Be Worthy & Clean in 2013...

Back in 1995 we decided to figure out the date for the soonest time we could all be in the temple together for the first time. Emily would be turning 21 in 2013. We came up with the theme "Be Worthy and Clean in 2013," or "Keep Dad Alive Until He's 65." This was a promise we would often say as a family before family prayer or different times throughout the day. Dad made a reminder of our promise and put it on our refrigerator while we lived in our first home in Gresham. Despite the move in 1996 and 16 years going by, we still had that promise reminder, although tattered and worn on our refrigerator all these years.

When the age changed for sister's to go on missions from 21 to 19, it opened the door for Emily to serve sooner than expected. 

All the family was gathering for Julia's wedding. Emily was so happy she would be able to be there for the wedding, too. Since the wedding was going to be such a busy day, we wanted to attend an endowment session where we could enjoy that special time in the temple together. The date was set for the afternoon before the wedding.

By noon on Dec.28th, everyone was in Portland. Many met at the temple for lunch and then we enjoyed a most wonderful temple endowment session where each of our nine children were present. We were also happy to have some of our wonderful sons and daughter-in-laws, Gary Vance, Tiffany (Gee), Brett Caudle, Danielle (Swain), and Austin Doutre who would become our son-in-law the next day, there with us too. We missed having Gary Johns, Janelle (Otteson), and Bryan Williams who were all home tending children so we could be together. 

Dad and I looked at each other as the endowment session began. Surely, there was "joy" in our posterity. Then as we waited in the celestial room for each one to enter, it was an overwhelming experience to see them come in to that glorious room one-by-one. I felt like I had witnessed a glimpse of heaven as our family circle continued to grow as each one joined the circle.

When we had all gathered, we went upstairs to visit quietly for awhile. I just sat there in awe, looking at each of our beautiful children and feeling overcome with gratitude for their faithfulness. I could hardly speak as I was humbled by this priceless moment where time seemed to just stand still and the blessings of eternity were more real in the temple that day.

Before we went our separate ways, we gathered in the foyer of the temple where Crismon and I presented them each with a handkerchief to remember this special day. That promised came about 3 days before 2013!

Of course, we had to have a picture of our family before leaving the temple that day. We are blessed!

One side note, you'll see the initials "BYOG" added to the bottom of the card. We asked the family if they could remember why those letters were added. Meredith confused, that after Ondalynn and Alice-Anne both married "Gary's" she penned that onto our motto, "Bring Your Own Gary!"

The next da,y in my personal scripture study, I read this verse that expressed the desire of my heart for each of my children, from Moroni 8:3   

"I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end."