My dad's Father's Day gift to me

Ty and I went to the temple tonight. We have a family reunion, on his side, coming up on Saturday and this temple night was part of it. I'm so grateful that this was scheduled.

If you aren't a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and would like to know more about temples you can go here.

First off, I have been kind of dreading this weekend.

It's the first Father's Day since my dad passed away. There have been commercials on the radio about Levi jeans on sale at Reams that have almost brought me to tears. My dad loved Levi's 501 jeans and mom would go to Reams to buy them. I wasn't sure how I was going to deal with this Sunday.

Tonight as we were directed into the Endowment room and I sat down I was overcome with the feeling that my dad was there. Even before the session began.

Dad was a temple worker there in the Mt. Timpanogos temple. He and mom served there early on Saturday mornings. He loved it. Even though he had health issues and it was difficult for him he still served.

After they were released from their calling I felt bad that I never went to the temple while they were there serving. I never got to see him in his white suit. If I could go back in time that is one thing I would do. Go through a session on one of those early Saturday mornings.

As we were waiting for the room to fill up and I was looking at the temple workers who were there. Dressed in there white suits. I was thinking about not seeing dad in his. And that is when the feeling that he was there came over me.

It was amazing. He was there. I could feel it. I know it. He was there.

It was amazing and wonderful. Then as the session went on there came a point where this unbelievable feeling came over me. I knew that my dad has joy in me and in my life. That even though he is no longer here on this earth that he still keeps tabs on me. I could feel his joy and knew that I was the source of that joy.

I can't even begin to express to you how much that meant to me.

Dad and I didn't talk much. He wasn't an expressive person. I knew that he loved me. We said "I love you" back and forth whenever we would leave. I knew he was pleased with my life and the decisions I had made but it was never verbalized.

I know it now. I know it more than any words he could have said while he was here on this earth.

Then as we prepared to move into the Celestial Room I was excited. Incredibly excited. I knew that I would be able to feel my dad's presence even more so in there. I can't explain the anticipation that I felt as I stepped from the one room into the next.

Oh the love and the joy that I felt!

Ty came through at almost exactly the same time as I did and pulled me into a hug as tears fell down my face. We greeted the other family members that were there for the reunion and then went and found a spot to sit.

As I sat, I reveled in my dad's presence. In this gift that he had given me. The chance to know that he really is still there. That I bring him joy and happiness. To feel that joy, to feel his happiness.

If we could have turned around and done another session I would have. In a heart beat.

And yet I wasn't sad to leave. Why? Because I know that even if I don't have this same experience again, I've had this one. And there will be chances for others.

My dad lives. He is strong and tall, he is happy, he is healthy and he is pleased with me. In that knowledge I was able to leave the temple with an incredibly happy heart.

Families? They are Forever. It is true.*

I will see my dad again someday.

Father's Day is going to rock.

*(Want to know more about this? Go HERE.)

Sometimes

Sometimes in this day and age it's scary opening your door. Just a few miles away a lady opened their door and was stabbed for no apparent reason. Scary, no?

But Sometimes....sometimes.... something wonderful happens when you open your door to a stranger.

That something wonderful happened at our home last night.

A young man showed up on our doorstep selling magazines. (No we don't have a No Soliciting sign) Tyran answered the door and I thought he would make quick work of the young salesman. He rarely has patience for people coming to the door to sell us things.

But he didn't make quick work of this one. He listened. And then he did something that floored me. He agreed to buy a magazine. I was sitting in the front room on my laptop not believing what I was hearing.

Then a strange thing happened. This young man that was selling came into our home. For those of you who have experience with this, you know that they NEVER come in. Ever. They are told NOT to go into people's homes. He even said as he came in the door. "I'm breaking the law, my dad's in the military and is going to kill me."

He came and shook my hand and introduced himself. Very personable, friendly person. Ty and he went to the kitchen table and started to fill things out for the magazine subscription. Then this young man said "I don't mean to be rude but can I ask you a question?" Sure. "This being Utah and all. Are you guys Mormons?" We replied in the affirmative.

The next question he asked? "Do you have any literature that I could have?" I was stopped short. Did we? How sad is that that I had to stop and think if we did or not? I told him that I was sure we had a copy of the Book of Mormon that he could have. Our kids have one or two missionary copies laying around at any given time. He said that he'd been wanting to ask about the church but hadn't really felt comfortable asking about it until he came into our home.

I went on a search for "literature" as he and Ty talked more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I found a well used copy of the Book of Mormon and gave it to him. And he and Ty basically had the first discussion. He wore a cross on a chain and explained that he didn't really like it but that his mom had given it to him and she had passed on. Then they spoke of families and how we believe that the are forever, and how that is something that the church is all about. Being a forever family.

I also found a small card that had the 13 Articles of Faith on it to give to him. I was busy getting the kids rounded up because we had to head out the door to the Blue and Gold banquet so I didn't get to hear exactly what was happening but from what Ty told me it was amazing. The Spirit was here and that young man felt it.

This young man is in Utah for a month. He comes from New Jersey. Ty gave him his cell number and his business card and told him to call him if he had any more questions. We are hoping that he will come back to our home tomorrow night so that we can have the missionaries come and talk to him.

How about that? I found that sometimes when you open your door amazing things can happen.

(I also found out that I need to get more "literature" in my home.)

Gordon B. Hinckley June 23, 1910-January 27, 2008

Yesterday after we had just wrapped up the family party for j. and G. my brother called me to tell me that the Prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley had passed away. He was a wonderful man, full of life and love for everyone. His sense of humor will be one of the things that I will miss most. He was a servant of the Lord up to the last. I am grateful to have lived during his time as the leader of the church.

He was a prophet of the Lord. I believe with all my heart that President Hinckley knew Christ and our Father in Heaven and received inspiration from them for our church and for the world. The time of prophets is not past. It is here again and has been since Joseph Smith knelt in prayer in the Sacred Grove. If you wish to find out more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints just click on the link and it will take you where you want to go.

Good-bye President Hinckley. 'Till we meet again.

(The photo used in this post was from Sariah Says. She has some other fabulous photo's of President Hinckely on her blog. If you want to go and check them out.)