So Long Nov 2012...

1.  It was 61 degrees today and it's the last day of November in Idaho.  Last night Tristen and I went jogging and half way through we were down to our short sleeves.  I think I must have brought NC weather with me!
2.  We went to the theater to see the second Breaking Dawn on Saturday.  I absolutely LOVED it.
3.  Last Friday I saw 67 patients.  That is the 3rd most I've ever seen in one day.  On my way home I thought how lucky I was to have helped 67 people in 1 day.
4.  We finished all of the ward Christmas and Young family Christmas presents this week.  Now we need to put up our Christmas decorations because it sure doesn't look like Christmas around here.
5.  Mom has a new left hip!  After 3 years of limping the problem is solved and she came home today after only having it done yesterday.  Talk about a trooper.
6.  I went to the Boise Temple on Tuesday.  It is sure nice to have our temple back in service.  What a blessing it is to have one so close.
7.  I had a patient once tell me that St. Al's had healthy and delicious food so today for lunch Alisha and I went to visit mom and have lunch.  It was yummy.  I had cod with ginger and mandarin oranges and quinoa salad.  The funny thing was my LPN nurse who is in RN school was there doing his clinical's and joined us for lunch as well as we saw Alisha's mother-in-law who works there. So we all had a nice lunch chatting.

Pam's Pomegranate Salad

The year after grad school when I was still living in Kentucky, some of my family came out for Thanksgiving.  My dear friend Pam made the most delicious Pomegranate Salad that has since become a main staple for our Thanksgiving dinner.  It isn't the cheapest salad and such a treat, which is why we only make it once a year.  I might also make this for Christmas Eve dinner since I bought a case of 12 Pomegranates from Costco.  It is a beautiful, festive dish for sure.  Because I love this so much I'm willing to share the recipe with you.  This of course is exactly what I'll be spending time making tomorrow, because yes it is a bit time consuming but so worth the time, effort and expense.  ps.  I leave out the pecans and often put in more pomegranates.  I also use sugar free jello.

Boise Idaho Temple Rededication

This morning Troy and Becki brought their kids over for mom and dad to tend to while we attended the first session of the Boise Idaho Temple rededication.  Mom and Dad get to attend the last session at the temple.  The first session was beautifully done.  We listened to the new Matron and President of the Boise Temple, Elder Christiansen of the Seventy, Elder Bednar, and President Monson.  The dedicatory prayer was beautiful.  I especially enjoyed the following quotes by Elder Bednar:
"The world is hectic and hurried.  The temple is a place to be still."
" The temple should be what our spiritual priorities actually are."
"The temple is a place of stillness."
"The temple becomes a light that can not be hid in darkness."
And from President Monson:
"We come to this holy house so we can bear trials and temptations."
"May this temple be a beacon of righteousness in our lives." (This is my favorite)
"Make a commitment to attend the house of the Lord."
"If we attend the temple, we will leave with refreshed spirits and peace will fill our hearts."
"In our busy lives have time for Christ."
"Let us welcome the Lord in our hearts and lives."
"Let us open our hearts and minds to the spirit today."

I had to sneak a picture in of Stella.  She is just a doll!

Boise Temple Rededication Cultural Event

In celebration of the Boise Temple Rededication tomorrow, 9,000 youth from the Treasure Valley put on the most amazing, unforgettable performance at the Cultural Event tonight! The feeling in the Stake Center where I watched was so powerful.  Mom and dad were sitting 2 rows in front of President Monson at the event.  She said it was amazing.  It was a fun evening of celebration for all.  I loved the different themes that were presented, but my favorite was the BSU re-inactment of the Fiesta Bowel.  I took 4 of my friends kids with me as her and her husband attended with his mother who was once a Matron in the Boise Temple.  The father passed away this spring and as we were driving home the kids were talking about how their grandpa would have liked the football part too.  We all agreed he was probably there in spirit.  

All day I have felt such an incredible, indescribable feeling of peace in our area given that President Monson and Elder and Sister Bednar are visiting and will rededicate our newly renovated Boise Temple tomorrow! I have a special place in my heart for Elder and Sister Bednar.  They came to BSU when I was a freshman and had just been put in as BSU Idaho President.  They also came to Charlotte a few years ago for Stake Conference where I was able to play the organ and Sister Bednar turned my music pages.  It will be so nice to have our temple back open.  I surely have missed it.