Light the World - day twelve

On December 15, we had the opportunity to go to Temple Square in SLC and attend the annual Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert.  This year we were able to get eight tickets, (thanks Dave!) so Rick and I, along with G. Pat, Jordan and girls and Lizzie attended.  We went early in the evening so we could eat at the City Creek food court and look around that beautiful shopping center and wander around temple square that was all decked out for Christmas.  It was a lovely evening to share together.
We also had a special chance encounter with a young woman who grew up in our ward years ago. She married and moved into the home she grew up in with her young family and lived just down the street.  Some years ago, she had a surgery of some sort and was prescribed some pain killers.  In a story that is tragically becoming more common place, she became addicted to prescription pain killers which basically ruined her life.  She lost her home, her family and her life.  We saw her with a group of people outside of temple square who were selling funnel cakes and working towards being drug free.  It was so wonderful to see her, hug her and give her some encouragement.  Rick was the bishop of our ward when she was a teenager and she was so happy to see us.
It was the perfect reminder to me of what Christmas is all about.  Hope.  Change through the Savior. Celebration of beauty and progress.  Joy.  Happiness.