Do I know you?

How many times do you start your blog entry and re-write it before you finally feel good about publishing? This blog post, for example, has been re-written no less than 3 times now. :) Forgive the OCD, but I just can't seem to make sense of everything that goes on in my head sometimes until I put word vomit onto the digital page and sort it out there. LOL Oh my.

But enough musings... I must get down to business.

You always think when you are writing on a blog that, for the most part, you are either writing for yourself (to get ideas out of your head and thus organize the crap out of them, ergo- the first paragraph) or writing to update distant friends and family on the highlights of your life. These are the people you write to, the audience to which you direct your comical anecdotes, bitter diatribes, and forlorn narratives. You never pause to think about those people who are reading your blog who have never even met you.

I stumbled into finding out that someone I don't know from Eve not only reads my blog, but comments on my posts. It didn't bother me, because I actually follow her blog as well. Not as a stalker, though I'm sure it could be argued, but because I feel a certain kinship for this person. I'm sure we have some things in common, but, not knowing her, the most important one at this point is that we share the same sarcastic and hysterical sense of humor. I cannot think of a time when I've read one of her posts where I did not actually laugh out loud.

And while I'm sure she only reads my blog to make sure I'm not some crazy person stalking her through blogosphere space, knowing that she takes the time out of what I'm sure is a hectic schedule, to read my tiny piece of digital journaling, makes me feel good. The connection goes down to the human core of every person who just longs to be acknowledged. And that, by itself is a huge thing to me.

So, to my blogosphere friend, as I hope I might be able to refer to you as a friend though we've never met, I salute and appreciate you. The comedic relief you provide on your blog and the lovely comments you post on mine make writing in this space more interesting and gratifying. Knowing that what I say is reaching farther than just Auntie Edith, the cheek pinching, coral lipstick wearing, monkey in a girdle makes a person smile. So thank you and I'm so pleased you've found yourself here.

"So... Who Drunks Him?"

That famous phrase, glorified forever in the title of this blog post, will go down in history as one of my favorite lines ever spoken. My friend, Lacey, uttered it while we were driving to the Logan Temple. It's about Dumbo. I'll just leave it at that. Those who were there, and privy to this conversation, will get a chuckle out of it and that's the whole point.

Our first stop, Thursday, June 9th, was the Rexburg Temple. We had had a fireside at the Knowles home and then made our way north to go through an Endowment Session. Brett captured this photo as we were getting ready to leave that night. He did a fantastic job.


The next morning, we met at the Dabell's to load up into vehicles and made our way to the Idaho Falls Temple where many were able to do some baptisms and others did initiatories.

Next, we loaded back up into the cars and took off on our journey to the Logan Temple where we did endowments (and some baptisms).

Our last stop of that day, Friday, June 10, was to the Bountiful Temple. We were able to perform more initiatories and baptisms. I know that a temple is the same as any other temple in the ordinances performed, but I have to admit here: This was my favorite. This temple was just beautiful. So picturesque, so peaceful, so welcoming. I felt at home in this temple.

The next morning, we were off to the Draper Temple, where we were able to do an endowment session or baptisms.

And after a quick bite of lunch, our final temple stop was the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, where we were privileged enough to do either sealings or baptisms. This temple was gorgeous. The Celestial Room was amazing.

For the month of June, the new and different I decided to participate in, was a Temple Trip for my single's branch. It has to be one of my favorite new and different's yet to date. I had never been in four of the six temples before and so while that constituted part of the new and different experience, the other part is the fact that I had never gone to the temple that many times in that short of amount of time. In less than 48 hours, we hit 6 temples, made a stop at Temple Square in Salt Lake, visited the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and watched the video there, and had a full range of new struggles to work past as 15 young adults learned to cope with one another's idiosyncrasies in small quarters after a bit too much togetherness.

Boy, I have to say, it was one of the most exhausting trips I've ever taken, but it was by far, one of the most exhilaratingly edifying. For 48 hours, we were given the task to serve our fellow brothers and sisters and our Heavenly Father and think of nothing else. And, when we stuck to that, the feelings of peace and gratification of knowing we were pleasing our Heavenly Father, was overwhelming.

It was also a huge testimony builder. Service has a way of helping you put aside all the cares of the world and allows you to step into Christ's shoes, serving others in ways that He would have done and wants us to do. What an amazing privilege it was. And I'm so grateful to the person(s) involved in the planning of such an event. Truly, I am.

And yes, I do have to make a side note here. It was a trip all about service, but we still managed to have a fun time, giggling the night away. My hotel room was connected to the boy's room and we, therefore, had a small party that night. It was just games and food, but we laughed the whole time. Then, after it was over, Anna and I may or may not have stayed up until 4 am giggling, getting no more than 3 hours of sleep that night. But, I won't say for sure. That secret will go with me to the grave! ;)