"One Night in Bethlehem"

"Come to enjoy live holiday music and refreshments. Tour the streets of Bethlehem and hear the Christmas story as told by those who were there on that Holy Night."

My calling for the last 6 months has been coordinator of "One Night in Bethlehem"...a 10 year tradition for my ward. Each year more has been added and attendance has increased. This year when I was called, I was asked to find ways to help the Spirit of the occasion remain, while simplifying the process. It has been quite a learning experience for me.

Part of the challenge to the ward has been to invite non-member friends to come with you. Although it is advertised in the newspapers, and other "media outlets", the sweetest part about the attendance this year was that the people really did bring their friends. We had over 600 attend.

I have wanted to wait until I'd scrapbooked these photos, but have decided it's worth posting them before they feel outdated.

"ONB" is a two night event...with live music being performed for 2 hours each night. You sit and listen to the music as you enter and then when you're ready to start on a "tour" of Bethlehem. Starting with the shepherds...

Then the wisemen...(these are two of the three)...

The stop at the inn...where there is "no room", so you stop in the courtyard of the inn and listen to the inn keeper tell his story...

Guests at the inn...sitting in the courtyard...

Then the sweetest part...the manger room...with Mary, Joseph, and a real baby!

Things Don't Always Turn Out as Planned

Tomorrow I hope to continue my blissful documentation of the glowing parts of the Christmas holiday that are turning out "just how I'd hoped".

But, tonight as I tried to re-create the cute craft project I saw on my sister's blog with my own children...I had to acknowledge to myself--if only briefly--that crafts projects...the Christmas holidays...even life in general just doesn't always go as planned. And, that blogging doesn't necessarily paint an accurate picture of the daily realities it claims to record. (At least I can't promise we all smile this big through every life's moment--can you?)


So, for tonight, enjoy the "real project"...where I actually let my 2 and 4 year-old do just what their hearts desired. (Yes that's an alien, a "funny mouse" by Joshua, and a cyclopes.) As you anticipate further more "inspiring" posts in the days ahead. =)

Waiting for a Baby

Last night we watched a darling roley-poly 9-month old girl so her first-time parents could go Christmas shopping for her presents. Nathan was taking a nap when she arrived, so I went up to his bed with little Alexis and said, "Nathan, the baby came. Wake up so you can come play." I tried to hold her up so Nathan could see...but didn't know how much had gotten through his groggy eyes or mind. I few minutes later Nathan came dashing down the stairs fully awake and with one big question. "How did she get here so fast?!!" He was so excited that our new baby sister had come so much sooner than we'd expected!

I'm afraid it's going to be several long months of waiting for a very excited big brother!

Day with Dad

Greg had promised Nathan and Joshua a chance to go sledding. So, today while I cleaned inside...the guys went outside for a good time. (It was 20 degrees at the most...so they decided not to venture too far from home.) I wish I could say I'd gotten so much done inside, but every time a looked out the window and saw them being so cute...I'd have to run out and take another picture!

Egg Nog and "Elf"

A great deal on Egg Nog...

+

A favorite holiday movie...


=A good time had by all!

Cheers!

Memories Made We'd Have Rather Avoided

Just when you think you might me on the verge of on top of your life...
I was just getting boys ready for "quiet time" today after lunch and ran downstairs quickly for something. I immediately heard and then saw water streaming from the ceiling right over our boxes of storage. I called maintenance and then Greg...thankfully they were able to solve the problem quickly and damage was less than I had thought in the first several minutes. Really we've ended up feeling quite blessed with how quickly things have cleaned back up! But, we'd really rather not make a memory like that anytime again soon!

Tonight we're hoping to deliver "neighbor gifts". Here is this year's great plan...a snowman that covers a 2 liter bottle of soda. Kind of fun! I started this and got them mostly finished early summer...so it's been mostly enjoyable to just get them out and finish them up.

December 3--This Year's Advent Obsession

This year we've got three advent calendars going. A candle with markings so you can burn just enough each day to be "burned out" by Christmas. =) A felt, picture nativity advent. And this year's new idea and guaranteed tradition...the JELLY BELLY Advent.

The Jelly Belly Advent is the "brain child" of my sister, Carol's (with the help from husband, James). For each of the 24 days before Christmas...there is a scripture to read, a Christmas song to sing, and then a Jelly Belly to taste. Each day's Jelly Bellys are tied in cellophane. Just the right number for your family. There are 24 different flavors...one for each day. So, you're guessing what that day's flavor is. The coolest part is the "Jelly Belly Decoder" complete with coded words that are made readable as you slide it through the red cellophane window. Our kids...no our whole family...has loved this! It has been our most successful "nightly" venture yet!

Would love to hear your advent ideas!

Two Easy Dessert Recipes

There are two cobbler-type recipes I've found in the last little while that taste wonderful and are very easy! (And relatively inexpensive...esp. if you can find blueberries on sale.) I've also made both of these recipes in a half-batch. Using only half the cake mix and saving the other half for the next time. This has worked great for our little family.

Pumpkin Cobbler

1 box yellow cake mix (save 1 cup)
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg
--Mix together and spread into a greased cake pan.

29 oz. canned pumpkin
3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
--Mix together and spread over cake.

1 cup saved cake mix
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup butter
--Mix together, cut in butter and sprinkle over cake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until center is not wobbly.

Blueberry Buckle

1 can crushed pineapple, undrained (I drain off a little)
3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
Less than 1 cup sugar
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cube butter
Less than 1 cup sugar

In a 9 x 13 pan, layer pineapple and then blueberries. Sprinkle sugar over fruit. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the fruit and sugar. Melt butter and drizzle over cake mix. Sprinkle sugar until covered. You can play with the amount. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. I find that letting it cool for a couple of hours is preferable so it is not soupy, but still warm.

December 2--Exciting News

December 1--Making a Memory