Nativity Scenes for Little Hands

Curious little minds and active hands caused me to reconsider setting out our hand-made Nativity from Guatemala this year.  The smaller Nativities stayed in their boxes, too, lest pieces be lost.  I decided that my small collection of Nativity Christmas cards would be better — no broken shards should they fall, no concerns about cards carried to bed or left on the floor.  My granddaughter helped me choose the best place for each but I think she and I were the only ones to notice them.  I thought I would share them here, just to keep Christmas going a little longer.

Some were cards we received in the past.  Usually I cut the back off and saved just the front.

Some have reproductions of famous paintings.

One is from the 1950s, found in a box purchased at an auction years ago, and depicts Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and the Magi.

Some have one or more angels announcing his birth or surrounding him.

All show Jesus Christ as an infant.  I love these cards and enjoy seeing them every Christmas.  I know I would be sad if one were ripped or torn but I would not be as sad as if one of the ceramic figures were dashed to pieces (or worse, if one of the children were hurt by the shards).

It is always a disappointment to me that on December 26 it is as though the celebration of Christmas didn't exist (except in the return lines and the half-off Christmas sales at stores).  So, the sweet joyful feeling of Christmas continues at our house, not because of family visiting, or mountains of sweets, or more gifts to give and receive.  I think the spirit of Christmas continues because I'm still listening to Christmas music, enjoying the lights, and thinking of the blessings of the birth of my Savior. 

In the midst of play one day while my nearly-five-year-old granddaughter was here, she gave me two plastic bags with five little foil bundles in them inside more plastic bags.  When I opened them I didn't begin taking photos until there were only several left.  Inside those foil bundles I found two tiny chocolate chips and a cheese-nip cracker; three red, chewy candies; another cheese-nip; and a child-sized handful of tiny chocolate chips.

My little O is the sweetest granddaughter!

I know there many days until I will have to begin thinking beyond the holiday to finishing quilts and jumping into regular activities, but for now, it's Christmas for me.  I hope you're continuing to savor the joy that is Christmas, if you celebrate the holiday.

--Nancy.
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