Friday, May 4, 2007

Flashback Friday!


This is a photo taken in June 1998 the day my grandfather went through the temple for the first time. My mother was raised by two less-active
LDS parents. They were great people, to be sure, who taught her many wonderful things, but did not go to church. She went to church alone until she married my father in the Mesa Temple. None of my grandparents was able to attend, but my parents understood the importance of a temple sealing. After a lifetime of prayers on behalf of her parents, my mother was able to see her father go back to church and eventually to the temple. He was eighty years old.

I remember how nervous and excited Grandpa was. (And a little frustrated when my dad accidentally locked the keys to the rental car in the trunk when we were supposed to be leaving--oops!) Anyway, it was a beautiful day. One of my sisters and one of my brothers (with his wife and newborn) flew to Arizona as well as Michael and I and my parents. My mom was able to stand in as proxy for her mother in order for her parents to be sealed; I was able to stand in for her mother in order for my mother to be sealed to her parents. Those are tender memories.

From my grandfather I learned that it is never too late to make changes in your life and to become the person you want to be. From my mother I learned that you don't give up on people you love and that even if you have a less-than-perfect example, it is not an excuse to live your life that way. My mother has a perfect testimony of temple marriage and ordinances and really instilled that in all of her children. We are better for it.

9 comments:

Jenni said...

What great examples from your Mom and Grandpa! Such a lovely flashback Fri post! Thanks for sharing it!! :)

Okay I'm going to go do a flashback fri post myself!! :)

Unknown said...

What a tender memory. I love the flashback friday stuff.

Corinne said...

That's really neat Mendy. What a good example to your kids :)

Lynette said...

Wow...that is sooo cool!

Christie said...

what a great story... It makes me think that there still is hope. :-) How wonderful!!

Jann said...

What a great memory. How exciting for you to be a part of it.

Brenda said...

Wow! What an awesome story. Your mom is a brave woman. That would be so neat to go through the temple with your grandpa!

erin said...

mendy, i swear i've met you several times, but i seriously doubt you would remember!... i went to school and church with mike and would love for you to tell him HI from me. my sister (ashlee bell) was in your ward for awhile and gave me your blog link (i TOTALLY stole your "flashback friday"-- sorry! ;). you have a darling family...!!

Jeri said...

What a beautiful day, and wonderful memory. I am glad you shared it with us.

Quotation of the Month

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.

-Jill Churchill