Temple Lights

I just learned this year that not every temple does temple lights.  WHAT??  I guess I just assumed all the temples in the Unites States did.  I guess I've just been lucky enough to live near the DC, Mesa and Salt Lake temple since returning to America.

I had been meaning to go all month, but things kept coming up and if we wanted to go see the lights before Christmas, we were going to have to go that very night.  I texted a couple of friends whose husbands have flexible work schedules to see if they wanted to meet up for an early dinner and temple lights.  Then after everyone committed and Kristin had run out to get hot chocolate fixings, I looked outside and the clouds started rolling in.  Checked the weather and sure enough, it was suppose to rain.  We decided to play it by ear and see how everything looked at 5 -- and of course it looked gorgeous outside.  This meant about 10 minutes before we were suppose to leave we were all scrambling for jackets, gloves, scarves, extra hot water and a thermos for hot chocolate. . . 

Finally we get everyone into the car about and 5 minutes away from Cafe Rio one of the kids pipes up, "Luke doesn't have shoes on."  ARGH!  The only store between where we were and Cafe Rio was Big Lots, so we were just hoping they would have something we could use.  No shoes, but they did have these awesomely horrific rubberoos for $6.  Luke took one look at them and HATED them, so we spent the next 5 minutes convincing him how awesome they are.  He now wants to wear them everywhere.

Between 6 adults and 14 kids, I was starting to have a Home Alone moment.  I was pretty sure some kid was going to be left behind, but we managed to get them all fed (at 6 different tables because Cafe Rio is not a great place for large groups) and separated into cars for the ride up.  Somehow we ended up with the boy car.

When we got to the Temple we started passing out jackets and such when we realized it was probably still in the 60s.  Forget the gloves and scarves, we didn't even need jackets.

The * faux* weather must have scared everyone off, or maybe people were off at Enrichments and parties, or just not in the mood to visit the temple on a non-FHE/Mutual nights, but the place was empty.  Which was great because we didn't lose anyone.  I cried during the movie, Luke loved all the baby Jesus' in the nativity room and we listened to the choir *very* briefly because it was the Spanish choir that night.  Then we headed back to the car for hot chocolate and cookies.

My kids were probably most excited about this part.  I never knew this was a *thing* but my kids have always pointed out everyone sipping their hot chocolate in a lovely tableau as we pile back into the car every year.  Our scene was a little crazier.