Happiness

Back in May I accepted a 5 hour shift at the Gilbert Temple and was set apart to be authorized to do so.  Hooray! I had been wanting to work in the Temple for a very long time! Since 2008. In 2008 I asked the leader of our Church Group if I could work in the Temple. I loved being there so much! He said that I needed to wait until all my kids had left the house. That was going to be a long time as my youngest Asher was TWO at the time. I went home a little disappointed, but understood the meaning behind it (making family a priority). Fast forward 11 years.  Josh and I were attending a large Church meeting for our area (Stake Conference) and I heard the speaker mention that anyone was allowed to work in the Temple now. What did beautiful news did my ears just hear?! I turned to Josh and he knew what I was thinking. I waited a few months to make sure I was really willing to commit to such a time commitment each week and then met with my Bishop to ge...

 Here are a few shots from our Easter day, albeit blurry ones.  Elizabeth and her basket. Ethan eating a Peep, complete with head gear for searching for the baskets. Every year the Easter Bunny hides clues as to where they are hidden. This year they were in a cabinet in the garage (good idea, Josh!).  All 4 kids ready to go to Church: Jonah, Ethan, Asher and Elizabeth. I ended up taking Elizabeth home right after Sacrament because her pink eye was flaring up. I played the piano for the Choir and was oh so glad it was over. On to the next song!  We ended the day with a trip to the Temple and a walk around it's grounds with it's lovely Spring Flowers. It was perfect because just the night before they had taken down all the chairs from the Easter Pageant and it had left a big, empty field with lots and lots of rows where the people sat. The kids starting running before they even hit the grass. And they even found some spoils left over by the crowds: ...

   It was a bit sunny! Last year , about this time, I took all 4 kiddos down Higley St. and a good 15 minute drive west to the newly constructed Gilbert Temple (lds.org). They were only half way done with the facade and we grinned and laughed in front of the cold rebar on that sunny day. Since then, they have finished most of the outside of the Temple and have even crowned it with a golden statue of the Prophet Moroni (it happened last May- a sign that it was half way done!). While there is no finish date for the soon-to-be, gorgeous temple we think it may be ready in the Fall! (Anyone can enter and take a free tour right before it's dedicated. These Temples are amazingly beautiful, gorgeous and so, so peaceful. It would be a perfect time for a visit to the Abbotts- just let us know and we'll pencil you in!)  The Angel Moroni  Love the Palm Trees that are already going in! (this is the side of the Temple)  A lot of the decor is patterned ...

Last night, around 3:30 am, Elizabeth awoke with a scary dream. Or ten scary dreams, she told me. I got her a drink, laid down beside her and when that failed, turned on the tv. We recently got a new roku machine that allows us to get the internet on our tv (with our wireless). We got it so we could watch Conference since we don't have cable (or a DVR! I know- pretty crazy, huh?). I LOVE it! You can get Pandora Radio on your TV, and there is a Mormon channel on there as well. Elizabeth and I watched a few new Easter Bible Videos and some other short, sweet videos as well. I sent her off to bed, and she fell asleep pretty quickly after that. I, on the other hand, took a little longer. One video we watched was called Arise to the Mountain. It was shown at the General Young Women's Broadcast. I loved it! I loved how pure and sweet and good those young women are. I look forward to Elizabeth being a Young Woman one day (sooner than I have expected!). Recently, I have quite a few ...

We live 15 minutes away from the Mesa, Arizona temple. It is a gorgeous temple and the one where my immediate family began on May 29, 1976. I love that Temple. But, I also have a NEW love- the Gilbert, Arizona temple to be dedicated in 2013. We live about 15 minutes from this currently-being-built Temple and have gone to the site a few times to see it's progress. At first there were just metal bars- rebar- jutting out from the ground. They are huge- the size of your arm- enough to support such a big structure. There is a observation deck where you can go and check things out and also a missionary couple in a trailer filled with tidbits of the Temple's construction- a sample of the stained glass used here, a piece of marble there. Amazing. The concrete alone used in the foundation of the Temple could build 1,000 homes. Wow. I took the kids there the other day. Partly to get out of the house (our house often seems cramped on Sunday afternoons) and partly to take pictures of them ...

I love to see the Temple. I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit. To listen and to pray.

me. bored in photography class. practicing on my hand. The other day we went to the Temple, Josh and I. We drove and I sat up front (where else would I sit?) snacking on Tropical Trail Mix from the Wal-marts and drinking Grape Propel from my favorite (and only) pink water bottle. Now, where is this story going? Well, I'll tell you. We parked in my favorite spot- on 2nd street, across the street and right in front of the small side gate (well, almost right in front- someone actually was parked in my favorite spot so this was my second favorite spot) and this was after several debates on whether we should actually try a different spot this time. The air smelled like a bird had died and gone to Heaven- which if it did, being close to the Temple was probably the best place. The weather was gorgeous- a mild 72 and the people were friendly- smiling at us as though we were friends even though we are really strangers. That's usually how it goes at the Temple. We enjoyed lengthy session...

For Family Home Evening last Monday, we went out to eat at Cafe Rio and then to the Mesa Temple and it's Visitors Center. You'll have to ask Kristen and Christopher if Cafe Rio was as good as they say. The Temple was gorgeous at night and a bride and groom were getting their pictures taken there. The Visitor Center has some really cool visiting artwork that is just gorgeous. We live close to such really neat places! It was so fun! Can't wait until we see you guys again!

My Parents were married in the Mesa, AZ Temple 35 years ago and Josh and I went for the first time last Friday. We went while the kids were in school and I was just thrilled to go! What a special day! I think May was a lot better time to get married than August! Phew! I've been a little hesitant to write this blog post today. Somehow I think that if I write it, I will break my streak and never post again. Hopefully that won't happen. Even if we never replace our computer table that we left in Maryland! The winner of my 1,000 post give away is Michelle !! Congratulations! Michelle, e-mail me your address at joshmeganabbott at hotmail dot com and I'll get it out to you! Thank you to all who read my blog. The comments that people have left me when times have been hard have often made me smile with joy and have literally made my day. It's amazing what one little small thing can do for a person. Happy blogging and Happy September/Labor Day coming up!!! Where di...

I've been manic. My Counselor Joe told me to just enjoy it. Enjoy being happy and full of energy, as long it doesn't explode on me. Yesterday it exploded. I was so full of energy that I had to get out of the house. I had to. I had already bathed the kids (well half of them-Josh did the other half), made cinnamon rolls, went for a walk with the family and I was ready to get out! It was 11 am and there was an Open House for a home right next to the temple down in D.C. Now, we are not in the market for a home. Far from it. (Let's just say we bought our home in 2007 shall we?) But right after we moved here and I made a trip to the temple, I fell in love with five houses with a beautiful view of the temple. They are on a busy street, so not kid friendly but I was dying to see inside one of those homes! Especially after spending months looking for a home, these homes looked amazing! Long story short, I went- it was locked. I looked in the windows and in the back yard. I loved it,...

Anyone want to go to the temple with me on President's day? I know the Stake Relief Society is going on Saturday, but I will be selling stuff at the Baby Bazaar then. So sad! I haven't discussed this with Josh yet, but he has off and we don't have plans. Maybe we should do something as a family or does anyone want to watch our kids while we go to the temple. Maybe we should visit the Baltimore Aquarium, although it costs an arm and a leg. It's VERY windy today and some street lights were out by the gym and my lights just flickered! I better get off the computer and take my Sams Club pizza out of the oven. By the way, babe, I picked up your new glasses and contacts at Sams Club today. Wear them on Valentines Day! I'm sure you'll look hot in them! Love, Megan ps. Sams club is now carrying a hot new grill if anyone does own one yet- HINT. HINT.

As some of you may know, we took Elizabeth to the Doctor on Thursday. After running around the office a few times and have Elizabeth start coughing and wheezing, he decided to put her on Albutirol (sp?), a medicine for asthma. Josh takes the same kind but his is an inhaler and Elizabeth's is a yummy syrup- yay for new technology! The Dr. said they used to have only adrenaline to cure asthma but now they have other medicines. It does make them a little more hyper though. Not something I really need with three boys already! He also put her on an anit-biotic for five days to loosen any mucus and we see the Dr. again on Tuesday for a final diagnosis. On Friday we drove down to D.C. to see the new American History Museum that just opened up. It was really cool. Not as kid friendly, but Josh and I really enjoyed it. On the way up, I was reading an article in the new Oprah magazine (which I don't subscribe to, but buy once every two years) about an actor who had no family and no respo...

I am going to the temple today. Wish me luck. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.