Final Days in Utah

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Final Days in Utah

Andrew's last day of work in Utah was a Tuesday. We decided to spend Wednesday morning at the temple. Unfortunately, Andrew realized on Monday that his temple recommend expired that day. So he scrambled to get interviews with the Bishop and a Stake Presidency member. But on Sunday he had gotten our membership records switched over to Alaska. So when it came time to activate his new temple recommend, they didn't have access to do it. We woke up Wednesday morning not sure if they would even let him in. We also had to be out of our house at 8:30 AM for the inspection from the buyers. So... we got all of our stuff, and headed off to have breakfast at Village Inn after dropping our car off for some basic maintenance in preparation of our 1900+ mile journey. We kept telling ourselves and each other that we *should* go to the temple. We knew we would regret NOT going, but it was really hard to work up the motivation to do it.

After breakfast we stopped by to visit with my grandma. Andrew left me there while he ran an errand, I got my hair and make up fixed up to look a little more "temple ready". Then, we went through with our plans and headed to the temple.

It was WONDERFUL! Although we were blessed with a phase of weekly temple attendance just last winter and spring, we hadn't been in several months (Andrew's new work schedule, my morning sickness and the boys being out of school for the summer had all added up to major deterrents on our temple attending habit) . It was our first time seeing the new film which was beautiful. It was extremely emotional to realize that I had no idea when I would be able to come to the temple again. Of all the losses and sadness over moving, this was the one that hit me the hardest. Being there in the temple that day was very bitter-sweet and we both left feeling so grateful we had gone.

Here are some of our other final activities in Utah:

On one of our last Saturdays, we took the boys to the doughnut shop.

We visited Grandma and Grandpa Shadel so the boys had a final chance to visit with the cats.

(The adults were all frantically trying to plan my trip to Seattle.)

Later that afternoon, we had lunch with the couples in the Shadel family:

The Monday before we left, the Nunes family did family portraits at Day Break Lake.

The kids had fun playing at the playground before, after and between some of the pictures.

After pictures Joe and David were getting together for ice-cream at Arctic Circle.

They invited us to join them and we took advantage of one last chance to hang out with the group.

Peter thought it would be fun to pose with grumpy faces every time the camera went his direction.

I got to hang out with my youngest nephew Alister and I realized I probably won't even recognize him next time I see him. I insisted on taking some pictures as "proof" that I really did know him and wasn't the total stranger he would think I am next time he sees me. I couldn't get him to look at the camera so I finally just gave up...

After all of this, it was just a crazy (and exhausting) few days of packing.

Thursday, especially, was torture!

It was so much worse than I had anticipated.

And then, to make it especially challenging, it looked like our stuff wasn't going to fit on the moving truck,

But Andrew and Derrick worked hard and long LATE into the night to get everything in just right.

And in the end, we kept everything we had planned to bring.

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.