Nativity 2008

Sunday night we had dinner at my sister Wendy's home. She set up a nice formal dinner for the kids and adults.

To start the night with some comic relief, Esther decided to go for some spaghetti!

As Wendy is posing for the "quick take a picture", Esther gets another meatball.

My little (or not so little any more) Maddux was well behaved.

We really wanted to dress the kids up for a nativity play. As parents we love to see our kids darling in costumes. Why is it that the Nativity play is one of the least favorite Christmas traditions for kids? I never liked it as a kid, it felt like torture to amuse the adults in a silly towel or robe. But now it is priceless to me as a parent. I think Wendy and I did quite well pulling together some costumes.

Grace loved being Mary (baby Nala was a necessity). Of course Maddux was the only candidate for Baby Jesus, and Spence needed to be Joseph to hold him.

Cooper claimed the part of the Star.

Savannah asked, "Can I be Cinderella?" Sorry, no Cinderella, but how about an angel?

(holding a My Little Pony)

Joshua loved the Jedi robe as his Shepherd costume, and asked for his light saber, but was given a sheep skin instead.

After Cooper completed his part as the Star, he and Caleb were the Wise men wrapped in Tongan fabric.

It was so much fun, and surprisingly sweet. With music playing in the background, Uncle Aaron read from the New Testament while holding the camcorder in the other hand. I played the part of photographer.

This Christmas has been very tender to me. Having a newborn at this time of year makes the Nativity Story much more real. Having just suffered through the last uncomfortable month of pregnancy I could not imagine having ridden a donkey to Bethlehem. Mary must have suffered from much pain and exhaustion, and then to have given birth in a crude cave with animals! Labor was bad enough in a hospital. I am so grateful for Mary's sacrifice.

In Luke Chapter 2 verse 19 it reads, " But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." I wonder the immense love she felt for her little baby, just as I did when I held Maddux for the first time. It is so touching to me, that I feel on the verge of tears every time I think of Mary holding her newborn son. What a gift all children are to their Mothers, but for Mary to be the Mother of the Prince of Peace is an amazing feeling to me this year.

I am so grateful for this gift to have this experience of a newborn this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

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