fashion shoot

Yesterday I spent the most wonderful day at the temple.  It felt like such a privilege to get to serve there.    I had originally been asked by my bishop to be a tour guide so I had been stressing about the responsibility of that, knowing that I can't "talk good" at the best of times and almost always say the wrong thing.  As the time came closer I was switched to food prep: sitting in the kitchen at the chapel across the way from the temple, putting cookies into little baggies for the guests to enjoy.  Even though this job was less stress I felt like I had somehow let the Lord down - I started asking myself if I had done something wrong, was I perhaps not worthy to serve in the temple, etc.  It was a very positive, humbling experience for me and I was able to re-commit myself to living the gospel as best as I can knowing that I never want to feel that way when I eventually stand before my Saviour!  My job was switched yet again to be an usher.  There are many ushers serving each day and they assign you a post randomly.  About half are in the chapel some are outside and some get to serve in the temple.  Most in the temple stand along various corridors smiling and pointing which way the tours are to go.  I was super lucky.  Not only was I actually in the temple but I was on the busiest day of the open house and I got placed at the best place for me (who can't handle sitting still and doing nothing) where I was responsible for helping people on and off the elevator, finding their tour groups, directing tour hosts who were bottlenecked because of the heavy volume, etc. - I was actually really busy!  And I was also at a place where the tours were always forced to stop and wait and most of the tour guides were used to giving the tour in an hour or so but because it was so backed up tours were taking 2 hours and some of the guides were running out of things to say!  Many of the guests started talking to me and asking me questions and I was even able to bear my testimony to a few people and I was able to talk to many.  I don't think many other ushers had the opportunity to do that!  At the end of the shift the temple was closing for the day and I was able to join with the last group going through which was made up of other volunteers - it was so nice to go through the tour again without any rush.  But the best surprise of all was when I came home to a messy house!  Seriously, I love a messy house when my husband has been watching the kids because that means they have been playing.  I would much rather have a messy house than a clean one (because that means they have been watching movies all day...)  Corey set up a photo shoot for the kids.  Dug up the box of costumes from the basement and set up an actual photo place thing in our living room that looked all professional and I guess the kids had a blast dressing up and posing.  Here is a brief sampling of their fun.  (apparently Libby's photos all have a story to go along with them - I wasn't able to post all of hers up here but she is so creative - I love how if you look at her pics all in a row you can see what the story is!)