It was the weekend of Friday Sep 23, 2011, and it started with Amanda’s endowment session. We awoke on Friday morning, and after many last-minute preparations such as packing, getting lunch together, etc, we left a little before 11am. We arrived at the San Diego temple with a few minutes to spare before 12:30pm, since Amanda’s endowment session was at 2pm. As we approached, Amanda remarked how she was really starting to feel the butterflies; I felt a little nervous too. As always, the temple was beautiful and majestic as we pulled up, helping to calm us. We took a few deep breaths before getting out of the car. We were ready.
Amanda’s mom, Kris, was already there, waiting to be Amanda’s escort. We all entered the temple and went through the necessary paperwork for Amanda’s first time. Then, before I knew it, she was taken away from me – in good hands, however, between her mom and the temple workers. I waited for a temple worker to come for me, who escorted me to the men’s locker room. I did some temple work for a little while, then the time was upon us.
Joining us for the endowment session was many of our family and close friends – Mom & Dad Smith, Mom & Dad Eichten, Allison & Hector, Brittney, Andrew & Jen, my friend Matt Sandberg, and our friend Lynn Rothey. It was so great to see them. It felt so good to see them there – a joyous reunion. Alas, my brother Eric could not be there due to work, but he did arrive later in the evening.
I remember seeing my wife Amanda in the temple – she looked beautiful and pure, more so than I had ever seen her. She was smiling and glowing. It warmed my heart. The endowment session was phenomenal, the Spirit was so strong, and it touched us deeply to share it with our family and friends.
Afterwards, Amanda and I quick went to check in to our hotel room at the Sheraton, then headed on over to PF Chang’s for our post-endowment family and friends dinner. More loved ones joined us - Garth, Sherri, & Olivia, my brother Eric, Todd & Dena, Brittney’s baby Oliver, and Amanda & Nathan. The food was fantastic – it was a great time.
Amanda and I eventually headed back to the Sheraton. We wanted a good night sleep for the next day – a huge one in our lives, even our eternal lives. We pre-ordered room service breakfast. We didn’t need to get up that early – we just needed to be at the temple by 9am, for our sealing was scheduled for 10am.
I approached our temple sealing not necessarily with nervousness, but more with a sense of anticipation and excitement. It was a feeling of finally arriving home, a feeling of accomplishing that which must be, which I always knew must be. I had simply been waiting for it, patiently waiting. And now it was here, and I was ready.
All systems were smooth in the morning, and we arrived at the temple on time. Kris came with us in the car from the hotel – she was again to be Amanda’s escort. My Dad met us at the temple – he was to be my escort. Again, we (Amanda, Kris, and I – there was only room for three in the little room) went through paperwork with a temple worker, after which I met up again with my Dad and a new temple worker – a young guy who was to be my official temple escort. He was a really good guy. We went up into the men's locker room. In the meantime, Amanda and her mom were doing the same – it was a little different for them because she had a special bride’s room to get ready in, with her mom helping, while I just had the plain locker room. Hmm… inequality? Haha, j/k.
When Amanda and I were both ready, my Dad and Kris were taken to the temple sealing waiting room, while Amanda and I were escorted into the celestial room. We were lucky to have a few moments in that beautiful room together, alone. The celestial room in the San Diego temple is truly amazing, and the Spirit was so strong. We heard someone softly crying for joy in the room, which was moving to us. We spoke together, thought, prayed – it was a wonderful moment.
Eventually brother Romulo Casos, our sealer, came in and met with us in the celestial room. He talked to us for a little while, getting to know us better, and us him. He was a caring, warm-hearted man from Peru, with full, white hair and a kindly smile. We really liked him. He explained to us exactly what would happen in the sealing ceremony, so that we knew what to do. He departed, we waited a few more minutes, then they came to get us. It was time.
They escorted us to the beautiful large sealing room close by. I remember entering and seeing so many familiar faces of family and friends turn to us – it made me so happy to see everyone. Amanda and I sat down next to each other with Amanda on my left. Her mom was next to her, and my mom next to me. The sealing ceremony was beautiful. Brother Casos spoke about using the example of Christ to help guide our marriage and our relationship. He spoke of charity, and referred to Moroni 7. Brother Casos was without guile, very sincere, and such a nice man.
The sealing ordinance was performed, with such a powerful Spirit and emotion in the room. It was truly a moment we shall never forget, as we got sealed together, looking into each other’s eyes, soul to soul.
After the sealing was completed, Brother Casos invited our family and then friends to come up and greet us and hug us. It was such an awesome experience to greet my family and friends in that way, in the presence of such a Spirit and joy. Thank you thank you to all you loved ones who were there to support us and share that moment!
On the temple grounds all our friends and family were waiting. We took pictures, and then many went to a picnic we held at nearby Nobel Park, where we served sandwiches, drinks, and a cake. The cake! :
It was a beautiful day, and such a great time to be able to interact and have fun with everyone.
It finally came to an end. What a truly exceptional event in our lives. In the space of 27 hours – from the time we left Huntington Beach to the end of the picnic – our lives changed deeply and eternally. What a blessing it is to Amanda and me to be sealed together forever, for her to be endowed, and for us to be starting our eternal family. We thank God every day for our blessings. He has led us to each other, has guided our path along the way, and will continue to be with us and our family always.
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