Glimpse of Heaven

My life has been full of learning experiences lately, the one I had today was my favorite kind.  One that is full of so much joy that you can't contain the tears of happiness that flow freely.  We have had a busy week, with the aftermath of the windstorms, a neighborhood get together, Christmas recitals, a trip to Salt Lake to see the lights with the YW, Bishopric training that wives were invited to, and wedding receptions.  Because of all that we didn't have one night that was just spent at home this week.  Don't get me wrong it was a great week, and I enjoyed everything that happened, it was just a busy week.  So when I got the phone call saying that my aunt was going to the temple today, I questioned if I should go.  I thought about it, but decided this was an opportunity I did not want to miss.  Remember my post about my Uncle Joe's funeral, well my aunt, his wife, went to the temple today for the first time.  This sweet little 86 year old woman has waited for 64 years, in her words, for this day.  She is old and stooped, but there was an unquestionable light shining in her almost sightless eyes.  As I looked around the temple and saw that it was filled with my extended family, including 3 of my 4 sisters and my parents, I too was overcome with emotion.  There must have been 60 or more Twitchell relations in the temple together.  All six of my aunt's children and their spouses were there, as well as many of her grandchildren.  What an amazing influence this one tiny woman has had on the lives of so many.  As we all stood there crying and visiting at the end, I looked around at the beautiful Bountiful temple and all my family, I had the overwhelming feeling that hasn't left me, that this is what heaven is like-surrounded by your family and filled with unspeakable joy.  I know that no sacrifice is too great to experience the joy I felt in the temple today.  We as frail and arrogant human beings often think that happiness can be bought or achieved through worldly accomplishments, that earthly pleasure is more important than covenant keeping.  How sad that we often can't or won't see that the greatest blessings are found right where Heavenly Father says they can be found.  How grateful I am that Heavenly Father blesses us with small glimpses of what He has prepared for us to sustain us and strengthen us throughout this mortal experience.