Our special little spirit

I wanted to tell you all this story earlier, like last week when it happened, but I didn't have much time the day I sat down to email. I did want to make sure I told it to you, though. For some of you it will be a repeat, but it's worth telling again. When my Mom and Dad and everyone were down visiting, they and Grandma and Grandpa and Xavier and I went to the Twin Falls temple open house. (TJ was working.) I had looked forward to taking Xavier to the open house for a long time, because I was sure he'd enjoy it. He loves church so much - smiles a lot there, sings with the music, etc. And he truly did seem to love it. He was more still than usual, and just seemed to be taking everything in. There is such a beautiful spirit there, even though it isn't even dedicated yet. The craftsmanship is magnificent, of course, and the whole edifice is elegant in its well-appointed simplicity. My favorite part, without question, though, was at the very first. When you first walk into the temple, in the left-hand side of the entryway is a gorgeous print of Christ's face from a detail of the painting "Christ and the Rich Young Ruler" by Heinrich Hofmann. When Xavier saw that picture, he got the BIGGEST smile on his face!!!! What's more, come to think of it, when he smiles big like that, he'll usually laugh as well, but he was subdued and reverent, just smiling. I wish you all could have seen it. It reaffirmed my testimony again that our little guy knows and loves the Savior so well! He is such an example to me of the believer, so obedient, and so much loves the things that are right. I love him so much. I want to go back again sometime in the next two weeks while the open house is still going, and take TJ and Xavier. I think it will make a great family home evening. Maybe we should invite Grandma and Grandpa, too!

While I'm on the topic of the temple, it has been such a blessing for our area already, not surprisingly. I have noticed even members of our family that are inactive, such as my aunts Anita and Marla, acting interested. I can tell they feel something. How marvellous!! I hope that this helps bring to pass something I've prayed for for a long time, and that is that they will be brought back into the gospel. I pray that they'll bring their families, too! I know Anita's sons Trevor and Cade like the temple. They've been to the open house a few times, now. What a wonderful thing is the gospel!! How grateful I am for it, and for our Heavenly Father and our Savior, for giving it to us!!

Since it's fast Sunday, I want to share with you all an insight I gained recently from studying the scriptures. I've felt impressed for a while now to study the New Testament again, so I started the other day. I was reading in Matthew chapter 4 yesterday, and since I had in the back of my mind the upcoming fast today, Jesus' fasting experience in vv 1 - 11 'really stood out to me. I was studying the traditional text along with the JST, which adds some powerful insights!! What a blessed tool! Anyhow, as I was reading the passages there, I was thinking how full of light the Savior must have been just after he'd fasted. I know many times after I fast, if I do it right, I feel so at peace and so enlightened! The awesome thing about Christ is, being a sinless Man, I'm sure he wouldn't have lost that light, unlike me, who loses light through sin quite regularly. One thing I did realize about myself though, is, even though the former statement is true, it's also true that slowly but surely, as I keep making righteous efforts, gradually I've gained more and more light over time! I pray that I may continue in that path of faithfulness. But back to Christ, the real Hero in the story: The JST says He was carried about to the different places - the pinnacle of the temple, an exceedingly high mountain - and shown what he was shown about the kingdoms of the world by the Spirit. What a glorious experience that must have been, to be so virtuous and worthy to be able to have the Spirit minister unto Him in such a manner. Satan tried his evil worst to lead our Savior away, but the Lord didn't budge an inch, and dismissed the tempter without further ado. What a marvellous, marvellous guy! The whole experience must have helped sanctify Him until His light was, as I put it in my journal, as bright as a supernova!! If as bright as a supernova then, it only continues to increase until now He is indescribably bright! Like I said earler, what a Hero!

Now down to more mundane matters, although no less dear to my heart. Xavier had a post-op checkup in Salt Lake again Friday. It went well, but he has some regrowth of membranes in his eyes. The right eye in particular has some growth right in the center. They (the regrowths) aren't as dense as the cataracts were, the dr said, but he still wants to take a look at the right eye under anesthesia. He may want to go in the day after he does that, and remove the regrowth. The EUA (exam under anesthesia) is scheduled for the 25th of September. Sigh. Poor little guy. I hope it's not a big deal for him. They wanted to do the EUA on the 11th of September, but I said, "That's his birthday!" and I had them schedule it later. Deanne wanted to borrow Xavier for a few days, so on the way back from Salt Lake, we met up in Burley (a town near Twin) and I let her take him. I was sad to see him go, but I know he'll be back soon. I miss the little fella like crazy, even though he really isn't far away and I know he's in good hands. What a cute little guy. Deanne and I will probably meet up again on Monday or Tuesday, and I'll get him back. Yayy!! The plan was to hopefully (finally!) get him his glasses while he's over there, but they still! aren't in. Sigh. Hopefully soon... Maybe by tomorrow or perhaps Tuesday they'll have them. The doctor didn't seemed concerned about going this long without glasses as far as it causing problems, so that's good, at least. We'll just keep waiting...

That's about it for us! TJ and I did go to see Hancock and Ironman at the drive-in last night, which was fun, other than some bad language in the movies. I need to be better about refusing evil media. Well anyhow, talk to you all again soon! Oh yeah, and here are some of my favorites of those studio pics!