Endowed and Sealed

The two week marathon is over... Life is slowly returning back to its normal crazy pace.

It was amazing!

We actually had people come join us from various person of the country. We never expected to become important enough to justify such love. The sealer joked that he felt in the presence of celebrities, due to the visitors...

During the first part of the sealing ceremony, my wife could not contain herself. She was so choked up, she could barely respond when the sealer asked her if she accepts the covenants... I did my best to support her with all my strength, and she eventually regained some composure.

When the kids walked into the sealing room, all in white, I felt they recognized the magnitude of the event and the settings. They were so atypically quiet and calm, doing as they were told and paying attention to all that was around them.

It was a marvelous day. It was our day!

In the past we have already been married twice (to each other). The first time in 1990, in a traditional Thai ceremony. The second in 1993, in a reform Jewish ceremony. We had always viewed the first as performed for my wife's parents and the second for mine. This time (our third and last) was for us...

We had a wonderful reception in the evening in which we met with some additional friends who could not make it the ceremony.

I am committed to returning to the Temple as soon as I can.

TOTD: "Growing through Adversity" is not just a phrase, it is a state of mind.

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Baptism of the First Born

It is done!

Our oldest son is officially a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Despite the short notice and the amount of stuff we were planning, we got through it, Saturday evening.

We were excited by the amount of non-member friends that were able to make it. They all said how much they enjoyed the evening.

The baptism itself went almost smoothly, except for the part where I said "... In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost... " instead of "... In the name of the Father, *and of* the the Son, and *of* the Holy Ghost... " So, I had to say it again...

Our son did a wonderful job by singing a solo of "I am a child of God". Then, during the confirmation, I added the Hebrew version of "Receive the Holy Ghost": "קבל את רוח הקודש".

At the end of the evening, I put my wife in an awkward situation by asking the conducting member of the bishopric to call on her to the stage to say a few words to our son.

My wife does not appreciate the spotlight, nor speaking in public. All could tell she was at a loss. However, she picked up the glove, and gave a short and moving description of our pride in our son. I know the spirit was with her on that stage.

The one thing that was very evident was the love we received from all who attended. An embracing feeling that transcended any issues of age or ethnic background. It filled our hearts with such gratitude that the next morning (fast Sunday) my wife notified me that she plans on talking about it, during Sacrament (fast and testimony).

She knew she could not manage her thoughts while on the pulpit, so she wrote them all down, and had me review. When the time came, she hesitated, and I needed to encourage her. Her talk/testimony was about service derived from love. It moved many hearts even when it described the members as "tired saints".

For me, this talk was akin to a miracle. I do not know when, or if, she had ever given a talk before, nor bore her testimony from the stand. I had not expected to hear that for as long as I lived. Yet, there it was in front of me. Yea, miracles do happen!

TOTD: Miracles happen every day, all stone us and to each of us. You just need to know how to look.

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Impromptu Baptism

We've had our endowment at the Temple planned for Dec. 11th for some time now. We were trying to figure out if we want to get sealed as an Eternal Family on the same day, and decided to make the extra effort.

When I called to request a sealing ceremony to be added, I found out that our oldest boy, being older than 8 and not yet baptized, cannot be sealed to us. That was Tuesday... Here we are, on Friday, and we almost have everything ready for a baptism tomorrow.

When he turned 8 in April, we discussed baptism with him. We felt that since he has reached the age of accountability he needs to be part of the decision making process. He was hesitant, not fully understanding what and why. He even went as far as to declare "I never want to get baptized", when I mentioned that after baptism he will be expected to read the Scriptures regularly ("What? More homework?")

We took it upon ourselves to explain and teach him, and for the next several months we talked about it. His main interest was in receiving of the Holy Ghost. He knows he can be a brat: picking on his younger siblings, talking back, forgetting his priorities... just like any other 8 year old would... However, he is aware that this behavior can and should be corrected. He seems to truly believe that having the Holy Ghost as an immediate companion will assist in his ability to choose the right.

We are very excited for him. I intend to do my best, and baptize him myself. I will also be confirming him as a member of the Church and blessing him with the companionships he so desires - that of the Holy Ghost. I have never done either, and I am somewhat hesitant, but I know this is God's will and therefore it is mine.

TOTD: My prayer is to be blessed with surmounting tougher and tougher challenges.

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