Boise Temple Rededication

On November 18th the Boise Temple was rededicated.  In October Madison started attending practices for the cultural celebration.  She was 13 but turning 14 during the October practices.  They practiced every Wed. and almost every Sat.  She found it boring some of the time but when she had the opportunity to perform with 9200 youth in front of the prophet and a huge audience it was all worth it.  It was so awesome!!  We were able to go to the stake center and watch.  Pres. Monson is so animated with the youth and they enjoy listening to him so much.  Chase had this great idea that they should get their "holy water" (bottled water with the church's label on it) signed by the Prophet.  Madison was all for it but when they headed in his direction they were informed they couldn't approach the prophet because of security reasons.  Madison LOVED when it when the prophet stood up and put his hands in the air yelling "Whoop, Whoop" for one of the dances.  Jaxon turned 12 on the 14th of November so he was able to attend also.  He had a great time too and loved seeing the prophet in person.  He was also hoping to say hello to the prophet but I am sure the 12,000 individuals there all wanted too.  :)  He rode with Bro. Madson, Grant, Jaden, and Christopher.  They were sitting in a perfect spot for him to watch Madison.  Madison somehow got assigned to ride with Shawn Nielsen, Chase and Ethan.  Sis Stewart laughed and told her "Its like they knew you guys were friends."  Madison was happy to be with them after the celebration was over and they had to walk a ways through downtown to their car. 

During the temple open house Ava and I were able to take Grandma Ruthie when she came to stay for Wil's baptism.  Our entire family was able to go the Thursday after he was baptized.  It was the 8th of November and it was great to go through as a family.  Ava talks about it, she knows that it is Jesus' house and has asked if our ward building is his house also.  The kids liked being able to walk through the whole temple and seeing the inside.  I can't wait for the Meridian temple to be dedicated.  It will be years but maybe Greta, Wil, and Ava will get to participate in  a cultural celebration and we will all get to go through the open house together.

On Sunday November 18th we went to the 12pm Rededication.  It was great!  My kids loved it when Pres. Monson pointed right at the Camera and said "I see a prospective missionary, right there."  They giggled.  He then told them he could wiggle his ears.  Wil told me after the cultural celebration, "Mom I really like our prophet."  With the celebration and the rededication the kids got to know Pres. Monson more and see him as a person more than just the Pres. of the church.  Madison also loved hearing Elder Walker speak.  She saw Elder Walker at the cultural celebration and her and a friend walked up to him and introduced themselves and asked who he was.  They were super excited to meet him and said he was very nice and spoke with them for awhile.   It was neat that he spoke at the rededication that we went to.  We also got to listen to Pres. Monson's secretary, the assistant to the matriarch of the Boise Temple and the 1st Counselor to the Boise temple President.  One of them spoke of losing a child and what the temple means to them, it was very touching.  The kids all had to have temple recommends and white hankerchiefs.  We swapped babysitting so our friends could attend to.  It was for 8yr old and up with temple recommends.  We all felt the spirit and on the way home Jaxon said "Mom, thanks for taking us.  I really liked that."  It has been a very spiritual month and I want to bottle up.