I Love To See The Temple

"I Love To See The Temple"

I'll take the longer route to see the Washington DC Temple rise above the freeway.  It looks like it is floating about the trees, parks and neighboring homes.  From the top of the Washington Monument it is a speck of white rising above a distant dark layer of metropolis.

Washington DC

I Love to see the Oakland Temple.  This is where my family was sealed for time and all eternity.  It is where my great grandparents served and it really is the beacon on a hill overlooking the San Francisco Bay.  

I don't remember the circumstances around this memory.  When I was young my family and I were  flying home from a trip.  We were to land in Oakland, but the fog was so thick up against the hills that they diverted our flight to San Francisco.  In order to get us to our car in Oakland the airline put our family on a helicopter and we flew over the San Francisco Bay at night.  I was terrified.  The chopper ride felt like it would never end.  I gripped my seatbelt for dear life as I could see the bay from the window.  In those moments the fear of drowning was real, until I saw a faint light in the distance.  The fog never really cleared, and I couldn't make out the structure clearly, but I knew it was the temple.

Oakland, California

As a child I loved going to the Oakland Temple at Christmas time to see the lights and nativity display.  I always felt close to Heavenly Father.

Philadelphia, Pennsylavnia

"I Love To See The Temple"

As a teen I joined my youth group to make yearly treks from Beaverton, Oregon to Seattle, Washington to do work for our ancestors at the Seattle Temple.  These trips are some of my most favorite memories.  The beauty of serving others in such a personal way always brought me joy.

"I Love To See The Temple"

In 1989 the Portland Temple opened.  We were all so excited to have a temple so close to home.  In that first year I had many wonderful experiences.

Portland, Oregon

At the open house I was able to put blue booties over people's shoes as they took tours.  I was able to attend the dedication with my family. And the following spring (1990) our youth group was asked to plant flowers for the upcoming season in all the flower beds.

Sean and I were sealed in the Portland Temple for time and all eternity in 1993.  My sister and hubby were sealed in 1998.  Many years later we were able to witness our daughters sealed to their sweeties in the Portland Temple as well.

"I Love To See The Temple"

Our first apartment was in the attic of an old house.  From the side family room window we could see the Logan Temple.  Evening walks or glances out the window brought the beauty of the temple into our home.  In 2021 Harrison and Ragen were sealed in the Logan Temple.

Logan, Utah

"I Love To See The Temple"

In the last few years we have had some unique opportunities to visit many temples.  Nashville, Salt Lake City, Desert Peak, Philadelphia, Laie Hawaii, Denver, and Manti.  Visiting temples has become a part of our travels.

Desert Peak, Utah

"I Love To See The Temple"

The Washington DC Temple is impressive.  Not only is it large, but it sits on a hill and from the freeway or the top of the Washington Monument it looks like it is floating above the earth.  I love going.

Just a couple of weeks ago I took the boys to see the temple.  They can't go inside yet, but they can enjoy its beauty, the grounds, the visitor center and feel Heavenly Father's presence.

Sean warned me to watch the boys at the reflecting pool.  I watched alright, I watched them splash in the water and get all wet.  It was super cute to see them sit on the steps looking at the temple and point to the reflected image in the pool.

The Visitor Center at the DC Temple is wonderful for littles and adults.  There are hands on activities, interactive displays, videos, tutorials, a 3-D model of the inside of the temple, coloring pages, electronic coloring activities, models of biblical temples, a model of a home, art and an 11 foot Christus.

The boys quickly ran to the windows to look out at the temple.  They are a bit too young to enjoy the model of the temple, but I loved taking pictures of them looking out the windows.

Their favorite activities were the coloring pages, the stained glass window of Christ's Life (they liked identifying the animals) and the Christus Statue.

Not only was it wonderful to share the temple with the boys, but to hear them say Jesus when pointing to the Christus statue was the best part of the day.

Our trip was cut a little short, sleepy boys were getting a little grouchy.  We will be back to explore the grounds and come December we will visit the lights, nativity display and musical performers.

Model of the temple with the actual one in the background

"I Love To See The Temple" and share it with the boys.

Have I Told You Lately . . .

. . . that I love you? 

Thirty-one years ago Sean and I said those words as we knelt across the alter to be sealed for time and all eternity in the Portland Oregon Temple.  

Portland Temple Spring 2021

When selecting our date to be married we did not consider that as a school teacher I would be in the throws of the start of the new year on our anniversary and wouldn't be up for more than a dinner out.  Not much has changed except I'm not teaching, but Sean is still traveling for work.

Portland Temple, June 2023

This year we planned ahead.  Sean arranged his schedule so he was home all week and we decided to do a few things together throughout the week.  

On our anniversary we shared a yummy steak dinner at home with the kids.  We tried our best to mimic our favorite steak dinner at Ringside Steak House.  We celebrated many anniversaries at Ringside and figured if we couldn't eat there we would at least try to make it at home.  I have to say, Sean did an amazing job with the steaks.  We didn't even try to mimic their famous onion rings.  

Like other young girls I had visions of my wedding day.  One of my visions included a delicious white cake with lemon filling from Beaverton Bakery.  They made the best cakes in town and each birthday my favorite cake appeared in time for me to blow out the candles.  

I took Sean on a taste testing trip before we selected our cake and he too fell in love.  So much so that he endured years of trips to the bakery around holidays to get some of their yummy fare.  Beaverton Bakery closed after 93 years and we don't live in Portland any more.  As a substitute I picked up Nothing Bundt Cakes in our favorite flavors, chocolate and lemon.

Before dessert we played a little golf at a 3-par course near our house.  For years I have viewed golf as a crazy game where you try to get a little ball into a little hole among a whole bunch of grass.  Well, I have changed my mind and now own my own clubs.  My shot isn't terrible, when I hit it.

He is much better

A couple of days later we went to the Washington DC Temple.  The temple is always a place of peace and comfort, this visit was no different.  

Attending the temple together on or near our anniversary is extra special.  It is a great reminder of the covenants we have made with the Lord and to each other.  With the Lords help and our commitment to one another anything is possible.  I love being married to Sean and that we are on this journey together.

We spent part of our anniversary weekend exploring parts of Virginia.  Our first stop was at the  Luray Caverns, the largest caverns in the eastern US.  I have never toured caverns, I was not disappointed.  My geekie science teacher side came out loud and proud.  

For many years I taught a "Geology Rocks" unit in science.  It included many pictures and a few videos of stalactites and stalagmites.  We even tried growing our own crystals in the classroom.  Pictures and videos can't even come close to seeing these natural creations in person.  

We took a lot of pictures, but none of them truly captured their beauty or majesty.    Dream Lake was one of those areas we just couldn't capture.  At its deepest the lake is only 18-20 inches, not deep at all.  What makes it so amazing is that it acts as a perfect mirror of the ceiling.  

Dream Lake

Around one bend we came upon a fallen stalactite that looked like a fallen redwood tree.  It fell due to a massive earthquake 7,000 years ago.  This was incredible and we felt like we were in a stalactite forest.

It was time to move on and walk through the Toy Town Junction and Car & Carriage Caravan Museum. I enjoyed the toy museum more than the car.  Seeing and reminiscing over the toys you use to play with is so much fun.  Sean enjoyed both as well, but throughly enjoyed the old historic carriages and cars.

Little People

Portuguese Carriage

We did walk around the Shenandoah Heritage Village.  It is a great visit back to the 18th century.  Some of the buildings like the Shenk Farm House are on their original site, while others like the Hamburg Regular School have been moved to this area.  After so much walking and reading we were ready for a little lunch and ice cream.  

Our next adventure took us to the Shenandoah National Park.  It is a beautiful forest that snakes along the ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  What makes this park unique is the 105 mile Skyline Drive with 75 overlooks.  We only drove about a third of Skyline Drive, but were impressed by the views, we have missed the mountains.

The leaves are just starting to change, Shenandoah will be spectacular in about 4-6 weeks.  We can't wait to go back and rent a cabin, check out the trails and waterfalls, visit the lodge and drive the other two-thirds of the park.

On the way home Sean asked if I wanted to stop and see the Manassas Battlefield.  Why not, it was still fairly early.  What a wonderful surprise this was.  We arrived just before sunset.  My photographer hubby refers to this as the "golden hour".  The soft golden light cast beautiful colors on the rolling open grassy fields, cannons and the light coming through the trees was amazing.

 The visitor center had already closed, but we and many others enjoyed an early evening walk (or portrait session) through the battlefield.  Visiting battlefields gives new perspective to wars or battles you may have studied.  I know it changed how I taught about Gettysburg after visiting it.  This visit would have changed how I taught about the first battle of the Civil War.

We read personal accounts of families living in the area, about those who sat on nearby hills to watch the battle, how homes were peppered by cannons and the personal descriptions of Thomas J "Stonewall" Jackson.

It was incredible to walk among a well preserved battlefield.  You could get a sense of what these young men saw that day at Henry Hill on July 21, 1861.  Little did they know then that on that day they would suffer over 5,000 casualties and the war would last for 4 years.

Golden Hour is a beautiful time of evening, in fact its our favorite.  Saturday we enjoyed bright vivid colors as the sun slipped behind trees and mountains.  I remember a Lifesaver Commercial where father and daughter were watching the sunset together.  The most memorable line was the daughter saying, "Do it again Daddy."  Sean and I often share this statement at the end of a beautiful sunset.  

Do it again!

Living with our daughter and her family have provided us with so many treasured opportunities.  We could not have imagined how wonderful it would be to live with our grandsons and to support our daughter and her husband in such a personal way.  But the moments we get to spend together exploring areas we never thought possible has been a true gift.

I love you Hun, and can't wait to visit again.

* I have included links so you can explore on your own virtually or add it to a trip itinerary. 

Shenandoah National Park

There's No Place Like Home

At the end of  "The Wizard of Oz" Dorthy is instructed to repeat to herself, "There's no place like home, There's no place like home".  As she repeats this over and over, clicks her ruby red heals three times a soft smile spreads across her face.  I've always wondered what she was thinking in that moment.  Was it the comforts of home, familiarity, her family or a memory.

For each of us HOME means different things.  It might be where you grew up or where your family is.  Instead of a place it might be a feeling or smell.  For me it is all of those things tied with a bow of memories.  Its the deep roots I have established that link me to my family, friends and the place I call home.

Mount Hood from the airplane

Last week I was HOME.  I visited all of my favorite places, enjoyed my favorite foods, visited some of my favorite people (there wasn't enough time to see everyone) and explored places I had not been in years.  It was a week filled with smiles, tight hugs, love, full tummies and so much joy.

A little tired, but enough energy for ice cream

Everyone knows that if you visit Portland and are a foodie then you need to hit the food carts, VooDoo Donuts and Salt 'n Straw.  We grabbed our ice cream treat as we drove to our hotel, but not before enjoying the city of Portland in lights.  I've always said that once I saw the city I knew I was home.  I had that feeling as we came into town.  I am starting to feel that in Maryland as we see the Jefferson Memorial or the DC temple.

Portland from the car

When we planned our trip there was no question where we would be spending our first full day, Cannon Beach.  Going to the beach in Oregon can be cloudy, cold and drippy or crystal clear blue sky and warm.  We lucked out, it was beautiful.  Haystack Rock stood out in all of its glory.  Walking the beach, squishing our toes in the cool sand felt like we had never left, we just missed a few trips out to our favorite coastal town.  

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

We did take some time to relax and listen to the waves crash.  While sitting quietly I realized that the beach is the only place that I truly relax.  It is as if the waves wash away my "To Do" lists and everything else occupying my thoughts.  So I took advantage of the time we had together, in our favorite place, listening to the crashing waves, breathing in the cool salty air to soak in all I could.

One of the reasons I wanted to travel home in June was to spend time with my team at school and see my past students, but I was nervous to see everyone.  I just wasn't sure how it would go.  Would people pass by with a hi or hello or would they really be excited to see me.  I know its dumb, but I was really nervous.  I had no reason to be nervous, I was overwhelmed by the love I received.  

More than just my team!

For two days I wondered the halls of the middle and elementary schools.  I spent time visiting with dear teacher friends, connecting with past students, taking down bulletin boards, end of year locker checks and watching an adorable play about the gestation of rainbow trout.  It was glorious.

Started as teachers, became co-workers, now the best of friends.

Between my days at school we headed to Timberline Lodge.  It had been years since I had visited this historic site, and Sean had never been.  I still can believe that we lived in Oregon almost 30 years and never made it.  Better late than never.  Just after we arrived the clouds lifted to uncover the tip of the mounting.  Again, we had a beautiful blue bird day complete with a yummy lunch at the lodge and a few relaxing moments in Adirondack chairs at the base of the mountain.  We had a lovely day.

Mount Hood

Historic Timberline Lodge

Our trip included a few other favorite spots. 

Shopping  was a must at two of my favorite places,  Woodburn Outlets because I haven't found a mall or outlet that is this amazing and WinCo. I have a lot of grocery store options near me, but none that have the selection or bulk food department like WinCo.

A more important stop than the grocery store was the Portland Temple.  Due to maintenance we could only drive around part of the temple.  We could still feel the reverence of the Lord's house even outside.  This temple has a special place in my heart.  It feels like home. 

 Tillamook Cheese Factory has been a family favorite especially after sporting events for ice cream.  So we joined many standing in line for squeaky cheese and scoops of our favorite ice cream.

Our last adventure was to Cape Meres with a dear friend.  The rainy weather cleared for a beautiful view of the ocean, forest and lighthouse.

Before flying back to Maryland we attended church in our old ward.  I want to call it my home ward, but it isn't.  It is the ward where I served with all my heart and received service that lifted and carried me.  It is the ward where friends became family.  

Friends that are family

Our trip was more than I had hoped for.  Oregon is where my roots were planted 42 years ago.  Through those years my roots dug deep and spread beyond the shores of the Pacific.  Now I get to help Holly and Dreyton establish their family roots as Sean and I learn how to place roots in different places.  This visit helped me to realize that it is ok to have roots in different places.

There Is No Place Like Home, but I couldn't wait to get back to our sweet grandsons.

Kisses for Grammy