Picture This...

Dear Family and Loved Ones,


We have had an amazing week - it almost seems like a dream!

Tuesday I left Long Beach and was soon in SLC (we are blessed to be less than a two hour plane ride from home).  I was greeted by foggy, COLD, Utah winter weather but was soon warmed with a hug from Shelly and the car heater going full blast.  Ben and Mari arrived Wednesday after completing their semester finals at Los Alamitos High School.

We spent every minute we could enjoying family and friends and getting ready for Scott and Cristy's big day.  Somehow we were able to eat at nearly all of our favorite spots - you can't find chicken rings or Betos in Long Beach . . . 

Thursday night we set up the church for the lunch celebration to be held the next day, following Scott and Cristy's sealing at the Bountiful temple.  It was evident that Cristy, Scott, Lynda
(Scott's Mom) and many others had spent hours preparing beautiful decorations and food for the event!  

Friday morning we all got in our Sunday best and headed to the Bountiful Temple.  Cristy seemed calm until the phone rang, it was Ted calling to let her know that he was thinking about his little girl and hoping she had a wonderful day.  We both shed a few tears, we knew there would be a void without her Dad at the wedding but it was reassuring to know that he was only a thought away.

When we arrived at the temple we could hardly see the beautiful building because of the thick fog.  It didn't seem like an ideal day for pictures to say the least.  Once inside the temple we soon felt the peace and calm that always permeates that sacred place.

Scott and Cristy's sealing ceremony was performed by her Grandpa Howard, he has been a sealer for 33 years and gave them some great counsel.  It was a beautiful ceremony culminating in the great promise of an eternal marriage.

Cristy looked beautiful in her gorgeous dress, miraculously purchased the day before! The sun had broke through the clouds and as we left the temple we were greeted by clear skies.  After taking many photos we all headed to the church for a delicious lunch of soup, fruit and cookies, all from Cutlers (soup and sandwich restaurant), who happen to be Scott's grandparents.  It was a wonderful celebration!

Saturday morning while reading the Church News I found this thought from Elder Perry, "In many cookbooks there are pictures of the perfect dishes that recipes make . . . these pictures are important because they help us envision the outcome if we strictly follow the directions as given in the recipe. When we think of eternal life what is the picture that comes to mind?  I believe that if we could create in our minds a clear and true picture of eternal life, we would start behaving differently.  We would not need to be prodded to do the many things involved with enduring to the end . . . like attending our meetings, going to the temple, living moral lives, saying our prayers,or reading the scriptures.  We would want to do all these things and more because we realize they will prepare us to go somewhere we yearn to go."

This thought really struck home with me because whenever I am in the temple with family and loved ones I can picture eternity, I can imagine what it will be like to be back in the presence of our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior.  What I can't imagine is how it would be heaven without an eternal family.  Though Scott and Cristy's wedding day was nearly perfect there were some special people who weren't able to be in the picture and they were missed!  My greatest desire is for each of us to follow the gospel plan so in our heavenly home the picture will be complete, with no one missing.

We are all safely back in Long Beach.  We are grateful for our loving, helpful, thoughtful, family and friends who made our trip and Scott and Cristy's day so wonderful.  Thank you everyone!


With Love and Gratitude Always,
The Long Beach Buberts