Sometimes Changes are a Little Hard...

Well, as I have written before, this is the last week that our current temple presidency will be in the temple as the presidency.  We have had some tender moments hearing from President Konekoa and his wife in various venues.  They spoke in Stake Conference on Sunday and oh, what a spiritual meeting that was.  Both of them spoke of the importance of temple attendance and the great blessing it can be and will be in our lives.  When I look at my own journey of temple attendance over the last 45 years (yes, it was nearly 45 years ago that I  attended the temple for the first time) I have such a different understanding of the plan of salvation.  I am so grateful for those people in my life who have added to my understanding of and love of the temple.
Yesterday (Monday, October 27) we were invited to a luau put on by the temple employees for the outgoing presidency and missionary/mentors.  It was wonderful to see how these people appreciate the presidency.  So much food to eat-mostly food peculiar to the Polynesian culture.  Some of it I have a hard time with but I was able to find things I really liked.  (I may have been better off calorie wise if I hadn't).  Again, President Konekoa and his wife offered a few words of wisdom but mostly just humble appreciation to those of us who make the temple run as Heavenly Father wants it to be. Today we had our final meeting with them after our shift in the temple.  President Konekoa is such a humble man and just wants everything to be run as smoothly as possible and in accordance with temple policy and purity.  I know that as we work with the upcoming presidency, President Kealoha, President Niopali and President Taala and their wonderful wives, I will learn much from them too, but that is what life is all about.  Learn as much as we can while on the earth that will help us in the eternities and our lives and families will be all the more blessed.
I will say that I am a little disappointed at one thing I was told today.  For the past four and a half months of our mission, we worked in the temple three days a week with an additional meeting on Tuesdays.  Today we were told that our schedules would change to five shifts each week.  Tuesday through Friday either morning (6 am to 1 pm) or afternoon (1 pm to 8 pm).  Saturedays we will be finished by 1:00 but I am just a little concerned about the back pain I experience when I have worked two days in a row.  I guess I will follow my own advice and just buck up and deal with it.

On another note, we have had a pleasant visit this week with my youngest daughter, Carlee and her family.  They were here one week and are ready to board a plane for Utah in just a couple hours.  We have had a great time at the beach, sightseeing and touring the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We have had several meals together, taken two hikes and a pleasant walk to Temple Beach from the front of the Laie Temple.  The tender mercy in this is that it has been beautiful weather for their visit.  We have had lots of rain the the past few weeks but while they were here there was little rain and only at night.  If there is one more thing I could have requested, it would have been to have the turtles walking on the shore.  We saw them just a few feet out in the water but the waves were so strong they couldn't make it to shore.

Oh how I love my family.  I love how they love and support each other in everything they do.  We have had our trials and problems and will continue to have them just like any other family, but we are always there for each other and willing to help.  It has been so heartwarming to me to see how they step up to the plate while I'm not there with them and help each other when there is a need.  I know their dad is so proud of who they have become as they have grown into adulthood and parenthood. The cousins all love each other so much and get along so well. Not sure what I did in the pre-existence to deserve them but I am one lucky mother.