We haven't done the best the last few years to make sure we make it out to the temple lights. And even when we have it's a cold rushed crowded affair. Well this year things were different. John and I were asked to be hosts for the temple grounds on Christmas eve from 5:30-10:30pm. We weren't sure whether or not we wanted to spend our Christmas eve there, leaving the kids for the night. It seemed like such a huge sacrifice for our family. But we decided to do it. We thought and prayed about how to make it work. We finally decided the other three could walk around keeping an eye on Ellie for the entire time we were going to be hosts. We packed hot chocolate and donuts and told the kids to spend time in the visitors center where it would be warm.
For the first few hours they did just that. Watched all the movies, walked around to see everything, watched the concerts etc. They had free reign and no time limit to enjoy and reenjoy their favorite parts.
Eventually they met up with us and we put badges on them and they helped in the hosting duties. One of the neat things about being a host is your main responsibility is to make sure the sister missionaries are kept safe. What a perfect place to be Christmas eve.
And the end of the night they bring baby jesus in for the night. Ellie and I were asked to help bring him in. It was such an incredible moment to hold a life sized baby jesus on Christmas eve. To know the importance and power of that moment all those years ago came again and again to me that night as we were given that sacred task. It was a night I will never forget.
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