~FINALLY...NOW I HAVE ONE...~

....a Nativity set. 

How I would have loved to own one of these lovely sets when my children were small.

When I was very young..I believe it was in December 1940, WW11 was in full swing when I saw my first Nativity scene.  My parents were very young.  My baby brother was not quite a year old.  (He later passed away at the age of two and half.)   

My parents took us for a walk to a little church not far from our house.  There in the front of the church, was this beautiful scene, much like the one I bought.

The one in front of the little church had an angel over the manger looking down with light streaming all around her.  The staw in the manger was fresh and the little doll representing baby Jesus looked very real to a little five year old girl. 

I remember there was snow falling softly and Christmas carols were playing..people were bringing their children up to see this beautiful Christmas scene.

People stood around quietly..talking in low voices..

I've loved snow and Christmas all of my life from that one night.  It is all connected to my memories of my baby brother..and his very short life.

I remember my mother holding hand and Daddy holding my baby brother..as they told me the story of Mary and Joseph and how there was no room in the Inn...of course I don't think I understood.  But I listened and understood it was a very special time. 

 I always remembered that night in the snow with my young parents and my baby brother.  We lived in Oregon during the war and it snowed every year.  It was so beautiful...

My parents had such a short time left to be happy with their little family...Christmas is a joyful but melancholy time for me.

I loved the detail in this Nativity set.  I thought the camel was exquisite.  Of course I didn't buy it in a store.  I have waited so many years...and now I have one.  Each year I would look at them..and from time to time I would see them in people's homes....

I banked the background with evergreens and silk hydrangias which have a bit of sparkle...

It's a work in progress as of today...but what fun it was unpacking it and putting it together.

And after nearly 17 years I have NEW CHAIRS!  Yes indeed I do and just in time for the holidays!  Can you see them in the background??   They arrived this morning a 8:15.  My Christmas present to myself I guess.  :)  My old ones were so bad that the side of one of them was coming loose..they had become very rickety and besides...I was just plain sick and tired of them. 

 Some of you probably know exactly what I mean!

So....this is what happened...

Briefly, I was walking through jc Penny's and the next thing I remember is walking out of the store beside my girlfriend with a sales reciept in my purse and the promise of a Wednesday delivery. 

I think I must have blacked out.... :)  I don't remember a thing.

...at home Patient husband took a very deep breath...  bless his heart!  LOVE that man!

Love and hugs,

Mona