Temple Work

Yesterday Barbi, Ryan, Barbi's kids and Mom went to the Timpanogas Temple to do baptisms for the dead. One of the people they were doing work for was Dad. He has been dead for 2 1/2 years and it is overdue for him to get his work done.

While Barbi was there, she felt Dad's presence three times. The first time was when she was walking down the stairs towards the baptistry. She felt like she walked right through him. She had an overwhelming feeling of his presence. She hadn't even thought about the possibility of feeling him there when she was walking downstairs. So it took her by surprise. The next time she felt him was when she was watching the baptisms. She felt like he sat down next to her with his arm behind her. She felt like he was telling her, "Be nice to your mother. Be nicer to her." When Barbi told me that, I knew that was my dad talking. He always demanded respect for my mother. If he ever caught us back talking her, we would be in so much trouble. One time we were walking though a house with a real estate agent. My mom had said something and I flippantly corrected her in front of the agent. I was walking behind her, feeling pretty smart. My dad hung back, stepped behind me and smacked me hard on the butt and quietly said, "Don't ever correct your mother like that again in front of someone." That put me in my place! The last time Barbi felt Dad, she was standing and watching something and he came up beside her and said,"What took you so long?" He was joking with her because we used to always tell him that the second he died, we would have his name in the temple waiting for the day we could baptize him. I am so glad he was there. Barbi felt like he was happy and I feel pretty sure he accepted the gospel.

I was telling Barbi that every once in a while I can feel him near me. I especially feel him around me on the weekends when the kids are with their dad and Roberto is at work. It's like he knows I'm a little lonely and I'm least distracted and will feel his presence more then. It's not a scary feeling. It's just a quiet assurance that he's there and aware of me. There are times I really miss him. I just wish I could call him up on the phone and hear his voice and hear his laughter. I loved his laugh and I loved it when he would laugh at something I said.

I am grateful I had a loving father like that. He had his faults. But he was a good man and a good father to me.

I have noticed that Roberto and his daughter, Rachelle, seem to have the same kind of relationship I had with Dad. She calls him a lot to talk about things. They are very close. She teases him mercilessly and it's hilarious. The two of them can banter like Dad and I would. I love watching them because it reminds me of Dad and I. I'm glad Roberto has that kind of relationship with Rachelle.