Friday was a very important day in our lives. We were able to take all seven of our children into the temple as we were sealed for "Time and All Eternity" to Diamond and Florence. The temple is such a beautiful and sacred place where we are sealed as a family so that we will be a family even after this life. Generally, if you are married in the temple (which Brian and I were thirteen years ago) your children that are born to you are automatically sealed to you (or born in the covenant as we say). If a child is adopted then they are taken into the temple and sealed to you as if they had been born to you. This was a very important concept to my two little African children who have been abandoned multiple times. We explained to them that they were now a part of our family forever. We would never give them away or leave them because we are now their mommy and daddy for eternity. The eternity thing might have been a bit over their heads, but they were very happy to know that this was their family for good. 
The ceremony was short and sweet, but it was so beautiful to see all seven of my children dressed in pure white (like little angels) sitting together. Both Brian's family and my family and a couple of my close friends were also in 
attendance. It was one of the most perfect moments of my life. The first was when Brian and I were married in the temple, and the next will be when we are all back in the temple together again as a family when the last child is married in the temple. My mother found a little placard that reads: "No Empty Chairs" and explained to the children that our lives will only be truly complete and happy if everyone in the family is together. The older kids loved the experience and the little kids were a little bewildered by how quiet, clean, and peaceful the temple was--they really haven't encountered a place like that before. Not at our house anyway! They all loved it and Diamond is still asking to go back. I explained that the next time he gets to go in there is when he is getting ready to go on his mission at age 19. At least now, they know how wonderful it is and want to go back!
6 comments:
What an incredibly spiritual, wonderful day! You all look SO happy! This is perfect.
Jess, What great posts! It is so good to see pictures and hear how you are doing. I guess if you can update your blog with seven kids, then I'd better get cranking or come up w/ a really great excuse!
Sharon
Thank you so much for inviting me to be there. It was wonderful to see your family together, and so nice to be reminded of our own sealing just a few months ago. My heart is full for you. So happy!!
After all of Janey's complaining, I think the pictures are pretty cute. I'm amazed that the kids were cooperative. I'm even more amazed that they were all so reverent inside the temple during the sealing. I will never forget the way Diamond looked walking into the sealing room with his arms folded and trying so hard to be quiet even though Grandmas and Grandpas and aunts and uncles were there. His little eyes were gleaming!
jessica what an amazing event.
Thanks for sharing.
That was so neat to be in the temple with youguys. The spirit was so strong. Thanks for letting us be part of that awesome day. Giselle cracked me up with all her questions.
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