Monday, December 8, 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I love Christmas time! The feelings of service in the air, the smell, the cool crisp weather, the lights... I could go on and on!

Oh, Christmas tree... Oh, Christmas tree...
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nick would soon be there...You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Clause is coming to town!
He's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out whose naughty and nice
Santa Clause is coming to town!He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when your awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Clause is coming to town!
I DO love my Santa's but I love my nativities more...

Luke 2
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

I have collected nativities for a while... My boys brought me one home from their missions to Brasil and Argentina! I currently have 21 set up in the house, unfortunately I do not have room for all of them. Here are a few of my favorites:
My Bears...My Snowmen...
My friends have been giving me pieces and parts to complete the "Willow Tree" nativity, I just LOVE it! Thank you Kathy and Andrea!!!
And, thank you Pam for my beautiful nativity from Africa!!!

One last thing I want to share...
My dear friend Alanna gave me this mitten several years ago, she said when she saw it, it just shouted "Shaila". I think because of the "shabby sheek" look, I do love that! But, even more then the look I want to tell you why I love it the most... it reminds me of hands... HIS hands... and how WE should serve! It reminds me the story below. I am sure when others look at my cute little tin mitten at the bottom of my stairs they don't know why I love it so and the story that I think of every time I see it... now you might.


During the Second World War, a quaint little French village was bombed by mistake. The villagers were forewarned by air-raid sirens and cleared out of the village before the bombing started. Through the tears of sadness, they sat on a nearby hill all that night and watched flashes and fires as the bombs leveled their town. They returned to their village and began digging in the rubble for anything salvageable. There wasn't much. But, all the villagers joined together in the effort to rebuild their village from the bottom up. As the rubble was cleared from the village square, several pieces of white marble were found, the remains of the stature that stood in the square. The villagers called on the best sculptor to rebuild the old stature as are membrance of the rebuilding of their village. The sculptor worked for years on this great challenge. Finally, as the remaining bit of paint was put on the last building in the quaint village and the streets were washed out for the last time, a veiled figure stood in the square. The villagers held a great three day celebration to commemorate the rebuilding of their village. As the last feature in the celebration, the villagers all met together at the town square for the unveiling of the stature. Finally the veil was removed. There in the square stood a figure of Christ exactly as in the visitors center in Salt Lake City, with his hands outstretched to all. But this stature had no hands, because a bomb blast hit too close and pulverized them beyond repair. So the inscription, instead of reading as it once had, "Come unto Jesus," now read "I have no hands but yours."

I hope that we might remember... and that we will be His hands this Christmas season!

33 comments:

Wonder Woman said...

Wow....that is an incredible story.

I love all your decorations - and that wall of clocks looks so cool! I adore all your nativities.

The Kooky Queen--Rachel said...

Wow, I love the clock wall! How unique! And the bear nativity, oh my!!! That is so cute!

Shannon said...

I love the picutre of Santa C laus..that is amazing!!

tammy said...

LOVE IT all Shaila! I have been tempted to buy a big Santa picture at this store here. Waiting for it to hopefully go on sale, or maybe use a coupon. I love my Willow Tree nativity too. Your house looks beautiful!

Jan said...

You are quite the decorator girl. All you nativities and Santas are fun. Love the wooden one so much. The story of our hands are awesome too. May we always remember.

You are never late are you? Do you have to keep up on all those batteries? I have 3 clocks and none of them ever work just because of that :)

Jen said...

You have some incredible decorations! Your home is beautiful...just like out of a Homes & Garden ;0) Thanks for sharing the story. It was touching.

Pedaling said...

i have the willow tree nativity too and it's my favorite. your snowman nativity is fun too.
yes on the santa pic on the story and yes on your decorations!
all of it is just lovely!

MERRIANNE said...

that is such an awesome story!!!

and

holy macaroni... your house looks fantastic!!!!!!! i love your tree and all of your decorations! it looks like something out of a magazine!!!!!

Amy said...

Thanks for all your sweet comments you send my way! I love your decorations... but even more the things you wrote. What a great post! I love the wall with all the clocks... maybe if I had that in my house I would be on time... probably not!

Drake Family said...

What a fun thing to collect...nativities! Love it!! Oh and i love the cowboy Santa! So I just got around to reading your story about of course there being a Santa and I LOVE IT! I will have to share that with the family this year.

The Berry's Patch said...

Oh, you have some very cute Santa's. And what a collection of nativity sets. They're beautiful. :-)

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree with all the comments about how cute all your decorations are and I really wish I could visit during Christmas to see it! It looks so lovely!! You have such a flair for decorating, Shaila. A gift!

However, I'm reeling from the first picture which is the tree in what appears to be a white living room, white couches, white(ish) carpet and trying to wrap that image around raising 5 boys. Just cannot comprehend. Reboot!!! lol

I only have one nativity. My mother-in-law started giving us the pieces when the kiddies were small. They are beautiful, but indestructible plastic resin. The kiddies could have an interactive nativity and there was no way anything could be damaged. It was a truly inspired gift we all cherish and the story of the nativity was told over and over by the children acting it out in play and in ways that were not always, ahem, historically accurate.

I'll never forget the time our neighbor, Gary, with longish brown hair and a beard lived near. That year, the kiddies had Mary and "Gary" in the stable. "He looks like Gary, Mommy!"

And then there is the disappearing Jesus. As the tiny babe is, er, tiny, He always gets lost and when we clean up we are always scouring the house for Jesus. Where is He? Who has seen Him? Can He be found?

And as I've laughingly told my kiddies, isn't that the real meaning of Christmas anyway?

Beth at Aunties said...

Your home looks so beautiful I love the clock collection.
I have also loved the story of the hands and used it in a stake RS leadership once. What a wonderful reminder to hang each Christmas...especially during this beautiful season. we are His hands in helping those in need.
Your Santa and nativity collection is priceless.
It was a wonderful post!

hugs, Beth~♥

Sher said...

Ok, funny, I commented for this post, but scrolled down too far, and comment on your Christmas tree post instead. You'll just have to read both now, I guess!

Pancake said...

Love the Santas! That is one of my favorite stories! Great decorating as usual my friend!

chelle said...

Can my dogs and kids and I come over and mess up your perfect house? JK

It looks great. We have the same "Willow Tree" nativity! m

Kaci said...

Beautiful words and beautiful decor! Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Your house is beautifully decorated and I love the Willow Tree Nativity, it's a favorite of mine too!

Cynthia said...

Wow! That's a lot of decorating. I feel like such an underachiever! It looks awesome.

Corrine said...

love all your pictures! love the clocks on the wall very cool!

i love the mitten story too, i love friends when they see something and get it for you.

Kaylynn said...

I just voted for you--twice once with firefox browser and once with exlporer. I hope that you win!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Hi Shaila. I love your name. My mom's name is Sheila. I also love your signature. I need to get me one of those.

I just wandered over here to say CONGRATULATIONS for making the top 5 Mormon Mommy blogs. How fun to share center stage with you. Your blog is so righteous, I feel unworthy to be in your presence.

Love all the spirituality! Feeling uplifted. Mahalo!

CrAsH

Bren's Life said...

Shaila - You are so talented in decorating!! Wow- I love every single thing you have. I could live in your house or have you help me decorate...
I hope you win the contest..

Bren's Life said...

Ok- I just love your wall of clocks. I wish I had a wall I could do that on. But then i'd drive me nuts if they weren't all at the same time...

nikkicrumpet said...

Your house is gorgeous...and the view of the pond is so great! Love all the different types of nativities...the bear one is so dang cute! And dang if you don't have an amazing collection of santas!

Lisa Loo said...

Your home and your decorations are breathtaking! I too love Nativities --I would like to start collecting more--especially the Willow one. The story is so beautiful--thanx for sharing!! Oh----and I woted for you cuz you are the bomb!!

Anonymous said...

I love it all!
Seriously festive.

Dev & Di said...

I LOVE your house at Christmas time!!!! Cant wait to come see it!!! Only 3 more days till this semester is done with!

Anonymous said...

wow i'm gonna go back thru and read all of the stories but i just wanted to quickly say i love your decorations! WHERE did you get that picture of Santa? I love it!!!!!! Your house is always gorgeous and it is extra gorgeous at Christmas time evidently! I love your blog and feel bad i'm so behind on reading everything but i'll catch up soon. i miss you!!!!

Ashley said...

Your house is SO beautiful! I love the big framed picture of Santa, and of course your nativities are amazing too. I really love all your decorations!

Screaming Meme said...

How fun is this post...I love the clock wall...How cool is that! Meme

Glahn Family said...

Ok tell us about your big picture of the framed santa that you posted. There is a little picture attached to it does it go with the picture.. Where did you get that huge picture I love it...

Eveything looks darling.. I miss that pretty living room. And the nive view of the lake from your kitchen window

Randi A. said...

Hi, wandered over from Mormon Mommy Blogs....

I love your wall of clocks! What a neat idea. It looks awesome.

Love your nativities too!