Doing Laundry in the Temple.

Yesterday Kyle and I went to the temple in Columbus, Ohio to do some ordinance work.  For those who don't know, here's what the Columbus temple looks like:

Due to the rigid (and tyrannical) request-day-off system at my workplace, this was the very first time that we'd been since we got married in December.  Yikes!

It was a wonderful day, though.  We left at about 7:45 AM and arrived at about 10:30 for our 11 AM session.  After the 11 o'clock, we had a little bit of time to wait before the 1 PM session began.  I received a few personal revelations in the temple that I think will help my husband and me to grow in our relationship spiritually and emotionally.  This can never hurt!  I also had the opportunity to see how much I've learned and developed since I received my very own endowments six months ago.  At the same time, however, I realized even more how much I have to learn!

So while I won't go into too much detail about all that, what I can say is that there was also another very rewarding moment that I never supposed in a million years that I would have had to opportunity to enjoy--I got to do laundry with the temple matron (the wife of the temple president)!


While I was waiting for Kyle to finish his 11 o'clock session, I decided to sit in the main lobby.  I had met the temple matron back in the dressing room and had chatted with her briefly, but I didn't realize who she was because she had on a sweater that covered up her name tag.  I just assumed she was another of the temple workers that was there that day!  When she saw me sitting patiently, she asked if I was there for another session.  I replied that I was, but I'd be waiting for another 45 minutes.  Since she had mentioned earlier that she was "way behind on the temple laundry," she asked if I was willing to help.  I agreed of course!  How often does the opportunity arise that you get to view the behind-the-scenes of how the temple is operated?  I'd most likely have to be a temple worker myself in order to find out :(


In the laundry area, she taught me how to fold some of the clothing used in the ordinances as well as where to store the white lab coats used by the cleaners.  I've never seen so many loads of white laundry in all my life!  It was truly an amazing sight.  While we worked, she asked questions about Kyle and me and our little family and I learned about her family and how often she and her husband get to come to the temple (I'm sure I sounded silly asking about it now that I know she's the temple matron).  She was such a wonderful person to get to chat with, and I loved it.

Doing laundry in the temple with her was a lot different from doing it at home.  Usually I sort the clothes quickly, toss them into either the washer or dryer, and vaguely measure the soap or add a dryer sheet.  Often the laundry won't get folded right away and we live out of the laundry basket when we get really behind (laundry is my least favorite, so it's the chore that gets neglected the most).  That would never happen at the temple.  Every fold and crease of the clothes was precise and deliberate, and we were sure to leave no wrinkles.  Even the clothes that we had discovered had ripped was folded and carefully set aside from the others.  Nothing is treated lightly in the Lord's house.  


I only spent about 20 minutes helping the temple matron (I later discovered who she was when we were leaving and she was without her sweater).  It was such a wonderful opportunity to understand even more about the temple and how it is operated by the Lord's faithful servants.  Not only that, but it really changed my attitude on laundry!  I never really considered folding clothes as a treat until I did it in the temple.  It made me understand even better that even as the Lord's house is a house of order, so should ours as well.  

I can't promise that laundry at my house will suddenly become my favorite pastime, but it has given me a goal--not to become so behind in keeping our home in order, and to, most importantly, delight in doing so.  It's how the Lord's house is patterned, so why should mine be exempt? 

Pondering the Important Things

Next week is going to be a busy week, I think.  Usually I dread busy weeks because they feel never-ending.  This time, though, I think I'll be doing more pondering than anything.  That's odd for a busy week.

My great-grandmother just passed away.  She was 95 and was the last remaining great-grandparent that Kyle or I had.  She's not having a funeral--just a viewing for family only and then an immediate burial--and I was able to arrange my work schedule to be able to be able to make the trip to Decatur to be there.

I didn't really know this great-grandma that well (we didn't get to see her often) but I do remember her very vividly.  She said some wonderfully funny things to us when we were young, but at the same time, I hated the initial hello every time we got together because she'd always comment on just how much I look like my father (as a young girl, this bothers you, trust me.  ESPECIALLY if your father is very masculine).

This led me to remember the death of my other great-grandmother who passed away when I was about fourteen.  I visited this one all the time in the nursing home and during her burial, I cried and cried.  I was worried for my Granny.  I was worried for our family.  It was my first real encounter with death, and I remember it being unsettling.

Now I know where my Granny is, and I know where my other great-grandmother is, also.  It's very comforting to know.  I know that my Granny is being blessed in Heavenly Father's kingdom, and I've worked to ensure that her temple ordinances would be completed for her since she never had the opportunity to do them for herself here.  I was the one who did her baptism for her, and, weirdly enough, I'll be the one to do her initiatories and endowment when Kyle and I go to the temple on Tuesday...only a day after my other great-grandma's funeral.


I suspect I'll be thinking a lot about family this week.  I'll be thinking about death, life, and what to do in it.  I'll be thinking about eternity, and probably happiness and perfection.  I suppose at some point I will cry--not for my deceased relatives (why despair when they are in a beautiful, happy place?)--but instead because of this glorious opportunity to become like our Heavenly Father.  


Kyle and I don't go to the temple enough.  We don't read our scriptures enough.  We don't volunteer enough.  We don't pray enough.  We don't spend enough time together as a family.  We don't say I Love You enough.  You see...there is never enough of the important things.  


This week, I'm only working about 11 hours.  I just wasn't scheduled for very many for some reason.  Kyle wasn't either.  Now, because of the funeral, I'm only working two days and he's only got three.  Our paychecks won't be big this week (that's for certain) but I have a feeling we're going to be rich in understanding.  We'll be able to spend our days off with our families, at the temple, or at home close to one another.  At first, we were both worried about having enough money for this week, but now...I've had a reality check that the paycheck is NOT what's important.


This week, I'm going to make some more time for the important stuff :)