Week 4/Week 5

Because we had gone to Florida the previous weekend, I did not serve in the temple week 4. I knew that physically I would be worn out, plus I had lots of grading and catch-up work to do from having been gone two days. (Craig went alone, but then, he's retired and did not have any work responsibilities and could catch up on his sleep!)

Yesterday we traveled down for week 5. It was the least "quietly chaotic behind the scenes" thus far, despite the fact that two women had been left off the schedule (me and another sister) and at least one had not come to serve her shift. (Pat and Lisa Connolly were there with a large group of missionaries, too!)

So, juggle, juggle, juggle, and Sister Jacobsen, our scheduler, repeatedly thanked me for being flexible, taking the absent sister's schedule, and then having her make changes to that several times throughout the night.

I served in the celestial room, as a veil worker, in the hallway and dressing room, and in the laundry (the washers and dryers are ENORMOUS!) But being in the celestial room was absolutely the best part of the night.

I still wonder if it was an error to have me in there at that time - no session was ending, and so it was absolutely empty. No one came in or out the half hour I was assigned to be in it.

But that was why it was so wonderful. I got to sit and enjoy the complete silence, pray, think about my blessings, and so on.

Imagine, the celestial room all to myself! Never in my wildest dreams did I think that some day I might be able to sit in that lovely room like that.

 The south side of the temple at night.

 Me taking a selfie.

The stained glass windows in the baptistry.

Sr. Jacobsen asked three other sisters and me to stay for some training on initiatory, so Craig and I did not leave the temple until late. But I was in bed by midnight and feel blessed to be able to serve each week!