50th Anniversary

15 September 1961

The day my parents, Ronald Mark (Mick) Henline and Thora Ilene Christensen were married and sealed for eternity in the Salt Lake LDS temple.



For many, who don't know about our beliefs, let me take a moment to explain the importance of the temple.  We believe that after death, our spirits continue to live....we retain our personality, our talents, our love for our family.  Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we will all be resurrected...our spirits and bodies will be reunited, glorified and perfected.  The plan of the Father, places us in families, by divine design.  By the power of the priesthood, which is authority, given to man to act in God's name, families can be sealed together in an eternal, binding ordinance.  For those who have passed on, without the opportunity to be sealed to their families, individuals can act as proxy in their behalf, so that they can recieve this blessing.  To that end, we search out our families by doing our genealogy and performing these ordinance for them in temples. 

Couples can be married and sealed in temples, thus beginning their own eternal family.  This knowledge brings me great comfort!  Mom has been gone from us for ten years -- and yet, she is not far.  She still loves, cares and watches over us.  I am thankful to be sealed to my parents and to know that they are my family and will be forever.  I'm thankful to be sealed to Jon and to have our children sealed to us in a continuing family circle. 

Dad and Mom standing in front of the Salt Lake LDS Temple -- in her hand she is holding their marriage certificate....all tied up, neat and tidy!

Just Married!

At their reception.

15 September 2011

My Dad works in the Oquirrh (oak er) Mountain LDS Temple in  South Jordan, Utah.  He is a sealer -- which means that he has been authorized and set apart to perform marriages and sealings in the temple.  He had invited us all to go to dinner to celebrate his and mom's 50th wedding anniversary.  But he was going to fulfill his shift in the temple first. 

We decided to surprise him and show up as one of his sealing sessions.  We arrived at 3 p.m. and he was surprised!  He had been told he could leave at 2 p.m. but told them that he'd wait to see if he was needed at 3 p.m. -- and there we were.  We spent a delightful hour in the temple together, doing sealings, over-which Dad officiated. 

Here are a few photo's we took after our session....

Lynn, Jodi, Jake, Mark, and me

Mark and Me

Mark is my oldest brother and he's always been a great strength to me!

Dad

Barry, Dad, Me, Mark

Jake & Ashlyn, Me, Dad, Mark & Jodi, Lynn & Barry

Dad, Jodi & Mark

Dad, Lynn & Barry

Me and my Daddy

Jake, Papa, Ashlyn

It was so great to be together and share moments together in the temple.  So thankful for all of my brothers -- and their wives, who are my sisters, and who mean so much to me.  It was fun too, to have our next generation there with us....so glad Jake and Ashlyn could make it! 

I just don't have words to describe the love I have for my family!

While we were at the temple, the kids were at Papa's house with Uncle Dork (Kurt).....now lest you believe that we are mean and cruel -- Kurt gave himself the name "Uncle Dork" -- and that's what the kids call him.

At Papa's house.....waiting for dinner...

Uncle Dork -- Kurt

Drew, Jake and Derek

Connor

Drew

Logan and Ashlyn -- LOVE THIS PHOTO!

Kurt and Austin -- cleaning up some downed limbs

Kyle and Austin petting the neighbors dogs.

Kyle adores Ashlyn and he was so excited to see her!

Texas Roadhouse

Celebrating 50 years of our family!

Drew and Papa -- watching and waiting for everyone to arrive...

....and here they come!  Kyle and Brennan in the lead.

Carson, Brennan, Kyle and Austin

Connor, Brennan, Logan, Carson, Kyle, Derek, Austin

Carson, Austin, Kyle and Drew

Logan -- HAHA -- got one of you!

Drew and Derek making a Brennan and Kyle sandwich.

Jodi and Lynn

Mark, Dad, Kurt, Barry

Dad -- love the bolo tie

Derek and Drew

This was a much anticipated dinner....everyone knew what they wanted....it was great and we had a good time -- but we really missed Kent and Tracy and their family, Jorry, Alex and baby Jeremy...they couldn't make it.  Jon, Scott and Sunny were home in Washington and we missed them too....and we missed Mitch who was working.

Kyle talking to Jon when we got home.  He cried all the way home from the restaurant to Papa's house because it was just wrenching that everyone got into different cars and left him.  He cried telling Jon, he cried telling Scott....and then Sunny got on the phone and he said, "Hi" -- just sunny and happy as you please....

It was a great celebration and I'll be forever grateful for the family I was blessed to join.