Ethan Goes to the Temple

Yep, it happened, and we couldn't be happier! Ethan went through the temple yesterday for his own endowments. It was such a happy, wonderful, spiritual, wonderful day, and honestly, words just can't capture all of the glorious feelings (but I'll give it a go).

The date had been set for about a month. Trying to find a day where Ethan doesn't have class, John doesn't have work, and I don't have any obligations, and it's not a Saturday, was just about impossible, but the planets aligned themselves, and we found Wednesday, April 21. We also invited a couple that has become Ethan's adopted aunt and uncle, Glen and Katherine Kreiner (now affectionately known as Uncle Glen and Aunt Kathy). Unbelievably, Glen was able to clear his schedule at work for the day too.

Many of us had been praying in advance that the day would go smoothly, but as most people who have ever tried to attend the temple know, it just doesn't happen. John and I had the morning from you-know-where, and from what I hear, it was mad chaos in the Kreiner household too. However, as soon as everybody's kids were on the bus, we headed off in the four-person Honda Element.

Seriously, there's nothing to pass the time faster on a long drive than great conversation, and for us, it was non-stop. The miles and minutes ticked by, until finally we were at American. Probably one of the funniest moments of conversation was to hear John describe Ethan's school's cafeteria, down to the last piece of lettuce. I guess that's what happens when one is on a diet study and can't eat any food from the pie bar, or the salad bar, or the pizza bar, or the deli bar, or the "comfort food" bar, or .... wait a minute ..... give me a minute to compose myself ....

We headed into the cafeteria to get platefuls of food (and to use some of Ethan's last swipes), and then headed to the temple. The traffic wasn't bad, and the rain wasn't too hard, and the five of us weren't even too cramped in our four-person vehicle :-)

We headed down to the distribution center first, and then up to the temple itself. I'm still a bit incredulous at the thought that I was taking my oldest child to the temple. There was such a great feeling of peace for me, at least, and just pure happiness. When we headed into the recorder's office, Ethan checked over the basic information. Then, after talking to us for just a few minutes, the recorder broke into tears. He said that the Spirit was so sweet and strong from our family that he just couldn't help it. Tissue #1.

Who knew that the temple president would be Earl C. Tingey of the Seventy? Not me, for sure, but in he walked and spoke with Ethan for about half an hour. Since Ethan was the only live endowment, and since we were some of the only patrons in the temple, it was such a quiet, peaceful time. Every worker that I met asked if Ethan was my son, and I was SO, SO, SO proud to say "yes", and to answer their next question of where he was going on his mission.

Then, when we walked into the endowment room, there were the Kreiners, all smiles and sitting up front as the witness couple. I couldn't have asked for everything to work out better. There was a moment during the endowment when both Katharine and I touched Ethan at the same time and felt the same thing--power. I was in tears and couldn't even speak, and Katharine was in tears afterwards, telling me about it. Tissue #2.

Then, in the celestial room, I was overwhelmed with the thoughts and understanding that Ethan already had about the endowment. As he shared them with us, I couldn't help but reflect on how worthy Ethan was to enter the temple. He (and we) have had so many moments over his lifetime where there is a last minute rush to finish something (Eagle, Duty to God, SAT prep, college applications), but this was different. Ethan had been living his life in preparation for this moment throughout his life--making good choices, being honest, keeping the commandments. No last minute rush to correct wrongs, but instead he entered the temple completely worthy and prepared. The temple recorder had made the point that by being worthy to enter the temple, Ethan was honoring us as it says in the 10 commandments. Indeed, both of us felt completely honored watching him complete this step in his progression towards his own salvation. Tissue #3.

I didn't want to leave. The moment was too precious, too sweet, too beautiful, but life goes on, doesn't it? We headed to the only Polish restaurant in Washington DC, a hole in the wall, but honestly authentic to the whole Polish vibe (well, authentic except for Glen's Bison Burger!). We ordered food that we couldn't pronounce and talked some more.

It was sad for me to drop off Ethan at school again, and a couple of hours later he called me. It was a strange feeling for him to just go back to school and back to studying for his Economics test and back to playing video games. He knew that something of such greater significance had happened that day and there was no way to share it with his friends. Tissue #4.

On a side note, I want to write about the significance our friends have had in our lives over the years. John and I are both so grateful for the people who have loved our kids, like family. These people have attended important events in their lives and made the kids feel special. Whether it be the Morans at an Eagle ceremony, or the Kreiners at the temple, it means so much to me. I was so grateful for the Kreiners that they felt it was important enough to come, especially considering how busy they are.

It was truly a day to remember. One down, three more to go!