Away in a Manger

Forget the countless Santas, artificial wreaths, shiny glass ornaments and yards of ribbon that have come and gone in my Christmas decorations over the years. The one thing that I most enjoy putting out year after year is this wooden nativity set that I painted sometime in the early 1980's.

I worked on it for several weeks as a project in a folk art class at Barbara's Tole Shoppe in Little Rock, Arkansas. Later when I had my own shop in Texarkana, I taught it for a class project. And over a period of several years in the mid to late '80's I cut the wooden shapes on my band saw that LBeau gave me for my birthday one year and sold these nativities at craft shows and gave them as gifts.

All of the main characters are there, of course. There's Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus with the donkey standing by.

The shepherd has brought two of his sheep.

And the wise men have come bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Meanwhile, the Angel of the Lord announces the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Through the years little hands have rearranged these figures countless times, and they're beginning to look a little worn around the edges. But that just makes them more special and helps me to remember the reason for the season.

Now be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see what special decorations others are sharing on this Pink Saturday.