Sealing Day..........

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple will always be a little bit more special for us not because today was a special day for the Cromwell family, we had Gabriel Lorenzo sealed to us for time and all eternity.

We got up early and got ready to go. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining bright. We packed up the kids and drove up to the temple. As we drove up Christian yells out, "look on top of the temple, it's Ramoni (Moroni)!" We all had a good laugh.

We walked inside and there were so many people milling about but we had 2 people greet us that would attend to us all day and help us all along the way. We took the kids up to the children's center where they got to play while we went to do paperwork and get ready. We went into the vital records room and the thought just hit bought of us........we don't have any paperwork with us?! We had forgotten the adoption papers....ugh! We thought we might have them in an email but no luck. Layne had to drive all the way home and grab them. So a little hiccup in our morning but not to worry we had nothing else to do for the day. And what better place to wait in the temple.......calm and peaceful. The kids were taken care of and everyone who came was okay with waiting. Layne and I just felt bad for making people wait who had little kids and babysitters. It just took longer than expected.

We decided to have our whole family dressed in white to make it more meaningful to us and symbolize our family unit. Julia got to wear her baptism dress and the boys both were in white. Friends and family were in the sealing room while the sealer, Brother KiniKini spoke to us about the importance of the temple and the steps and covenants we make each step of the way to the most important.........the sealing of families. The kids walked in and Gabriel was hesitant and a little scared. I think because all eyes were on him and both mom and dad looked a little different than we normally do. Julia and Christian did great. Gabriel kept saying no over and over again but finally quieted down as Layne whispered in his ear.

Family and friends came and congratulated us and gave us hugs. Julia said that's when she could feel the spirit the most. As we left the sealing room the sealer, Bro. KiniKini, said to me he met with the kids before hand and talked to them. Julia had told him she wanted to get married here someday. That made me smile and I'm glad he shared that with me!

We quickly went outside to get a picture because it was so windy and cold. But it was important to us to get that picture so we could remember that we were all inside the temple together and became a complete family today. We added a new family member to our existing family for eternity. That changes us and gives us new perspective as a mom and dad and as a brother and sister. I don't know how much Christian and Gabe will remember but they will have this picture. I hope Julia will remember the feelings she had while she was inside and what she told the sealer. I will always remember Gabe and what he kept saying the rest of the day and all the way home, "I go to temple/I want to go to temple!"