This past weekend we picked Shane up from the airport after he spent the last week working in the Merida Mexico LDS Temple. With the kids back in school and all that we had going on the week cruised by for all of us. For the past 11 years Shane has had the opportunity to install flooring in the temples, (it all started with volunteering his time during the Logan remodel). He has loved the opportunity ever since... Shane has developed a strong testimony of these sacred buildings and the work that is performed there. His love for the Temples is evident in his teaching of our children, and in the way he lives his life... That is something that I am so grateful for. We were talking about how many Temples he has been able to work in and after a little research, he determined that he has worked in 33 of them, (some of those multiple times.) The church now has 128 operating Temples around the world, with 7 under construction - and 5 announced.... What amazing growth we have seen in the past few years!!
The following links are the Temples that Shane has had the opportunity to work in... Click on them for photos and interesting facts about each one.
Utah Temples Logan, Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake City, Jordan River, Mt. Timpanogos, Provo Idaho Temples Boise, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Rexburg Other US Temples Orlando, Detroit, Mesa, Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego Portland OR, Laie Hawaii Mexican Temples Tampico Mexico, Veracruz Mexico, Oaxaca Mexico, Villa Hermosa Mexico, Merida Mexico Other Countries Stockholm Sweden, Preston England, Bern Switzerland, Taipei Taiwan,,Caracas Venezuela, Guayaquil Ecuador, Nukualofa Tonga, Helsinki Finland
I asked Shane to tell me which Temple has been his favorite to work on... his response surprised me... he said Logan. For many reasons, but mainly the significance it holds in our own lives, and for our family. I thought that was pretty cool... but then I wondered why I have to send him all over the world - we should just go to the temple more and wear the floors out here so I can keep him close to home!
...As far as the coolest place to visit, he decided on... Nukualofa Tonga (which was a trip that I WAS going to go with him on... it just didn't work out timing wise... You know kids, schedules, all that fun stuff - Shane ALWAYS offers for me to come with him... it's just not as easy as he thinks! All Mother's would agree with me here, it's a little more work than just packing the suitcase! Anyway... not going to Tonga worked out fine for me since he traveled 32 hours ONE WAY... arrived to find that the carpet hadn't yet... waited two days for it to arrive... it didn't... traveled back home 32 hours... then returned the following week. A total of 128 hours travel time... I would NOT have liked that!)
In his opinion San Diego and Portland OR are the most beautiful with Stockholm Sweden being another of his favorites.
Although I don't always show that I am grateful for these experiences... I get a little testy about being left home for weeks at a time... but I do know that these opportunities have made Shane very happy We have been blessed in so many ways... and having him gone has helped us to realize how much we truly love him, need him, and want him to be with us... now... and FOREVER!
4 comments:
What a neat post. That is such an amazing opportunity. I will definitely be more aware of the carpet next time I go!
Whenever we go to a temple open-house we always think of Shane. I'm sure your girls have a different perspective on temples than most of their peers. What a great post. I'll be coming back to visit the links. (Tell Shane that we're impressed with the amount of time that he spend on his knees. :))
What a great post! Your girls are so cute too. I totally know what you mean about primary. We're trying to work through it!!!
A few thoughts from "Poppy"...you're a sweetheart...Shane is a lucky man...you are a lucky woman. 11 years? You must be kidding. Find a way to go with Shane more often. We'll tend the angels. Maybe the temples could use some of your vinyl...what do you think? Can't you see your vinyl sayings on the mirrors in sealing rooms..."Because two people met"..."Love is forever" etc...OK, Maybe not. I love you though.
Post a Comment