Worth it all

Today when the kids got home from school, instead of our usual Friday afternoon ski trip, we decided to head over to the viewing for Gordon B. Hinckley. There were many reasons for doing so, but mainly because we happen to live here right now, and he happens to have been a man who has greatly impacted my life and the lives of my children. Both Bunch and Gator were deeply saddened by his passing, and neither has ever been to a funeral before.

So we went. I'd had what I thought was a generous idea of how much time this would take. Fifteen minute drive each way, probably an hour there, maybe an hour and a half tops.

They hadn't eaten since lunch at school. We were dressed fairly warm but not really bundled up. We didn't bring anything to keep us occupied except for Bunch, who had a book with her.

Finding a parking spot took over an hour. The line was more than a city block long just to get out of the shade into the sun. The sun set and then it really cooled down quickly. Sometimes we'd move only a few inches an hour.

When we finally got into the building, it had been almost 3 hours since we left our house. It would be over two more hours before we finally shuffled along to where dear President Hinckley was laying in state. The kids had never seen a dead body before, and we hesitated slightly when it was our moment to file past the casket. The sweetest feeling came over us all. A few happy sad tears filled our eyes, and we cast a glance back for one last look as we moved along.

They'd spent five and a half hours being patient, cold, tired, bored, and very hungry to experience a moment that would last about ten seconds. But as we turned the corner, my eight year old boy melted my heart when he said, "it was worth it all."