"There's no place like home"

Jan, 2011

“When we retire we should move to Arizona.”

“I don’t think so, lots of sand but where’s the beach? Besides, I can only remember living in California.”

This conversation began a few months after my husband left our California home for a work assignment in Arizona. He flew home every other week and each time he came home he told me about the great people in his Ward and then extol the beauty and affordability of Az. (I was not swayed nor did I budge my opinion.)

After eight months he came home to Santa Clarita California. We had already decided we did not like living apart and never do it again. I guess our 47 years of marriage had molded us to accept and even love one another’s shortcomings.

“Honey, I’m so glad your back home.”

“Well”, he said, “you missed the chance to move to a great place while I was there.”

“That place is hot, hot, and the haboo that weekend I was visiting was crazy. I don’t think Arizona is the place for me.”

October 2012

 We were back in our regular routine and were called to be ordinance workers at the Los Angeles Temple. Then without warning Patrick came home in October to announce he had been requested to return to Intel and work on another project. Much to my chagrin, he left two days later and our back and forth California-Arizona life began again. And my heart was sad when a week later his beautiful white suit arrived in the mail from Mr. Mac. I continued on by myself to fulfill the assignment as a temple ordinance worker and grew to love my service and the friends I made.                                                                                                                 

Our plan had been to retire in 2012, but somehow the year came and went. By then all five of our children had left our state for jobs and affordability.

“If you think we need to move; I want to be near the kids.” I went on a search. Our 2 boys live near Seattle. I went to visit them and found areas I liked but they were too expensive and the weather very gloomy. I visited our daughter in Maryland. Homes were affordable, but the weather was humid and very cold in the winter. I crossed it off my list. Where the oldest and youngest daughters live in Utah it also is very cold in the winter. I began to feel like Goldilocks, too hot, too cold, too expensive. “Am I being too picky?”

April 2013

Christmas 2012 came and went. New Years and the Rose Parade passed. We were both tired of being apart and alone. Talking to him on the phone while he shopped for groceries was not a fulfilling date.  For the two weeks of spring break from my teaching assignment I decided to keep Patrick company at his Chandler condo. On days I wanted the car, I drove him to work. One morning after I dropped him off I looked up the address of the new temple being built and took off toward Gilbert to explore.

I turned onto Greenfield from Queen Creek and saw the temple in the distance. I was immediately overcome with emotion. The closer I got, the more I was touched by what I saw. I pulled into the tiny parking area near the visitor trailer and sat for a long time letting my tears flow and the sweet spirit wash over me. I pulled out my phone and called my husband.

“Okay, we’re moving to Arizona.”

“Who are you and where is my wife…What happened?”

“I’m supposed to work in the Gilbert Temple, we need to move.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely!”

After hearing a quote that was shared during an ordinance worker prayer meeting I was more motivated than ever to move 450 miles, away from friends and find a home near the Gilbert Temple. I was determined to act on the prompting I felt.

Pres. McConkie of the Temple Presidency presented this to all Supervisors in the Salt Lake Temple in the fall of 1989;

"When we come to the temple, we are doing what we were foreordained to do. I am sure you were foreordained and set apart to work in this temple. You are a part of the "Handful" of sisters to receive the authority under the hand of the Priesthood to wash, anoint, and clothe your sisters. You were foreordained to this part and received this authority in the pre-existence...only a "Handful" of sisters chosen from all of Father's daughters to be given this privilege and responsibility...your sins are forgiven you each day you come to serve...your happiness comes as you serve...so it is immediate"

Our Arizona Home

I wanted to feel that happiness you feel when you serve and since Patrick already wanted to move we began our plan to retire in 2014 and started to look for a house. After searching many areas around Phoenix we found the perfect house in Gilbert. Surprise!) It had everything on my list that I wanted. The only thing that was not on the list was what I envisioned on that day while sitting in the parking lot; a view of the temple.

Jan, 2014

I didn’t realize how close our house was to the temple until after we began to move in. One afternoon I walked passed our next-door neighbor’s home to the end of our Cul-de-sac. I looked through the wrought-iron fence that ran along a walkway. I could see the temple just across an alfalfa field. It was just as I had pictured it that spring day in the little parking lot by the Gilbert Temple. It rose like a beacon and Moroni glinted in the bright sun. I thought Okay, “We’re here are ready to do as the Lord desires.”

Gilbert Temple

 Jan, 2019 I am looking at what what I wrote five years ago and am amazed at what has happened since then.. We are now in the middle of our second construction mission, what an adventure we have had since we moved. Our kids have lived in our house more than we have but that's okay...it's what the Lord wanted us to do and I'm happy we had the faith and strength to do his will. 

Right before we left on Mission #2 Patrick went on a fishing trip and I went to the Hollywood Beach with Megan, my surfer daughter, and her daughter Beth.

It is short bit of sand in Ventura.  Not many people

go there as it does not have much parking. And that's just fine with me!