Learning that they are soon going to be stationed in North Dakota expedited our plans. I asked Nicia to cordinate with Joe and let us know what weekend worked for them. They came back with August 25th.
So Friday, August 24th, after we picked Ryan up from work, we hit the road and headed for Cheyenne (Dodger included.) The drive is not super beautiful... but there were some gorgeous sunset moments!
We arrived at their place around 8 pm. They were sitting outside waiting for us. Alyssa and Logan were especially excited to see Pierscen and Dodger. Ryan took Pierscen and our stuff inside while the kids helped me walk Dodge around the block a few times.
Nicia and Joe have an amazing, beautifully finished basement (props to you guys for doing it on your own!) including a wonderful guest bed and bath. Far better accomidations than our queen blow up mattress at our place. Sorry guys. :)
The following morning Nicia made us all an amazing breakfast and we made it out the door around 9 am which put us at the temple around 11:30. It was an absolutely perfect, gorgeous day! We pulled out a blanket and had a little picnic right then and there after which a temple worker informed us that they ask guests to eat across the street to discourage rodent and animals on temple grounds. (As a squirrel dashed up the tree literally minutes before.) Oh well. At least we were done.
Ryan and I decided to go first. As we were walking inside, we were discussing what we were going to do. We wanted to do a session, but we really didn't want to leave them with Pierscen that long. Pierscen is an amazing child, but he was already really tired and without a bed for him, he doesn't sleep very well. We decided to do sealing. Sealings are actually our favorite. There are many reasons, but I think the top two are 1. We get to go them TOGETHER, and 2. We always learn so much! It just seems like every time we go we are taught the most amazing things.
We were with a family group of two or three couples, a grandpa, and a grand daughter. They were there sealing the grandpa's deceased wife to her parents. It was pretty amazing. At the end of our time there, another sealer stepped into the room and asked if they could borrow a couple for just a minute. Ryan and I jumped up and followed him to another room. There they were sealing a grandma's deceased husband to his parents. Awesome! They just needed us there for some extra help. After that, we stepped out in the hall and were preparing to go change when we were nabbed one last time to go help in a third room. It was a really cool experience.
When we got out, Joe announced that Pierscen had fallen asleep in his arms just fine and had taken a nice little nap. Nicia and Joe decided they wanted to do sealings too, mostly for the fact that they were together. Especially when the temple is so far away and babysitting becomes a challenge, it is wonderful to be able to do work together. Off they went.
Alyssa and Logan decided they were hungry again, so we picked up the blanket and got the cooler out the car and headed across the street. The kids were angels and had a great time playing and before we knew it, Nicia and Joe were back.
It was so beautiful there and I really wanted to take a bunch of pictures, but it didn't happen. Here is our one and only proving we were there. :) And then just to show how amazing it is:
The temple truly is the House of the Lord. There is a feeling of peace and comfort there unlike anywhere else in the whole world. And it doesn't matter what temple you are attending. They may each look a little different, but the marvelous work that goes on inside is all the same. If you haven't been to the temple yet and you want to - get going! It is worth every effort you have to make. If you aren't a member, even sitting outside on the temple grounds in a wonderful experience. And if you ever get a chance to go to an open house - take it!
After the temple we headed back to Ft Collins to have some Cafe Rio. Woot! Woot! I love that place. It was so good! We got the sweet pork burrito and the chicken salad. Delicious!
We made it back to Cheyenne at a decent time, but we were all wasted! Nicia and Joe put their kids to bed and then we watch Jim Gaffigan's Mr. Universe of Netflix. Hilarious, by the way. While we were watching, Ryan was working with Pierscen to try and get him to crawl. He would take our car keys, jingle them, and then drop them a few feet in front of him. Pierscen would push up on his hands and knees, take two slow but steady "steps" forward, then lower himself to his belly and pull himself forward until he could reach the keys. It was pretty exciting! Watching those cautious and hard earned steps was pretty cool. You could see the determination in his eyes and it was very clear that it was game over from here. There was no stopping him now!
Nicia used her fancy curling iron to curl my hair during the show to see if my hair would actually curl it. This glamor shot of us together was taken the next morning. Pretty good, right? :) Thanks for pampering me!
We would have stayed for church at Nicia's, but it was our last week in our current ward and we volunteered to pick up a lady from a retirement home and bring her to and from church. Unfortunately by the time we got home she had decided she wasn't going. Bummer.
The trip was amazing, refreshing, and totally wonderful. Thanks for the idea Nicia. I am very glad we were able to make it happen.
The Church is True! Learn all about it at www.mormon.org
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