs with our summer squash.

My concord grapes are just starting to color.

 Peaches are beginning to blush.  In just three weeks my forearms will be sticky with their juice.  Best fruit ever.

Nectarines getting ripe, too.

Baby pumpkin.

Corn with silks.

My favorite thing about August is that the Rose of Sharon hedges are exploding with color.

We have a variety of shades.  The blooms last only about a day, then they drop and litter the lawn with fallen petals.  The rabbits gobble them up like candy!

They form the backdrop of my favorite corner of the yard.  It gets a little jungle-y with the vines and such, but it's so lush and I love it.

The biggest one is at the corner of the patio.

Happy yard.  It's been a great summer!