Endowment Day

I was nervous, to say the least. I had completed the temple prep class (which Lance so sweetly attended with me so he could help me along the way).... but i was still so nervous! My mom, Dad, sister, and Lance all came with me on the day i received my endowments. The entire way to the temple I don't think I said a single word except to respond to the family if they asked me if I was alright. I don't really know why I was nervous. Maybe because I knew there were enormous covenants I knew I was about to make, which was scary. "What if I don't live up to them?" "What if I'm not smart enough to understand them?" "What if I'm not worthy to receive them?".... I know it was Satan trying his best to deter me from entering into such a sacred time in my life. I'm glad I didn't succumb.

I walked into the temple, head down, solemn, trying to be as reverent and contemplative as possible. I wanted to remember every moment, every second, every experience. I wanted to be a sponge. I quickly realized that i would be more like a wet piece of paper, trying my hardest to retain - but simply impossible! Too many new things, too many instructions.... But it was so incredible! I cannot express how I felt, being able to experience going through the temple, with my family... as well as David and Deanie Martino, it was so great to have more family there! A neat fact too, is i received my endowments the same day I was baptized - August 7th - simply by coincidence! But i LOVE coincidences like that. they are SO much fun to me (and Lance).

Anyway, after the session was over with (seemed it went by so fast!!) I felt relieved and RENEWED. It is such an intense feeling I cannot describe. I was slightly overwhelmed, and not overwhelmed with overload of information, but overwhelmed with happiness and a sense of self, a sense of security.... (however i am STILL getting used to my new wardrobe and all that consists of! )... But Lance told me it was very important that I go back shortly after my first session, so we did - 6 days later. And he was right, things were a little more clear, a little less overload. Lance is so great because he's such an incredible teacher, and he has helped me understand the temple so much more than I think I ever would have been able to.

SOOO here's pictures of right after my first session! After we all went out to eat at Chilis (yumm chips and salsa and ranch)... the end!