The Fort Lauderdale Temple

In October 2009, President Monson announced there would be a Fort Lauderdale temple. At the time, I was newly married and living in Utah. I remember hearing about the temple, but at the time I never would have imagined I would be living in South Florida when the temple was completed. Last fall I was asked to be a part of the Cultural Celebration, the youth performance that occurs the night before the dedication of the temple. For the last 6 months, I worked with the creative committee to help develop the script for the celebration and plan the important performance. It was a lot of work, but absolutely worth it! I had many experience that proved to me that the Lord's temple is a sacred place and miracles will happen in order to bring the temple to an area. I also had the chance to work as a tour guide at the Open House for the temple. Walking through the temple and learning about the importance of each room solidified my testimony of the work that happens in these buildings. I am so excited to have the temple here in South Florida! It really has been a blessing to be a part of 

bringing another temple to Florida! 

 The youth worked so hard and it paid off! 

President Uchtdorf came for the temple dedication and cultural celebration. He was so kind to stop and talk with everyone. The members were all beyond excited to meet him and shake his hand (me included!!)

To watch the Cultural Celebration (it's worth the watch I promise!) just click HERE

Temple Trip

At the beginning of March I had the chance to go on a Youth Temple Trip with my ward. Since we are about 4 hours from the Orlando Temple, I got up at 3:20 in the morning to be ready for the bus at 4am. Talk about early! We had some issues with the buses but in the end we were ready to go at 5am and off to Orlando. Everyone pretty much slept on the way to the temple so it was nice and quiet. I can sleep through a hurricane so I was passed out the whole time. We got the temple and the youth had the chance to do baptisms for the dead. The Orlando temple was built when I was 7 years old so I remember going to the open house and then going there as a youth for baptisms for the dead. This is also the temple I was married in and so it holds a very special place in my heart.

 Its just too early to get up!

The girls had a great time and I loved being able to help them. I was able to enjoy the afternoon in the temple, followed by some amazing Chinese food. The youth made a harlem shake video on the way home (which I slept through) and we had a great time talking and getting to know each other. We got home late that night and I felt like a zombie, but it was an amazing experience. I took for granted having temples close to me in Utah. After spending 8 hours on a bus for get to and from the temple, I am just grateful I can go!

 With Emely, Alejandra, Karen, Chelsea and Beverly

One of the most beautiful places on earth

Temple Trip with the Families

One of the most important things to me is my family. As a middle child, I think it is embedded in my DNA to want everyone to get along and be happy. There is nothing better to me then sitting around with all of my family, talking, eating and just being together. I think I get that from my Mom. Over Christmas, I realized how much I love both of my families. I love being an aunt, a sister-in-law, a sister, a daughter and a daughter-in-law. Oh yeah and a wife ;) One of the most fortunate things is that I feel like I have another set of parents in Phil and Vickie.

Since Derek and my parents knew each other long before we ever thought about dating, it has made our lives infinitely easier. We can all go out to dinner together and it feels natural and fun. This weekend we had the chance to go to Orlando to go to the temple. This is where Derek and I were married and I love this temple so much!

My parents, Sarah and Ryan and Vickie and Phil all joined us. We drove up to Melbourne and drove over with Vickie and Phil. It was an awesome afternoon... one that I needed! Its hard to have the temple be 4 hours away! The Ft Lauderdale temple should be finished early fall this year, which will be amazing. We will only have to go about 45 minutes. Until then we are going to go to Orlando as much as our schedule allows.

After we went and got Chinese food (Have I mentioned my family loves Chinese food?) and chatted. It was great to have everyone together and having a good time. It means so much to me that we can go to the temple with our families and that we have the gospel in our lives.

Cant forget our sister picture!

It was a really great weekend. Wish we had another day to be with everyone, but now they all owe us a trip to Miami!