Nativities From Around The World

I had the chance to participate a little with the orchestration, preparation, photography, and evenings of "Nativities From Around The World," this was the 6th annual "Celebration of Christ's Birth" that our Stake has done. I loved having the opportunity to be part of it.

Each night there was a concert for attendees to sit and enjoy from various groups from around Spokane (the Pilgrim Slavic Baptist Church Orchestra, The Spokane Community Gospel Mass Choir, Canterbury Belles of Ferris High School (they had to hold a second concert that night because of the number of people that attended)). The display of the nativities was beautiful, and touching. There were many non-members (individuals not of the LDS faith) that have attended each year, this year it was estimated that over 1/2 possibly 3/4 were of other faiths, some expressed confusion that we appeared to believe in the same God as they did, contrary to what they had been taught by their pastor, and expressed gratitude for a greater understanding of our beliefs after a discussion with some of the volunteers, or missionaries who were there.

Last year we had our picture taken as a family, Braden was our baby Jesus. We were told that the pictures would get e-mailed to us, unfortunately that didn't happen. It was determined that logistically that wasn't a possibility, so this year each family was able to dress up, have a couple of pictures taken, and then we printed the best one out right there for them. I took my camera, and had someone take them for us. So here is our little family this year. Braden isn't quite the same "baby Jesus" this year.