Tuesday, September 29, 2009

He's Married


What an incredible day filled with great happiness and joy. My son was sealed in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple on Friday to his sweet, beautiful bride. I have never seen him smile so big and be so happy. I was very grateful to witness his marriage and so thankful he was sealed in the temple.

Parenting isn't always easy. It's fraught with plenty of ups and downs, trials and tribulations, mistakes. Of course, happy times are sprinkled throughout as well. As parents, we sacrifice our time, talents, and energy in raising our children. We teach them, pray for them, and suffer with them. They occupy our thoughts, spend our money, and teach us patience. Every once in a while, we have a "parent payday." The first time I went through the temple with my son, the day he went into the MTC, and the day he returned home from serving an honorable mission were all "parent paydays." However, Friday was the biggest payday yet. To see him kneel across the altar, pledging his life, love, and eternity to his wonderful bride and make covenants with her and the Lord made me realize how truly blessed I am. How truly blessed we all are to have the gospel and the opportunity to seal our families together for all of eternity.

Friday overshadowed all the begging and pleading to turn in homework, to keep curfew, and to clean his room. Friday overshadowed the dirty underwear he'd leave in the bathroom regularly, the damage done to the cars when he was learning to drive, and the times he'd spring things on me with no warning. Friday overshadowed all of it. The potty training, the arguing while he was in middle school, the parent-teacher conferences when I learned he hadn't turned in assignments, and all the time I spent driving him back and forth for school activities. Friday trumped everything. It was a glorious day wherein I saw the fruits of my labor. Parenting certainly isn't easy, but it's definitely worth it, especially when you can sit in a sealing room holding the hand of your child, knowing that he's in the right place, at the right time, being sealed by the right authority.

In a world where morality is belittled and religion is mocked, where messages on every side urge us to to break commandments, where the world delights in ridiculing standards, it is no small feat for a young couple to enter the temple worthily and make covenants with the Lord. Friday, Satan had to admit defeat as my son and his new bride exited the temple, sealed for time and all eternity as husband and wife. Though Satan will continue to work on my son, as he will work on me and everyone else, he did not prevent this sealing. That is definitely cause for celebration.

Yes, Friday was a payday.












20 comments:

Aubrey said...

Congratulations again, Rebecca! And may I just say you look INCREDIBLE in that dress. :)

Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen said...

How wonderful. Congratulations to all.

Rebecca Irvine said...

Congratulations, and thanks for the sweet post. It helped me to see that all the efforts I am putting in now will pay off in the future.

Rebecca Talley said...

Thanks!!

And, yes Becky, totally worth it.

Danyelle Ferguson said...

Excellent pictures, Rebecca! What an awesome day!

Lisa @ Pulsipher Page said...

Congratulations! The pictures and memories of your son are so beautifully written. Which temple is it? I agree with Aubrey- the red dress looks great.

Em said...

how exciting:-) those colors looked really great together! you look fab in your dress as well;-) mission accomplished!

Rebecca Talley said...

Thank you!!

It's the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, west of Salt Lake right off the Bangerter Highway. Brand new.

Sherrie said...

Congratulations! I can only hope my children will continue to make right choices so that I can have that kind of Payday in the near future! :) Thanks for sharing. You look great. I love the colors she chose!

Lourie said...

Beautiful day. Beautiful family. And yes, you look beautiful in that dress. Congrats to you and your family.

G. Parker said...

Fun pictures!!! What a wonderful day, I'm so happy for you.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Hi Rebecca, nice to meet you virtually, you made a comment on my blog so I came over to visit yours and was thrilled to read this wonderful post! As the mother of 8 sons, I could identify with it very much!! I know exactly what you mean. Thanks for sharing!

Pedaling said...

ha! my daughter was married friday too- draper temple and her exit from the temple house doors was similar to your sons.
congrats!

Marie Lundeen said...

That is so exciting! And you are so right. I'm looking forward to my "parent paydays". Considering my oldest is only 9, I've had very few of those paydays. But the biggest ones so far is the one where she was baptized, and 18 months later her brother followed suit and was baptized as well. Congratulations on the new addition your family! The Oquirrh Mountain Temple is absolutely beautiful. It's one of my favorites...maybe because I don't live to far from it...but it is a beautiful one. Congratulations again!

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

What a wonderful day! Thanks for sharing. Great pics.

Rebecca Talley said...

Thank you so much, everyone for your support!! I appreciate it. It was a wonderful day!

Rosalyn Francis said...

Rebecca, thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! I am just now visiting your site and getting to know you =).

What a beautiful day and beautiful pictures! I will enjoy exploring your site.

I just failed the 1 hour glucose test and have to go back for the most enjoyable 3 hour test. I have needed a good read, now I have some great suggestions! =)

Rachel Harlin said...

Congrats! What a beautiful couple!

Kimberly Job said...

Congrats, Rebecca! Your family is adorable and you look gorgeous!!

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

Just looked at these wonderful pictures! You looked so hot lady! Wow! I am so impressed! BTW...the school I teach at is in the same neighborhood as the temple. I get to drive by it every day.

You have such a beautiful family.