All The Best Stories . . .: At the Manger

Monday, December 6, 2010

At the Manger

Angels Sing!! for the second year in a row now, our ward put on a live natitvity on the lawn in front of the church -

I think it's beautiful! With all it's imperfections, stress for the people planning it, shepherds fighting with their crooks and rolling down hills, angels running back and forth behind the stable to get warm, crossing of fingers for people to show up and be wise men and sheperds and Mary and Joseph,

it's still a boost to my spirit, full of warmth and a great way to ring in Christmas!

This is the staging room. Alaina loved being an angel! There were three nights and we didn't have all the acting slots filled, so my kids got lucky and were in it all three nights -

they were thrilled, Gregg and I were dreading the exhaustion that was sure to follow . . . Gregg was signed up for one night, but ended up talking to visitors instead. I got to be an angel for a short time, but spent most of my time trying to help with other things.

The angel talks to the shepherds -Becca and Garrett are in there somewhere.

Kneeling at the manger. Becca is the little one in front, on her right in brown.

This was the first night, they all knelt right around the manger - very sweet, but very crowded. They were coached later on to stand back so people from the road could see better -
Rebecca is an angel, Alaina is a shepherd with a head band but no head covering :)
And Grandpa is the wiseman behind her.

Kathryn got to be Mary for a little while - she was beautiful! Garrett and Becca are shepherds again - Alaina got cold and didn't last very long outside as a shepherd or an angel . . .

Kat, Garrett, and Becca again - Joseph is our fun friend Brandon, they moved into the ward recently - we love having their family here! They have kids that are so fun, great ages to match with ours, and the family as a whole has been so helpful to the ward - thanks guys!

Humble? shepherds - they actually thought they were pretty cool :)

Cozy, indoor shepherd :)

Kathryn's turn as a shepherd, back up at the manger - this was Rebecca's favorite spot to be. Such a great way to start the season and remind them what's really important.

It was a lot of work, but it really blessed my family. Thanks everyone!!!

2 comments:

Ruth H.December 6, 2010 at 3:41 PM
Ah, the memories! You are so smart to do it this far in advance of Christmas. Remember when that was the way we spent Christmas Eve?
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BonnieTDecember 6, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Yes!! I didn't much like the Christmas Eve part of it - nice I guess, but we always had to cut our family stuff short. I'm glad we've revived it though. Wish you were here Ruth!
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Quote of hope from Teachings of George A. Smith

If mankind will love one another, the hatred and the unkindness that have existed so much in the world will pass away. In these days of uncertainty when men are running to and fro seeking for some new plan by which peace may be
brought into the world, know this: that the only way to peace for this world is the pathway of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no other. …

To possess a knowledge of the truth is worth all the wealth of the world, to know that we are on the safe highway when we are in the pathway of duty as defined by our Heavenly Father, and to know that we can continue there if we will, regardless of the influences and inducements that may be offered by those who have not been appointed to be our leaders, is a blessing that is priceless.

We live in a day when the scripture is being fulfilled among the nations wherein the Lord said through one of his prophets, that in the latter-day, “… the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isaiah 29:14.) With all the wisdom of the world, no group thus far has been able to point the way for peace with the certainty that it is the way.

We … are fortunate to know that there is a way for peace that alone will produce results, and that way is to keep the commandments of God as revealed to the children of men anciently and in our day. If that way were followed, all the problems that are so serious in the world could be solved, and peace would come to this unhappy earth.

Though the world may be filled with distress, and the heavens gather blackness, and the vivid lightnings flash, and the earth quake from center to circumference, if we know that God lives, and our lives are righteous, we will be happy, there will be peace unspeakable... by going about doing good, we may have peace and happiness and prosperity.

Quote to Ponder

"The real Christmas comes to him who has taken Christ into his life as a moving, dynamic, vitalizing force. The real spirit of Christmas lies in the life and mission of the Master. 'It is a desire to sacrifice for others, to render service, and to possess a feeling of universal brotherhood. It consists of a willingness to forget what you have done for others, and to remember only what others have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and think only of ... your chance to do good and aid your fellowmen ... to see that your fellowmen are just as good as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts - to close your book of grievances against the universe, and look about you for a place to sow a few seeds of happiness and go your way unobserved.' " ~ Howard W. Hunter, 1972