When I was growing up the nativity was the first decoration to go up in our home. My mother wanted us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas even though we did the Santa and everything else. The formal Nativity we have at our house is the one I started to collect when I was in high school. It is a Hallmark. The backdrop for our nativity was made by my brother which I think is pretty cool. James’ first Christmas, Joseph lost his head when a baby rattle hit it, now the nativity has character.

We have always had a Nativity that the children have played with, the first one I bought a garage sale for a class I taught at my home church before we were married. The girls played with that one till we lost all the pieces. When James came along I found Playmobile nativity — one we have till this day. All the kids still play with it. We have written about the fun they have with it.