How did you spend Valentine's Day 2011???
I hope not in a court room.
Valentines day 2011 will be a memorable one for me. I was summoned for jury duty. Not just any jury duty... Grand jury. At the time of summoning I had no idea what the difference between the different juries meant, but there really is a huge difference between the different juries that you are called to. So Monday morning I woke up bright and early and traveled up to Minneapolis to the Federal District Court. Once there I stood in line and waited impatiently for about 30 minutes. Once checked in our orientation started. Now again, I had no idea what I was getting myself in to and also at the beginning of this I was not too excited about being chosen to be on this jury duty thing. Once the orientation started it actually sounded pretty cool and I learned a ton. It was also cool to find out that not everyone gets the opportunity to be called to serve on a jury. I felt kind of empowered and excited. Then they told me that I needed to be able to be committed for 18 months... well that threw me out of the running, but I still had to stay there knowing that it was not going to work out. Then the next thing that happened is that we went up to the court room. This may sound weird but I have never been to a real court room ever. I have watched them on TV and such but never seen on in person. I also have never seen a judge is person either. So those were my fun things of the day... being in a "real" courtroom and seeing a "real" judge. Then the selection process started. I was never called to come and sit at the chairs and then I was excused about an hour later after the judge had found people to serve on the grand jury. I will say that at first I thought that this experience was bogus and was not looking forward to it at all... but after a day up at the court house my feelings changed and I felt empowered and that it was my civic duty to serve my country in this manner.
Well my service did not last very long... no complaints here!
Alan and I were able to celebrate Valentines day early though. On Saturday I woke up extra early and made a big breakfast for the two of us to enjoy. Following breakfast we attended the temple. Our tradition is to do a sealing session during the month of February. Alan and I love the special spirit that we both feel as we seal couples together for time and for all eternity. This session aimed to please. It was an amazing experience. I think that I cried pretty much the entire session (i don't know if it is just because I am pregnant or if it was the spirit ... but I am going to go with the spirit). I am so very grateful for this gift that we have in our life to be sealed to one another for eternity. And on Saturday we could feel that spirit of rejoicing as we sealed together sweethearts that have been waiting many, many years for this gift. It was an amazing spiritual experience that we had and I am grateful for this tradition and for the opportunity that we had to attend together this month. Then on the way home we stopped and had a romantic dinner at McDonalds and then came home and just vegged out for the remainder of the day. This Valentine's day was perfect! Thank you Alan for being be Valentine... I wouldn't have it any other way.
