Alex Tracie and the Wee Ones: For Time and All Eternity: LDS Temples

Zoe Elizabeth Tolman

I will never forget the day this little girl walked into my life. With her beautiful blond hair and stunning eyes and her spunky personality. She was splashing away in the swimming pool with my brother and her mom. She was laughing and talking a mile a minute. It was love at first site. I had to stop myself several times from saying "Come see Aunt Tracie!" Because I wasn't her Aunt, although it may have slipped out once or twice.

My brother had always told us that he would never marry and if he did it wouldn't be for a very, very, long time. So when he brought a date to our family reunion it was a BIG DEAL. And not just that he had brought a date but one with this beautiful little girl, I had to hide my shock. Because he told me that he was waiting to have kids till Lydia was old enough to baby sit for him. I don't know if he knew it then or not, but I did. This little girl was going to be my niece.

And it wasn't long before this:

Once they were engaged Derek's name was placed on her Birth Certificate. He was on his Mission when she was born, but her biological father chose not to be involved. And that is okay, she is his. They have the same personality and if you didn't know it you couldn't tell because she looks just like him. He is her Dad, and she is my niece!

And on January 8, 2010 They were sealed for Time and All Eternity:

Jaydie, Derek, and Zoe

Lydia, Zoe, and Trinity

Jaydie, Derek, and Zoe

Other than my own Temple Sealing, watching families and couples be joined together for Time and All Eternity is some of the most sacred and beautiful experiences I have ever had. People who through adoption, or are already married to finally receive those wonderful blessings that they have waited for, to have the people they love sealed to them forever there is nothing quite like it. It is a very special experience. And once you are Sealed any children born to you are yours forever too!

A few weeks ago I was teaching Zoe's class in church and during singing time we sang the song: Families can be Together Forever she turned to me with tears in her eyes and said: Aunt Tracie do you remember when I was sealed to my family forever? I do it was the most wonderful day! It was hard for me to hold my tears back and I wrapped my arms around her and told her I did, and it was a wonderful day!

A few days later her little brother Rockwell was born, he had trouble breathing and was in the NICU for a few days. Our family prayed and fasted for his health and for his parents. He is home now and doing well.

Zoe, Jaydie, Rockwell, Derek, Pyper

In our religion we believe that when we are married in the Temple that it is not just for this life, but that the family unit continues after death. For Time and All Eternity. Isn't that wonderful! I know it is true, and that we are not just sealed to our spouse and children but to our parents and grandparents as well if they were sealed in the Temple.

Adam and Jeryka

What a wonderful day it was watching Adam and his wife Jeryka being Sealed, the joy on their faces will not be something I will ever forget.

Brad, Kristin, and Shaylee

Brad, Kristin, and Shaylee on the day they were Sealed. I remember the spirit was so strong when they brought Shaylee in there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Such a wonderful day.

Alex and I, Alex being Sealed, Meleah's Sealing and Kolya's Endowment

The top picture is of Alex and I on our Wedding day when we were Sealed as Husband and Wife, for Time and All Eternity. The middle picture is of Alex and his family on the day he and his brother where Sealed to their new parents. Alex and Kolya are adopted and so even though his parents where married in the Temple they still needed to be Sealed to them.

The bottom picture is of my niece Meleah, she is so special! She made me an Aunt! She was 18 months old when Alex and I got married. She was adopted by Alex's mom and Dad last summer. She was so excited she could hardly hold still! It was a blessing that she had waited a long time for, all of us had and the excitement in the air was very contagious and lasted all day. Alex's brother Kolya also went through the Temple for the first time that day. It was a day full of spiritual blessings.

I am so blessed to have the gospel in my life, especially the blessings of the Temple. That my husband, children, parents, brothers, nieces, nephews, brother and sister in laws, Alex's parents, and all our grandparents will be a family forever. I couldn't ask for anything better.