Kansas City Temple

Friday was our stake fill the temple day. Leaving town for 12 hours is a complicated task when you have a large family!  Thanks to Kasey for taking the afternoon off to pick up and care for my children. This selfless act, plus Jill S.  hosting a play date for Soren in the morning made it possible for Aaron and I  to go to the temple. We went up to Kansas City, thinking it would be easier to  take turns going (we had Sloane with us), but after an hour late start in the morning (it's always something. Satan will stop at nothing to place stumbling blocks to slow the Lord's work) we arrived in KC in time for me to attend the session, but then they closed until 5. We arrived feeling rushed, and that hurried feeling is not the ideal way to enter the Lord's House. 

Beautifully, I was attended to by an entourage of temple matrons, who when I discovered I had grabbed the wrong bag from the car, and had Aaron's things instead of mine, quickly gathered clothing  for me. I felt like Cinderella as they slipped a white dress right over my head, one tied the bow, one held my hair while another fixed my collar. And another returned with slippers and asked, "7 or 8? I took a wild guess." Either pair, I'm a 7.5." It was a powerful experience to be so lovingly cared for and doted on by these women, who don't even know me. I knew I had arrived with only a few minutes to spare and rather than focus on or judge my tardiness, all they had to say was, "we're so glad you're here." And "what a nice day to be in the temple." I felt cherished and like it really did matter that I was there.  One thing I struggle with during stressful moments as a mother, is invisibility. I know that seems opposite of how I should naturally feel, with children who need me so much, but being pulled and stretched in so many directions all the time often wears me down to a threadbare state, with each child needed so much from me at the same time. What if I stretch so thin that the faded remnant each child receives  just unravels right into oblivion?  The downside to being everywhere at once is never feeling whole. I imagine that's where the phrase "put together" came from. One who's mind and body are not fractioned off in 100 distant places. 

Anyway, on Friday afternoon in the temple, I was gifted the experience of feeling very whole and very put together. I was confident that my children were well cared for in the loving arms of friends, Sloane had a lunch date with daddy, and I was far from invisible to the matrons who each felt impressed to tell me my presence was noticed, wanted, and needed.  The blessings of attending the temple come in many forms. Friday emboldened my feelings of self worth. Those wonderful matrons made me feel the way I know Heavenly Father feels about me.  I hope I will take the opportunity to do the same for someone else, some day.

After the temple, we had a late lunch at Cheesecake Factory before coming home. Sloane LOVED playing the role of spoiled only child for the day. We celebrated our day with an inaugural slice of pizza. She's a true Willardson, now. 

The dimples on her cheeks and knuckles are enough to get just about anything she wants. My mom teases me for propping her bows obnoxiously right on top of her head, instead of off to one side, like the accessory was designed to be worn, but I can't help it. The bow on top makes her look just like a tiny little present. I look at her and think, "a gift? For me?! Don't mind if I do..." 

It was a perfect Friday. 7 hours in the car to just talk with Aaron. I read out loud for awhile to us. We answered the discussion questions in the parenting book we are reading. We talked and talked and talked and it was just so nice have one another's attention for a lengthy spell.  

I feel terrible that he drove all day and didn't even have the chance to do any temple work. The KC temple closes for lunch from 2-5. Any work that has started before 2 continues to finish until 3, but no new sessions begin until 5.  Those sweet temple matrons went out to the parking lot to try to find Aaron and offer to watch Sloane so he could go in before 2 and start initiatory work. Incredible, right? Aaron was at the store with Sloane so they didn't find him, but I still think the gesture was generous, thoughtful, and grand. And he didn't say a word about missing out. Instead, he said, "I'm just glad it worked out for you to go." He is the most selfless person I've ever known.  I'm inspired to be more bold and intentional in serving and uplifting others.