We got up early this morning and had to leave the house by 6:00 in order to drive 10 minutes and wait 3 hours for the Groundbreaking Ceremony for our new temple! It was freeeeeezing cold! When we got there it was 28 degrees. And so we sat, and sat, and froze, and sat, and froze somemore. When it finally started it was so neat. My Dad gave the opening prayer and then we got to hear from Elder Wilford W. Anderson (of the seventy), Elder William R. Walker (Temple Department Executive Director), and Elder Neil L. Anderson (the Senior Member of the Presidency of the Seventy). It was such a neat experience for me and the kids to be here to witness these great men dedicate the ground where we were sitting. And how proud I was to be sitting in the crowd looking up and seeing my mom and dad among the few sitting on the stand with such wonderful people. I am so thankful for the gospel. I am so thankful for my family! My Mom and Dad were asked to be two of the "official" groundbreakers! So they were the first ones to dig in with the members of the seventy that were present. And then they gave us the opportunity to help with the groundbreaking. I was sad Ryan wasn't able to be there. He had to work. But I was thankful that Mindy and her 2 oldest kids came with us.
Kalee, Camrie, Taylor, and Mindy waiting out the cold morning.
Abbie digging with "Grandpa's golden shovel". That's what she kept calling the shovel. Grandpa got to take home one of the shovels with an engraving on the side that said "Groundbreaking Ceremony, Gila Valley Arizona Temple"
Taylor and Porter digging away. Everytime I turned around to look for Porter he was picking up a shovel and digging. They got to dig where the Celestial Room in the Temple will be.
Great Grandma Merrill
Granny (Great Grandma Post)
Me, Stephanie, and Mindy
Dad being interviewed by a writer for the church news. I don't know how he paid any attention to what she was asking with all those grandkids hanging on him! She also took a picture of us infront of the painting of the temple. (let's hope it doesn't make it in the church news!)
Granny, Great Grandma Merrill, Dad, Mom, Elder and Sister Walker
How neat!! It makes me homesick for Safford! It looks like it will be beautiful! What a great experience for your kids!
ReplyDeleteLook great!!! Brings back memories of when they built the temple in Colonia Juarez! It is one of the neatest experiences ever!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! We are so excited for you to have a temple so close. It will be fun to see your family in front of the temple when it is finished!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat experience for all of you! We are excited the Gilbert Temple is only a couple miles away from our house, in fact it is in our Stake boundries. This gets me excited for "our" Temple to get started! What a wonderful opportunity to have a Temple so close! Enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteWOW! How fun that you got to be there! What a neat experience, you and your kids will never forget. And I agree with you....we do have a great family! Love you sis.
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