23 and Me

#1

As the new year commenced, I began to come up with some 

fun goals for myself that incorporated the number 23!

 For instance...read 23 books, watch 23 Oscar winning movies(I fall asleep watching movies, potential problem with this one haha), walk at least 23 minutes a day(I already try and do that), or make 23 new recipes (still trying that), or make 23 things? (So far, I finished a beach cover up and top I had cut out during the pandemic.)

 I spent almost all of January thinking of ways to make my year more enjoyable and FUN :) 

Because I'm tired of being alone and lonely and yeah...

but then I had a very clear thought that came into my mind,

 why don't you go to the temple 23 times?

That thought kind of cut through all of the more fun and light hearted goals I thought I'd need to get through the year :)

My goal of 23 temple visits comes with one disclaimer:

 it didn't have to be perfect.

Open house counts.

Going with my kids counts.

Going and finding a closed temple counts.

Out of town and walk the grounds counts.

So here it all is.

A year that tethered me and strengthened my trust

 in God's plan for me :)

#2

Youth Baptism trip 

Chester was baptized for my Uncle Roy :)

reenacting Titanic :)

goobers

#3

The endowment had some very meaningful changes that was needed for our time right now. 

So good:)

And such a blessing.

#4

We woke up so early for a 7am Saturday session and found Devil's Slide closed. So, instead of going home...Clay drove 90mph and we got there:) Miracle or criminal? haha

Clay took time to do my Uncle Roy's initiatory afterward.

My hair is even messy in the temple :)

#5

My sister Marcie orchestrated a temple trip for the cousins on a weekend out to Phoenix. Both kids commented on how this was the BEST temple trip they had ever had. No distractions but loads of fun

(could this be a fun goal after all?)

We did family names with Uncle Scott. He dunked them with extra care and seconds under the water :) 

#6

As Clay and I have been going back and forth about what to do with our lives since it seems we have hit a wall here, I suggested that maybe we should go to the temple.

Again with the traffic...but somehow we made it with time to spare!

A miracle.

Clay did Uncle Roy's endowment.

There was something special about this session. I was in a very lighthearted mood. I kept smiling and finding everything amusing. It was FUN! AS we left, I told Clay I had the feeling I get after I see all of my family...like I was just at a party or something. And then I just imagined a party for Roy. And then the vibe all made sense to me! One of the workers thanked us for coming to the temple that night because we made it special :)

#7

I went late morning with a family name.

I had a feeling that I would receive much needed personal revelation. That thought seemed to answer a deep desire to connect with God.

 And then guess what?...

I could barely stay awake.

 I felt like I was drugged and wanted to curl up and just get an afternoon nap under the seating.

I blame teaching seminary every morning.

 Miraculously I stayed awake for the important stuff. 

Sidenote: keeping track of when the flowers look best for future sealings. Gorgeous day and flowers.

 This is 3rd week of April :)

#8

initiatories

I remember being in the SF singles ward and women saying...we are doing initiatories this week and everyone just seemed to comprehend what that was...and I was like, 

what in the world is an initiatory?

Turns out it's one of my favorite things to do in the temple.

p.s. think of it as a prelude to making deeper covenants after baptism... but this prelude is also full of mercy and grace.

 The kind that cannot be granted by men/women alone and only through the Savior. 

I smile and soar with gratitude each time I hear these words.

#9

Yellow Roses

Feeling good

worried about family

#10

The joy is self explanatory here.

Freshly back from her mission in Portugal!

Two things happened: Lucy received a much needed answer for direction in her life. I sat there next to her knowing that God would open doors in her mind and in her immediate future :)

Then heard sobering news of a mother who was killed in a car accident in our stake. It was hard to hold those 2 things in one space. 

My heart soared and ached all at the same time.

#11

While in Utah we toured the Saratoga Springs Temple. 

It had beautiful blues, greens and purples throughout in the stained glass. 

With Aunt Leslie! 

#12

Does this constitute a visit? 

I tagged along with Clay to Fresno and we decided to walk the grounds of the temple in the evening.

We were then greeted by a "temple cat" who had parked itself on the welcome mat, then circled the perimeter and met up with us for a meow and a rub up! 

:)

#13

Lucy has taught me to never let anything cancel a temple date. I took Jessie Lee Province to receive her endowment if she wants it.

 She is my great great great uncle's daughter on my Dad's mom's side💛

*also temple flowers on point...so far late April and late June are prime wedding times for the grounds:)

#14

Temple flowers still looking perfect. We made an appointment for initiatory work which is always so peaceful. 

And Clay came!

I love physically seeing him in the temple. The juxtaposition of his rougher exterior in the soft colored walls and interiors of the temple bring it to life for me:) 

#15

I won't pretend I remember this trip so I will just assume I sleepily sat my way through an endowment session!

Early September

sunny Oakland/ foggy San Francisco in the distance :)

#16 & #17

I decided to count this visit as a 2fer since I began with an hour of initiatory work and then attended an endowment session:)

Is that cheating?

I say no. 

I was making up time!

I walked around the rooftop garden and the hydrangeas were in full bloom!

#18

I planned a sealing date with Clay. 

We couldn't believe how long it had been since we did them...back in the Denver Temple? That's just too long!

 We did 9 sealings for both sides of our families. 

It was like hearing those sealing promises for the first time. 

It sparked my love for Clay in the way I felt the day we got married.

 It was a fabulous night in the temple:)

The city sparkled from the heatwave we were having which made the night magical.

#19

Early November and my mom is in town:) 

She just got her temple recommend and wanted to attend the temple!

We did an endowment session and she had a lovely time.

She had not attended the temple in a very long time. But Bishop Budd (who we are friends with while he was at ortho school in the city) called her in and waned her to get her recommend done. 

note about the flowers-it was bare and trees were pruned.

Christmas lights going up on the palm trees though:)

#20

It was another 2fer:)

initiatory and endowment session

and then I was surprised by my tears in the celestial room when I thought of leaving Boulder and all the hard and private experiences we have had since then.

So, that was a surprise.

 Not what I thought would come to my mind.

But maybe some required thinking and remembering for me to have.

 I'll keep pondering tonight about why that came to me.

hi, it's me

haha

#21

It's the Christmas season at the Oakland Temple.

I drank an entire Dr. Pepper on the drive over and I was wide awake through the whole endowment.

I never drink soda but this day, it tasted so good on a darn right balmy day at the temple.

I called Henry on the way home and waved to him from the 24💕

#22

a Christmas miracle! 

Rain and traffic

 I picked up my dear friend Karen and low and behold we made it to our assigned session!

 She is an amazing woman who has blessed so many lives. 

I was so happy to be there by her side.

 Mette Marie Fredriksen 

She is the sister to my great great grandfather.

I hope you heard me Mette, 

and felt my faith in what these covenants are.

Where did #23 go?

Into my heart

As I knelt in prayer today with major decisions ahead of us as a family for 2024...I pondered and remembered portions of learning in the temple that is taught. 

Reminding me to wait on the Lord for his message.

Remembering is a gift of the Holy Ghost. 

O Remember Remember!

"For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord hath spoken it." 

Mosiah 2:41