This is the House That Sean Built

This was our day to go to the local library for a free Gingerbread House activity sponsored by Friends of the Library. So I tried to get Sean settled down and in bed at a decent hour last night, but for some reason this kid has become a night owl. He got up really well this morning, but everything seems to take longer when you have to be somewhere at a specific time. I thought we were going to be late. We were 30 minutes early--only because I thought it started at 10 a.m. and it wasn't until 10:30, and because the clock on our stove is about five minutes fast.

Sean devoured this Curious George book in the few minutes we had before "Story Time" began prior to our Gingerbread House activity.

So we looked around the library and Sean chose a few books, and then a few more, until I said, "We don't have our book bag today and we have to carry all of these." He read a book while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then the Children's Librarian read a cute book about a Gingerbread Man who became a toy pirate. When she finished reading the book, she demonstrated for the kids how to spread icing onto the bottom of a box and "glue" it to the tray, and proceed to glue on the graham crackers to make the house.

The Children's area was decorated nicely and the kids enjoyed the book.

We all filed into the room where there were long tables set up with everything we needed right in front of us. A styrofoam tray, the white box, graham crackers, a Dixie cup of white frosting with a popsicle stick for spreading, and a baggie filled with cookies, peppermint candies, candy canes, and jolly ranchers. I helped spackle a bit, but it was all Sean's design. Of course some of those candies had to be saved for a snack.

The finished product, complete with a window upstairs, front door to match, and beautiful red and white pillars at the front;-)

A side view of the Gingerbread Mansion.

 I took one picture during construction, but I'm having a lot of trouble with the camera these days and it didn't turn out. After that one picture, Sean didn't want me to take any more of him working. He carefully chose where everything would be, and I helped with the frosting.

This was a lot of fun, and we even ran into some of Sean's old schoolmates.

It was the first time I've ever made a Gingerbread House and I've always heard they are very difficult. I remember an in-law (in the late '80s) saying she watched Martha Stewart do it and she made it look easy. She tried the same thing and it was a disaster. She used an expletive to refer to Martha after that.

This one was pretty simple, and I think this would make a wonderful activity for a winter birthday party, or a children's Christmas party.

A Special Nativity

This Nativity set is one that was given to me in about 1990 or 1991. David and Jewel were small, probably 5 and 6.
It was given to me by Mrs. Isaac, the mother of an old boyfriend.
I have brought it out each Advent season, and it is very special to me, I think because it is so child friendly. It is hand-made of wood and the people and animals are painted.  I have always put it out where it could be touched and allowed the kids to "play" with it as long as it was put back.
Mrs. Isaac said a man made it and gave it to their family. I was touched that she would give it to us.
Each year I bring it out I think of the man who made it. I never met him, but I imagine he must have put a lot of work into it, crafting it with care and love. It is perfect for little hands, and a great way for children to explore the story of Jesus.
Sean has also enjoyed this set, and this year we have it on the china cabinet.
It came with a little lamb, but when Sean pulled it out of the box he set it on the coffee table. We have two new kittens who like to bat things around and carry them off. I hope we find the lamb sometime soon.
I have another set, or maybe two more. This house is small, so I haven't displayed the others this year. Last year I set one outside on our porch inside a "barn" scene that I found at a thrift store for almost nothing (maybe 50 cents.) Seems like one or all of the pieces was tipped over each time we went in or out the door, so I abandoned that idea this year.
One minister at a Presbyterian church in Asheville said she had her Nativity set "travel" through her home during Advent season, and she moved the pieces closer to the manger each day. Finally on Christmas the pieces were all together at the manger.
I think that is a neat idea. We've never done that, but I think it would be a nice way to focus each day of the season on the coming of Christ.

Long Journey

King Herod addresses us, and his guard is not happy with us. 

Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph - and some guy with a guitar.

Our tickets. We were in group 37. 

Last night Sean and I took a long journey. We drove to Auburn, which is quite a ways from where we live. I ordered tickets (or reserved our spot) for Journey to Bethlehem last week. It was the only such Christmas drama I could find. There are some drive-through and walk-through manger scenes, etc., but this one was different.

I didn't know what to expect, but I figured it was on the scale of an outdoor drama of the crucifixion I played Mary Magdelin in when I was in high school. The ticket confirmation suggested warm clothing and be ready to walk for about 30 minutes. Our reservations were for 8:30 p.m. That's a little late to be out walking around for us, but I thought it would be a nice way to prepare for Christmas.

So I drove, and Sean fell asleep on the way. I wondered if it was going to be a mistake to go, because sometimes he wakes up grumpy and if he falls asleep that early I worry he's getting sick. (It was only about 7 p.m.) It was really cold. We wore our flannel-lined jeans and heavy coats, etc.

Sean woke up before we got there. We were stuck in traffic for a while because of an accident on I-5. I started to worry we might be late because I had never been to this place.

It was a campus. I thought it was a church, but it was a church/campus at Auburn Academy Church. It was a Seventh Day Adventist Church.

When we finally found where we were supposed to be, and got our tickets, we had to walk across to the campus to wait inside the church for our number to be called. We were put into groups, and our group was 37. I didn't expect that, I thought we would just get our tickets and walk through.

Our number was flashed on the screen, and once we all made it out the door, we were taken into a different world. We were part of the family from Capernaum, commanded by King Herod to search for the new Messiah.

This was way more than I expected. The costumes were great, and the actors were too. Sean was offered fish in the market place; we were invited to be part of a wedding celebration; we met Zacharias and Elizabeth who told us about their baby John, and how Zacharias couldn't speak for nine months. We kept searching for the Messiah, and along the way we met the Magi. They showed us the gifts they were taking to the baby, and told us about the star they had seen and that we should also follow it. There were lots of real animals, donkeys and camels, etc. It was really a good time. I didn't mind the cold until the last part.

As we walked to our car one of the men directing traffic said the numbers were around 960 for that night. I didn't realize the scope of this event until I read the program while we waited inside the church. The program says more than 8,000 people are expected this year. Last year there were 5,000.

It is a free event, and donations benefit the Auburn Food Bank. Last year the event raised $5,000 for the food bank.

My only complaint, and I hate to even complain because it was such a nice ministry for the community, is that we were rushed through. I think the event has gotten so big that they have to do it that way.

I didn't say anything about that to Sean, I asked him what he thought of it and he said he didn't like being rushed. He also was a little afraid, I think. Everything looked very real. (Even the fish were real.) The Roman guards were really mean and had swords. Sean said they were real swords.

The first year there were 100 actors, this year there were 325, with 175 supporting roles behind the scenes, and more than 250 musicians who share music during the wait time.
As I said, it was more than I expected.

Good Ole St. Nick

Yesterday we decided it was a good day to visit Santa. I think there has only been one year that Sean would not sit on Santa's lap.

Last year we had  Santa sightings at several places, including our bank. He was putting something in the trunk of his 1970s model Cadillac. It was an impromptu meeting because I didn't know Santa was at the bank, but of course we had to say hello. Luckily he was headed back inside and Sean got to sit on his lap. Unfortunately I had only my cell phone, and that pic wasn't great. He was a great Santa, real beard, nice outfit. Sean decided he was the real guy. But he wasn't sure why he was driving a Cadillac and what he had done with the Reindeer.

Other than that, we didn't go anywhere to see Santa and just waited for him to come by our house. Our local fire department has had Santa visits to all the neighborhoods in our community for as long as we've lived here.  It is very cute, and such a great community service. The truck stops so the kids can get on the sleigh and have time with Santa and Mrs. Claus, they get a candy cane and we can take pictures.  I'm not sure they will do it this year. Money is tight, and the schedule doesn't have neighborhoods listed, only major centers in each area.

I wanted to have a nice picture this year. Sean is 7, and I started thinking this could be our last year for that true Santa experience.

In the past he has been excited to see Santa, but this year was over the top. He has asked several times how we can tell if it's the real one. As we stood in line - a short line YAY! Sean was inspecting him, craning his neck around people and surveying the lay of the land. He was asking if the trees around the set up were real. Some were, some weren't.

When it was his turn, he willingly sat right on his lap and told Santa what he wanted. He smiled for pictures, which I paid way too much for.  I did get to take some with my camera, but the sign said only if you were buying.

After the visit we went to eat at the food court. That is where Sean told me he thought it might have been the real Santa. Real beard, and seemed like the real thing.

FISH for those in need

I don't have a picture to go with this post, though I did have my camera. Space was tight and opportunities for photos were low.
Sean and I spent the morning at our local food bank helping stock the shelves. We are fortunate to have a food bank here, because the assumption is that there are no poor people living here. Some people from our church started the F.I.S.H. Food Bank in our town some years ago. We saw today that it is filled to the brim with donations, and is serving the people in need.
There was a bit of drama at the place, and for that I am sorry. I was saddened by an exchange that I overheard there between two workers. I plan to talk to some people at church about it, in hopes that something can be done to help with the problem. I think there are some people from our church who are still involved with the food bank, but I don't think the director goes to our church.
Anyway, one of the newspapers I freelance for was helping out today, so we signed up.
I saw that they can definitely use some help, and if it works out, maybe Sean and I will start going there on Fridays to help out. (If the atmosphere is better next time we go)
Sean helped put a few things on shelves, but mostly talked with one of the older gentlemen there about Star Wars while I put things away. The man asked if we were coming back next week, and he would have something specifically for Sean to do. He wasn't one of the people in an argument, but definitely seemed concerned about the episode.
I was surprised to see all sorts of things on the shelves, from soap and cat litter to pet food and clothing, draperies and dish detergent.
Sean understood why we were there. I think this is something we will just put on our calendar and make it a weekly activity.

The gift of giving

Sean signed the Christmas card we included in the shoebox, and he was super excited to take his box to the drop-off site.

I've been patiently waiting for Sean to get to a developmental stage for joyful giving. Until now he has still been in that stage of "I want to keep that," so I've waited. I don't think it is a good idea to force kids to give when they don't want to. I think if we model it for them, talk about why it is important, and wait, they will come to it on their own. That is true joyful giving, and that is what I've wanted for him. He has a generous nature, so I knew he would get to this point.

He finally is really starting to get it, so this year I offered to let him pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. I explained what Operation Christmas Child is, and he decided to pack a shoebox.

We talked about where it might go -- some country far away to a little boy just his age who has no home, who has been the victim of war, or other heartache and difficulties. He said he hopes it will go to a child in South America.

We talked about the many children in the world who have never had a toy, and maybe his box would go to a child like this, or who lost all of his toys when his home was destroyed. We talked about how this child might not know Jesus, maybe never heard of him, and I explained that the people who help deliver these boxes to the children also put a little book in the box that tells about Jesus.

Sean was very excited to pack his own box. We had a few things in the closet to put in the box, and then he carefully shopped at Target to fill it. We included a Christmas card with the Nativity scene, and a picture of Sean. On our way to drop it off we stopped for nuggets at McDonald's and he got a toy in the Happy Meal that he already had. He decided to put it in the box too.

He was curious to know where the box would go, who the child was that would receive it. If I had realized I could, I would have filled out the form online to track the box. I think that is a very exciting feature, and we'll do it next year. But I didn't know, so I just said we have to pray about it, and God will make sure that box gets to just the right boy.

It was a wonderful feeling to watch him pack the box, joyfully giving all of these nice little trinkets and candy, most of which he doesn't have. He doesn't need them, of course, but in the past he would have wanted one for himself.

He put it all in the box.

He normally doesn't like his picture taken, but I asked if I could take a picture of him giving his box at the drop-off site. He agreed. When we got there, he started to give the box to the lady working there, and then pulled back and said, "My Mom is going to take a picture." So she suggested he put the shoebox in the big packing box for the photo.

The big smile on his face in the photo is precious to me. He was so happy to give, and it was all on his own. I didn't push, or force, or cajole. It was simply a choice. And to me that is the best way to give.

What would you do with $350,000

Today Michael Jackson's white rhinestoned glove sold for $350,000. It struck me that when something is sold at auction for what is to me a large amount of money, I am surprised. In some cases it could be something valuable, such as a very beautiful and rare painting. When that happens I always hope the person purchasing the item will preserve it, and even make it available in some way to the rest of us who could never afford it.
But today we're talking about a glove.
If I had that much money, I'd like to think I could find a more creative way to spend it. Maybe fund research to help eradicate a disease, dig 70 wells for people in some area of Africa who don't have clean water, help fill a school library with books for children in a rural area of our own country-- good gracious the list is endless. But a glove???
What would you do with $350,000?