November 23, 2018. The last time I took a child of mine through the temple. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and more.
I can't even begin to describe the happiness that came from that evening. If I look back on my life, and think of the happiest moments, I believe that evening would rank at the top of the list. It just doesn't get any better than having all of my children in the temple together. I wish I could tell everyone I know (and their kids) that nothing is worth not making that happen. Drop what you are doing, change your lives, and get there. It's worth everything.
It did feel a bit sad, not taking Glo through the Washington DC temple in Kennedy tradition (John, me, Ethan, Mark and Hannah), but it's closed for two years for renovations. However, the Detroit temple has definitely become "our" temple, so in some ways, it felt much sweeter.
Several months ago, a young woman receiving her own endowments came through the initiatory booth, and Sister Groen, one of the Thursday night workers whom I love, was her hostess. However, at the end of the clothing ceremony, Sister Groen was so loud (she's actually always loud) and kind of irreverent, that I felt sad for that woman that the feeling of reverence was immediately shot to heck. Since the temple obviously wasn't open Thanksgiving evening (our normal Thursday night shift), Glo had to go through on Friday night, and I didn't want to take any chances with whom her hostess would be. So I asked the Friday night shift coordinator if I could ask my own shift coordinator, Sister Greve, to come on Friday and be her hostess.
Yes, there are benefits to being a temple worker ;-)
Sister Mackey, the Friday night shift coordinator, thankfully had no problems with that (I've heard that some do), and Sister Greve was so honored that I would ask her. I just knew that Sister Greve would be so sweet, and reverent, and really put Glo at peace. And she did.
So Friday we showed up early so that the boys could get to the open hours of the baptistry and get through some of the 40+ male names I have waiting. Glo and I decided to sit in the baptistry and just watch. And before John had even gotten in the water, he came over to me, on the verge of tears, and told me how all the doubts, fears and worry that he'd been carrying over the past few weeks disappeared within minutes of walking through the temple doors. Yes, Satan is always near us, trying to tear us down, attempting to destroy our faith and our testimonies. But what a witness that indeed, Satan cannot enter the temple. It was a tender mercy to be able to let go of that stress if only for a few hours.
It was finally time to check in with Sister Doot (and matron married to one of the counselors in the temple presidency who sealed Mark and Allison). One of the nicest things was that she told Glo how lucky she was to have parents as faithful and strong as she does, and I knew that she knew it, and meant it <3
And then Sister Greve took over. As much as I wanted to tag along (I've done it with other new endowments who aren't related to me), I knew I needed to step back and let the workers do their thing. Glo came out for her initiatories in her white dress, and I just about died. She looked so beautiful and grown up and righteous. I knew again that I had much to be thankful for.
And then we had quite a while to wait before the endowment session began. However, since I know my way around, and since Sister Doot knows me, she basically just let us wander around. When we ran into Rebecca, Hannah and Allison within minutes, it was like a totally happy family party. And I loved that. I loved that Glo could see that while the temple is a sacred, holy place, it's also a happy place. And a place where she should want to return.
And when we walked into the endowment room, and the boys walked in? I didn't know whether to smile from ear or ear, or break down in tears of gratitude. Glo was on my right, Hannah was on my left, the boys were across the aisle, and Allison and Rebecca were directly behind us. What a blessing.
Glo did great for her first time. She was calm and receptive to everything.
In the Detroit temple, the emphasis is always on creating a very peaceful, calm environment for those going through for the first time. In fact, when sisters are receiving their own initiatories, the workers clear out the booth and the surrounding area so that there's no noise or commotion. And when patrons go through the veil for the first time, they are always taken through last so that there's no noise from other patrons, and there's no pressure. So, all of us went through, with me being held back until right before Glo went through.
And here's the crowning moment of the night: we were all waiting in the celestial room, and then she walked through. And in true Kennedy form, it was a giant group hug, and then we all "penguined" her--surrounded her like a group of penguins--and we stayed like that for a good ten minutes. Without even knowing it, we just wanted her to feel the love and permanence of what she had just done. We rejoiced with her, we laughed with her, we loved on her. It was so beautiful. I wish I could have taken a picture, but I will have to make do with the mental screen shot I took. I really didn't want to leave, but wanted to stay there with my beautiful family for the rest of the night. However, I know that temple workers just want to go home after a long shift, so as we left the celestial room and I saw Sister Mackey, I thanked her for everything she had done to make sure things went smoothly for Glo. She looked at me and said, "You have such a special family."
Yes. If I have nothing else in this life, I have my family. And if for some reason they are taken from this earth, I will still have them. They are my greatest blessing.
I can't even begin to describe the happiness that came from that evening. If I look back on my life, and think of the happiest moments, I believe that evening would rank at the top of the list. It just doesn't get any better than having all of my children in the temple together. I wish I could tell everyone I know (and their kids) that nothing is worth not making that happen. Drop what you are doing, change your lives, and get there. It's worth everything.
It did feel a bit sad, not taking Glo through the Washington DC temple in Kennedy tradition (John, me, Ethan, Mark and Hannah), but it's closed for two years for renovations. However, the Detroit temple has definitely become "our" temple, so in some ways, it felt much sweeter.
Several months ago, a young woman receiving her own endowments came through the initiatory booth, and Sister Groen, one of the Thursday night workers whom I love, was her hostess. However, at the end of the clothing ceremony, Sister Groen was so loud (she's actually always loud) and kind of irreverent, that I felt sad for that woman that the feeling of reverence was immediately shot to heck. Since the temple obviously wasn't open Thanksgiving evening (our normal Thursday night shift), Glo had to go through on Friday night, and I didn't want to take any chances with whom her hostess would be. So I asked the Friday night shift coordinator if I could ask my own shift coordinator, Sister Greve, to come on Friday and be her hostess.
Yes, there are benefits to being a temple worker ;-)
Sister Mackey, the Friday night shift coordinator, thankfully had no problems with that (I've heard that some do), and Sister Greve was so honored that I would ask her. I just knew that Sister Greve would be so sweet, and reverent, and really put Glo at peace. And she did.
So Friday we showed up early so that the boys could get to the open hours of the baptistry and get through some of the 40+ male names I have waiting. Glo and I decided to sit in the baptistry and just watch. And before John had even gotten in the water, he came over to me, on the verge of tears, and told me how all the doubts, fears and worry that he'd been carrying over the past few weeks disappeared within minutes of walking through the temple doors. Yes, Satan is always near us, trying to tear us down, attempting to destroy our faith and our testimonies. But what a witness that indeed, Satan cannot enter the temple. It was a tender mercy to be able to let go of that stress if only for a few hours.
It was finally time to check in with Sister Doot (and matron married to one of the counselors in the temple presidency who sealed Mark and Allison). One of the nicest things was that she told Glo how lucky she was to have parents as faithful and strong as she does, and I knew that she knew it, and meant it <3
And then Sister Greve took over. As much as I wanted to tag along (I've done it with other new endowments who aren't related to me), I knew I needed to step back and let the workers do their thing. Glo came out for her initiatories in her white dress, and I just about died. She looked so beautiful and grown up and righteous. I knew again that I had much to be thankful for.
And then we had quite a while to wait before the endowment session began. However, since I know my way around, and since Sister Doot knows me, she basically just let us wander around. When we ran into Rebecca, Hannah and Allison within minutes, it was like a totally happy family party. And I loved that. I loved that Glo could see that while the temple is a sacred, holy place, it's also a happy place. And a place where she should want to return.
And when we walked into the endowment room, and the boys walked in? I didn't know whether to smile from ear or ear, or break down in tears of gratitude. Glo was on my right, Hannah was on my left, the boys were across the aisle, and Allison and Rebecca were directly behind us. What a blessing.
Glo did great for her first time. She was calm and receptive to everything.
In the Detroit temple, the emphasis is always on creating a very peaceful, calm environment for those going through for the first time. In fact, when sisters are receiving their own initiatories, the workers clear out the booth and the surrounding area so that there's no noise or commotion. And when patrons go through the veil for the first time, they are always taken through last so that there's no noise from other patrons, and there's no pressure. So, all of us went through, with me being held back until right before Glo went through.
And here's the crowning moment of the night: we were all waiting in the celestial room, and then she walked through. And in true Kennedy form, it was a giant group hug, and then we all "penguined" her--surrounded her like a group of penguins--and we stayed like that for a good ten minutes. Without even knowing it, we just wanted her to feel the love and permanence of what she had just done. We rejoiced with her, we laughed with her, we loved on her. It was so beautiful. I wish I could have taken a picture, but I will have to make do with the mental screen shot I took. I really didn't want to leave, but wanted to stay there with my beautiful family for the rest of the night. However, I know that temple workers just want to go home after a long shift, so as we left the celestial room and I saw Sister Mackey, I thanked her for everything she had done to make sure things went smoothly for Glo. She looked at me and said, "You have such a special family."
Yes. If I have nothing else in this life, I have my family. And if for some reason they are taken from this earth, I will still have them. They are my greatest blessing.
What a beautiful experience for Glo and your whole family. We love you guys!
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