the Temple

This last week was our Stake Temple Week. Our Stake encourages members to go to the Temple as much as they can within the week. Since Spencer and I had already used up our family swap babysitters for date nights this month we decided to go separately so one of us could be home with the girls. Spencer was able to go with the young men/women and do baptisms one day and then did a session another day while he was in the city for meetings.  I was able to go two nights in a row after he got home from work and after I could feed and put Bergen to sleep. Though it was a little different going without my husband, I absolutely LOVED going to the temple! I haven't been able to go since Bergen was born and it felt so good to be in the Lord's home. I felt peace. I felt the Spirit. I felt strengthened leaving the temple each night. Before the session I had said a prayer to feel my Saviors loves for me. I had prayed to know he is with me and to feel his Spirit. I had a few really special experiences while I was in the Temple. After the session was over, I was sitting in the room and quietly started saying a prayer. After a while I felt this huge rush of warmth and the simple words, "Thank You" came to my mind. This session was special because it was a family name that I had submitted to the temple. I know that was one of my ancestors thanking me for the work I had done. I immediately started tearing up and knew my Savior was close to me that night.

The next night I went to the temple with that same prayer in my heart. I felt warmth and comfort as I went again. This night I had been praying to be more patient with Charley, I was praying to know how to be the best mother possible and how to raise my daughters in such a corrupted world. I was feeling a little overwhelmed and some weight on my shoulders for all the things I feel like I need to teach them to raise strong girls. After the session and as I was walking to the dressing room, I again felt a huge rush of warmth and the simple words, "You are a good mother. You are doing your best. Keep going." It felt so good to hear those words and to feel the Spirit. I needed to hear that. I needed a confirmation that what I do day after day IS working and strengthening my family.

After I changed and got dressed I went to the Subway to go home. It was 11:00pm and I knew I wouldn't be home for another hour on the subway. I tried to turn on my phone, but the battery was dead. I got on the subway and rode it for about 50 minutes till it was my stop in Brooklyn. It was late and while I was walking I heard someone walking really close behind me. I tried to walk faster but it still felt like the person was right behind me. I walked into this dark alley way and right when I did, I knew I should not have. As soon as I got out, the person behind me started walking right beside me. He looked at me and shook my hand and said his name. He asked my name and kept talking weird gibberish that I didn't understand. I tried to keep walking faster but he kept walking with me. I pulled out my cell phone and tried to turn it on again and luckily it turned on! Miracle! The man kept walking with me and talking and asked me what my name was again and I hurried and told him I was meeting my husband at this nearby restaurant that we were passing just then and ran inside. He stopped and turned around and walked away. It was really creepy and scary but thankfully the restaurant was right there and that he left after I went in. I waited in the restaurant for a few minutes before leaving and booking it home. I know I was being watched over that night and blessed for going to the temple!