The end.

 So I just skipped all of our trip to Europe to share my favorite part. It's like those shows or movies that give you the ending, then back track to explain how you get there. :)

Having just seen some of the most intricate and amazing Cathedrals in Europe, they are so magnificent and detailed. I could go back a thousand times and still never grasp all the little details those builders put into their little corner of the building or even the tallest pillars. But what was even more amazing to me was those were just buildings - grand and amazing yes, but still a building. The most beautiful building I saw there was not what I saw, but how I felt. It was the London Temple - simple, elegant, peaceful. I would trade visiting all those cathedrals to simply visit the Temple, over and over again. The house of the Lord, my Father's home - 'you're gonna love it there'. I got glimpses of truth in those cathedrals, but only glimpses. It was the Temple where I felt complete, totally at peace, and I hadn't even made it inside the building yet.

 It was joyful (and teary) to see Alyssa (who was already teary) walk into the sealing room with Duncan. It seemed like yesterday I was making that same walk (how yesterday became almost 12 years, I'm not sure), but it was the best thing we had done since arriving in Europe. Even if this was the only thing we had been able to do, I would have made the trip - it was worth it.

Advice given at the wedding was from alyssa's brothers and duncan's brother: 'buy her chairs' (phenomenon - movie), don't write your grievances in sharpie (his wife writes in invisible ink, he often doesn't have a pen), hard times will come: return of the jedi and empire strikes back. lean on each other and help each stand in moments of trial and rely on the Lord when you're both to weak to stand. This is not the end of the movie, this is where the movie gets good and the happily ever after begins. (Alyssa loves her movies!!)

Advice given from the sealer was one word: Faithfulness. Jeff's comment after leaving the sealing room was 'we need to go the Temple more'. (well said husband, well said.)