Shaun's Special Day

Shaun went through the Brigham Temple on April 18th and took out his endowments!  Traver, a good friend and neighbor of ours was Shaun's escort.  There was just a small group that went through with him that included me and my mom, Traver & Ivy, Bishop Sanderson and Laureen, Rob and Lora.

When I saw Shaun for the first time all dressed in white my heart literally skipped a beat.  All the feelings that I felt when I went through came rushing back to me as I saw him sitting there with a look of complete contentedness and peace.  It was an absolutely perfect evening and the most incredible experience to be with Shaun and the others in the Celestial Room.  It leaves me in awe each time I'm in there imagining what Heaven must really be like and the great anticipation our loved ones on the other side must have as they are waiting for us to return.

I was completely surprised to learn that my old Primary teacher, Kathryn Hyer, was going to be my host for the evening.  I didn't get the memo that I was supposed to have an escort, but my mom got there as I was finishing up with the Temple Matron (as well as one other girl and her mom).  It was nice to get to go through that again with more of a clear mind than I had the first time going through.  I love that everytime I go to the temple I learn something new!

My dad and the kids were waiting for us as we came out of the temple and they had plenty of time beforehand to get some pictures taken on the temple grounds.  I am so grateful for each opportunity they have had to be at/in the temple.  They were there waiting when I went through the Logan Temple (except for Kambri), when I did a session at the San Diego Temple, the open house of Brigham Temple, with Shaun and our upcoming sealing.

Warning: picture overload; I couldn't cut any of them out!

We sure love these kiddos of ours!  They're very excited for our upcoming sealing.  Kambri has been questioning Shaun since before the temple was dedicated as to when WE were going there to be sealed.  Several times when we'd drove past (I LOVE that it's on Main Street and I get to drive past it so often) Kambri would say, "Can we go tomorrow night to be sealed?"  She's just been so excited, I know Taylor and Hollie are as well but Kambri has been so passionate about it from the get go so when she realized we were really going, you can only imagine how ecstatic she was.

 I love Shaun so much and I'm so proud of him and the many changes he has made in such a short period of time.  I don't want to put out the wrong impression that he wasn't already great and that our marriage wasn't good, but the changes occurring with him and myself have completely changed our marriage.  I can honestly say that our marriage is the best right now that it's been in 12 (almost) years of marriage.  Until having the Gospel as the center of our marriage, I never could fully understand how it can bring so much greater happiness to a marriage.  It's always been something I've wanted, but at times has seemed so out of reach.  Shaun inspires me to want to be better and I hope that I can be the same for him.  I want to live the kind of life and marriage that my kids will want to have for themselves someday with their spouse.  With having gone through the temple to take out my own endowments just over 4 years ago, I couldn't fully grasp what the temple would do for us TOGETHER someday.  There were amazing blessings in my own life from having gone beforehand, but I know we've not even scratched the surface of things to come with these new changes in our marriage together!

And very shortly...the Bess Family will be an Eternal Family!

What do you do when all of your dreams are being realized?  I get down on my knees and thank my Heavenly Father & Jesus for all that I've been blessed with.  I have wanted this day to come for 12 years and it's really happening!  My cup runneth over!