Getting to the temple...

Since we moved to Arkansas, getting to the temple is a MUCH bigger challenge. When we lived in Utah, we were within about 30 minutes of 4 different temples (and now there's even a couple more in that area). We could make a quick trip to the temple, getting there and back all within a couple of hours. Neil could stop and go on the way to work, early in the morning, and we could easily have family or friends watch our kids while we went on a weekend or evening. NOW we are 4 hours from the closest temple (in Oklahoma City), so when we go, it's a 12-hour ordeal, including 4 hours there, 2 hour session, stop for lunch, and 4 hours back--and lots of toll roads in between. It takes a LOT more planning, time, and money when we go now. We either all go, and take the kids with us, stay in a hotel, and take turns going to the temple, and head home the next day after doing something fun (like going to the zoo or science center), or Neil and I go by ourselves and leave the kids with a sitter (we won't leave them alone that long), and pay a fortune for 12 hours and 4 kids--either way, it's expensive.

So, Neil and I have been trying to find a day that we could try to go to the temple this month. It was announced about a month ago that we had a Stake Temple Day coming up on May 1st (which was a Friday). We decided we just needed to make the effort to go, so Neil scheduled to take the day off work, and I would check the kids out of school, and we would all drive down, and Neil & I would take turns going to the temple, while the other one entertained the kids at McDonalds, or a park or something. Well, a couple weeks before, PJ found out about a scout campout on that same Friday that he REALLY wanted to go to (he loves camping with the scouts), and PJ & Tessa both had a couple tests on that Friday as well. So, Neil suggested that he could stay home with the kids, while I try to go with a friend or something. I found a friend that wanted to drive down early in the morning, go to the earliest session at 9 a.m., and then be back by late afternoon. It worked out perfectly!

Well, my friend came to pick me up at 4:30 a.m., and off we went to Oklahoma City. We brought some snacks and drinks for the ride, and had a great time just talking on the way. The weather predictions said that there would be some thunderstorms, and we saw a LOT of lightning, but not much rain (yet). We made it to the temple without any problems, and enjoyed the session. Afterwards, we stopped and grabbed some lunch at Chilis and then headed on our way back home. When we stopped on the way back, to get some gas and a drink, the weather report on the radio was saying that the National Weather Service was issuing a severe thunderstorm and flash flood warning for all of Oklahoma. Great! Well, then we ran into a couple from our ward that was on their way to the temple, and they said that the rain and thunderstorm up farther was TERRIBLE! It was so bad that they couldn't even see the road, and in some places, the water was knee deep. Scary! So, we were hoping that we'd miss the worst of it. We managed to miss it on the way, hopefully we'd miss it on the way back too.

So, we continued on. As we got farthur up the road, the sky was getting darker and darker, and we could see the "wall cloud", and lots of lightning. It was looking pretty ominous. Then the rain started pouring down in sheets. It was getting worse & worse, so we turned on the radio to listen to the weather reports. As we were driving through this, and watching the sky for any funnel clouds (there were some tornado warnings too), my friend asked me what we were supposed to do for safety if we are driving when a tornado forms. I said that I've heard that if you are driving and there is a tornado coming, you are supposed to get out of your car, and lie flat in the lowest spot you can find, such as a ditch. Well, there was a ditch along the side of the road (with water in it from all the rain). And I'm thinking..."Dang, if we end up having to get out and lie down in the ditch full of water (in our nice Sunday clothes), with a tornado coming toward us, and rain pouring down, I don't even have my camera to take pictures!" That would be worth recording! ha ha ha :)

Well, we managed to get past the worst of it (without having to get out of the car to lay in a ditch), and made it home without any problems. The funny thing is, almost every time we drive to the temple, we end up in a terrible thunderstorm! What's up with that?!

So we got home around 4:30 p.m., just in time to take PJ to the church for his scout campout. They were meeting there, and driving to where they were camping. The rain was still coming down, and there was some lightning & thunder, but they were still planning on going. I thought that sounded absolutely MISERABLE! I kept hoping that it would stop raining, or it would be cancelled, but unless it's serious enough for a warning from the National Weather Service, they go anyway! Crazy Scouts!! Well, Jonah was also supposed to have a soccer game, but that WAS cancelled (thank goodness!). But, just as we finished up dinner, we got a call from PJ, saying that they were cancelling the campout, because they heard that there was a tornado in Springdale. They were all going to go change, because they were already soaking wet, then they'd go rollerskating instead, and then go out for ice cream at Braums. They had a great time after all!

And as far as Neil's day went...he had a GREAT time! He got the kids off to school without any problems, and had a great time shopping with Clay, going out to Chick-Fil-A, reading stories, playing games, and having a nap. He said he wants to be 4-years old again! :)