My Forever Family

My family is forever!  Today was the most sacred and beautiful day of our entire lives.  Russ, Damian and I were sealed in the LasVegas temple today.  I have known this day was coming for over a year but set a date in August and have been mentally counting day since then.  It seems as though when the weeks turned into days and then the days finally into hours, the reality of the promises and blessings we will receive were made ever so real.

When I woke up this morning I knew I had to start the day off differently.  No distractions.  I found a talk by Robert D Hales entitled 'The Temple is About Families'.  Read and posted a caption. We started with no television.  First listened to some church music, then we listened to "family talk" which helped us stay focused and spiritually ready.  Before we would start getting ready, Russ decided that we needed to share our patriarchal blessings with Damian.  We would stop occasionally and discuss our interpretation and the sacredness of some of the promises made to each of us.  As we read, the emotions of the words would occasionally bring a tear.  This is exactly what we needed to be doing!

We arrive at the temple and are escorted to a sitting room where we would wait for a worker to come discuss a few things with us all and then Russ and I would separate from Damian only to know shortly we would be reunited.

Russ and I would gather, discuss our excitement and love for the many friends who would come support us today without seeing any of them.  We would sit down with our Sealer and he would remind us of the most importance of this day in our lives.  

We entered the sealing room with the most anticipation!  Family and friends would give loving smiles and we would try to scan the room to see loved ones we haven't seen in a while and some we see almost daily.  The love was overpowering and the spirit would be abundant.

Once Russ and I are sealed, the sealer asks us if we want to kiss.  I of course give a "look" as we have already been married 13 years, heehee.  I gently showed my love for him.

We are now ready for Damian to come in.  I see him through the mirror behind me.  I completely lose it.  I immediately imagine that he may coming looking for me in the Celestial kingdom and I wait for his loving hand to touch mine.  I can't let go.  As the sealer speaks the words and promises of an eternal family I feel my Heavenly Father's presence and the undeniable love that we have as a family.  I listen and know that this is Heavenly Father's plan for us.

Hugs and embraces would follow from each one who came to be with us.  Some amazing words and support would be spoken and the love we all feel would be a constant reminder of how each of them has touched us.  Each has been an instrumental part in our being at the temple.  From small acts of service to life long friendships and spiritual connections.

As we would return to the lobby, I was stopped by the initial Brother who spoke to us in the sitting room.  He would express to me how when he was with our family he felt the spirit more strongly than he has ever felt before in that room.  He said that he didn't know what our family situation was, where we came from or what lead us to this day but that he knew without a doubt that Heavenly Father was in that room and he was so honored to be there with us.  Now, I was a little caught of guard from his words but all I could do was embrace him and say thank you.  After all, I was already a wreck and my face disheveled.  

I begin to walk out towards the lobby a little more when I encounter our Sealer.  He stops and places his hand on my shoulder, then my hand on his hand.  I immediately imagine the hand of my Savior and Heavenly Father.  The power from that gentle touch will ever be with me.

I finally reach the lobby where Damian enters at the same time.  The grin from ear to ear was ever present.  Of course my first words "Hi Son!  You are mine forever!"  How prefect.

Russ finally joins us (for some reason you men take so long to get dressed, lol).  We are outside meeting with a few of our guests and giving a few more hugs.  Take a few pictures (not too many because my face is a disaster) and we leave to come home.

My words "WE DID IT!  They are mine FOREVER".  Simply put and simply understood.  How much I want this for everyone.  It is my duty and obligation to do my part to get someone else to where we as a family were today.

Thank you for everyone who came today, touched us today and was able to be a part of our memory.

The Troutman Trio Family

Steven and Suzie Hardy, Emilee and Ryan Ence, Cassy and Mike Mummey, Drew and Chris Leavitt, Kristilyn Abbott, Robert and Linda Vance, Ben and Jen Douglas, Eric and Sarah McClellan, Chris and Brande Deuel, Aaron and Gina Graham, Michelle Marvian, Aaron DeJesus, Sandra Hansen, Natalie Day, Mark and Rachel Howard, Cody and Brittney Noble, Rachel Little, Elder Siilata, Elder Jensen, Brent Linville, Michael and Rachel Peterson, Jay Hagfeldt, & my Mom!  And many others who were there in spirit.