I have Princess Leia in my nativity too. Early in my marriage, one of my teenage stepchildren put a Princess Leia Pez dispenser in my manger scene. Maybe they thought I would get mad. The didn’t really know me yet. Instead I told them that everyone was welcome in the manger and that God loves you even if you are a Pez dispenser. Well that started a tradition of adding Pez dispensers to the manger scene every year. I eventually simplified and now only Princess Leia is there to represent them all. I recently created a collage as a backdrop for my manger scene. It features various animals in a barn including 2 lobsters for all the Love Actually fans.
Thank you for this, Carrie. As you well know I am an introvert as well, not realizing sometimes until it arrives that 'tuckered out ' aspect is on the way. Thanks too for asking folks to think about another view of what it was like for Mary and Joseph
As I sit in an AirBNB in Pittsburgh, where we are gathering with family. I’m up early, savoring my first cup of tea, praying, reading and most of all watching for first light. Even as an extrovert, my whole self craves this quiet part of the day where I can listen for and discern my “growing edge.” Thanks to you Carrie, and this blessed community for your reflections and shared wisdom.
And maybe the wild crèche needs a pair of puffins. While on the Scottish island of Iona, in 2018, we hired a local fisherman, Davy, who took a small group of us to the island of Staffa. We hiked up the cliffs and sat quietly and were soon surrounded by a group of puffins, who used the cliffs below us to shelter their chicks. Their comical coloring and comfort with us humans, is a contrast to their ingenuity and grit. It was a day I’ll never forget.
The growing edge…, in all ways humanity…, the earth…, the growing edge of water on the shore…, toward the shore or the land, the fields of small seeds that become velvet fields, city boundaries, of heart, and awareness of life in people, of people and wisdom and love, of welcoming…! Thank you Carrie for giving us this space.
Carrie I love seeing your crazy crèche each year! Perhaps adding a guitar to represent the music that brings us together and fills our hearts would be a good addition. As my family struggles this season with a cancer diagnosis of my husband’s mom, I’m reminded once again of your song You Can Do This Hard Thing to keep me going. Tomorrow my daughter comes home for the holidays and I’m so excited to see her, but yet it’s also the 2 year anniversary of my childhood best friend’s passing. A bitter sweet day. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season surrounded by all that you love and warms your heart. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year!
Thank you for a post that moved me to happy tears when I read your gritty rendition to the birth of Jesus. I felt like I stood in the doorway with the innkeeper and his wife as they heard the lusty cry of the newborn Jesus and tears of joy came to me. You put the story in the most realistic context of the times into which Jesus was born, yet how he heralded a new era of love.💕
I love the where's Waldo! Maybe I should get one so it would be easier to find my keys! (Especially after I train my formerly Search-n-rescue candidate dog! She would have been GREAT at finding him! (a different Him, or Hymn))
Oh, Carrie, I love the creche scene! Our grandson has been rearranging our nutcrackers (little talking circles, back to back, etc., and adding little cars, etc. But the ongoing growth of who gets to be at the stable is so fun and filled with truth.
When I think of the "growing edge" I think of changing paths or perspectives. I read a book for Advent that made me think of different things for the Advent story. The book is "Heaven and Earth..Advent and the Incarnation" by Will Willimon. It was great in helping me see the story a bit different. It has been a strange Christmas for me for reasons that I won't list but I find in these days before Christmas I want to be quiet and just take it all in. I want to think back of Christmas past, think of Christmas present, and think of future Christmas (yes this came right out of watching "A Christmas Carol")..what a gift Dickens gave us! Now for your lovely creche, which is wonderful, I don't think I see a musician playing a guitar which should be there. Your music and your writing brings such joy. Happy Holidays Carrie and our community.
Absolutely love the creche! Rosa Parks or Molly Brown would be great additions but probably not impossible...not yet. Happiest of Holidays to you and yours Carrie! 💛
I have Princess Leia in my nativity too. Early in my marriage, one of my teenage stepchildren put a Princess Leia Pez dispenser in my manger scene. Maybe they thought I would get mad. The didn’t really know me yet. Instead I told them that everyone was welcome in the manger and that God loves you even if you are a Pez dispenser. Well that started a tradition of adding Pez dispensers to the manger scene every year. I eventually simplified and now only Princess Leia is there to represent them all. I recently created a collage as a backdrop for my manger scene. It features various animals in a barn including 2 lobsters for all the Love Actually fans.
Thank you for this, Carrie. As you well know I am an introvert as well, not realizing sometimes until it arrives that 'tuckered out ' aspect is on the way. Thanks too for asking folks to think about another view of what it was like for Mary and Joseph
So beautiful, your crèche And your way of seeing the birth story as metaphor instead of an actual event🙏🏻
Merry Christmas or as the Brits say Happy Christmas 😀
Andy Atkinson
Wilmington, NC
As I sit in an AirBNB in Pittsburgh, where we are gathering with family. I’m up early, savoring my first cup of tea, praying, reading and most of all watching for first light. Even as an extrovert, my whole self craves this quiet part of the day where I can listen for and discern my “growing edge.” Thanks to you Carrie, and this blessed community for your reflections and shared wisdom.
And maybe the wild crèche needs a pair of puffins. While on the Scottish island of Iona, in 2018, we hired a local fisherman, Davy, who took a small group of us to the island of Staffa. We hiked up the cliffs and sat quietly and were soon surrounded by a group of puffins, who used the cliffs below us to shelter their chicks. Their comical coloring and comfort with us humans, is a contrast to their ingenuity and grit. It was a day I’ll never forget.
I think JESUS approves of all of HIS visitors. There is no one HE doesn’t like.
The growing edge…, in all ways humanity…, the earth…, the growing edge of water on the shore…, toward the shore or the land, the fields of small seeds that become velvet fields, city boundaries, of heart, and awareness of life in people, of people and wisdom and love, of welcoming…! Thank you Carrie for giving us this space.
Carrie I love seeing your crazy crèche each year! Perhaps adding a guitar to represent the music that brings us together and fills our hearts would be a good addition. As my family struggles this season with a cancer diagnosis of my husband’s mom, I’m reminded once again of your song You Can Do This Hard Thing to keep me going. Tomorrow my daughter comes home for the holidays and I’m so excited to see her, but yet it’s also the 2 year anniversary of my childhood best friend’s passing. A bitter sweet day. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season surrounded by all that you love and warms your heart. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year!
Frodo and Samwise Gamgee should be in the crèche
OMG, I love the Wild Crech! Thanks for posting that!
I think your creche is perfect. I love it. And your story of personalizing the birth of Jesus was great. Thank you very much. 'Berta
Thank you for a post that moved me to happy tears when I read your gritty rendition to the birth of Jesus. I felt like I stood in the doorway with the innkeeper and his wife as they heard the lusty cry of the newborn Jesus and tears of joy came to me. You put the story in the most realistic context of the times into which Jesus was born, yet how he heralded a new era of love.💕
I love the where's Waldo! Maybe I should get one so it would be easier to find my keys! (Especially after I train my formerly Search-n-rescue candidate dog! She would have been GREAT at finding him! (a different Him, or Hymn))
Oh, Carrie, I love the creche scene! Our grandson has been rearranging our nutcrackers (little talking circles, back to back, etc., and adding little cars, etc. But the ongoing growth of who gets to be at the stable is so fun and filled with truth.
When I think of the "growing edge" I think of changing paths or perspectives. I read a book for Advent that made me think of different things for the Advent story. The book is "Heaven and Earth..Advent and the Incarnation" by Will Willimon. It was great in helping me see the story a bit different. It has been a strange Christmas for me for reasons that I won't list but I find in these days before Christmas I want to be quiet and just take it all in. I want to think back of Christmas past, think of Christmas present, and think of future Christmas (yes this came right out of watching "A Christmas Carol")..what a gift Dickens gave us! Now for your lovely creche, which is wonderful, I don't think I see a musician playing a guitar which should be there. Your music and your writing brings such joy. Happy Holidays Carrie and our community.
Absolutely love the creche! Rosa Parks or Molly Brown would be great additions but probably not impossible...not yet. Happiest of Holidays to you and yours Carrie! 💛
Great suggestions….yes Rosa and molly
Lovely post- love your creche