Lighting the World

At the beginning of December, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints puts out what they call the "Light the World Initiative." The goal is to reach out to friends, neighbors, and strangers in a Christ-like manner in an effort to remember the true meaning of the Christmas season. (Find the link here.)

For our part, we hosted the Red Barn Nativity for the second year in a row. And added another session, one for the vets from IPH. We love this tradition - the gathering of friends and family, inviting them to dress up and participate in learning about the birth of our Savior, the building and strengthening of relationships through the process and after as we share a treat. The use of our barn in a novel manner. And even the way it teaches me to learn to manage my stress as we prepare, execute, and clean up after each activity.

We had a great turnout again and it was agony trying to decide which friends to invite for the second week. Our barn - and house - have limits on capacity which do not hold the friends I hold dear to my heart. Maybe we will need to start a lottery or drawing of names in the future (Erin, we will put your name in multiple times). Family the first week. Friends the second. Neighbors the third. And vets on the fourth week.

The Spirit is always so strong at the end as we sing "Silent Night."

I'm usually glad to be done with the final performance but wouldn't give it all up for anything. Chadwick agrees. Maybe next year I'll hire a professional to take pictures that aren't grainy and dark...and purchase a microphone for Chadwick so we can all hear him through the chaos of the event. =)