bethlehem's blessing...

the preschool ministry at our church puts on this event each year called 'bethlehem's blessing.' it is for all preschoolers and their families to come and experience what this season is really all about-- the blessing born in bethlehem, jesus. the event started out in 'big church' (as our kids call it) by singing songs about that first christmas. we sang several songs, but olivia's favorite was "no room!" (ask her to sing it, it's pretty cute!)

then we began our journey to bethlehem. there was a solider who read the instructions to return to bethlehem for the census- just like the bible says about why mary and joseph had to travel to bethlehem. we filled out our family's census and started our journey...

the solider and olivia. she was a little nervous, but wanted to have a picture with him.

once we arrived in 'bethlehem' there were all different 'shops' set up for us to experience what life might have been like in bible times when mary and joseph were there. there was a bakery where we ate bread. a rope shop where we made a rope and heard all about how the people in the bible used rope for all kinds things. a market with fruits and vegetables that we were able to taste. (jack loved the raisins.) a well with water for us to drink. a toy shop where we made a toy (baby jesus) out of clay.

olivia and her baby jesus that we made together.

mark posing with the baby jesus that he and jack made.

a jewelry shop where we got to make a jingle bell bracelet.

mark, jack, and olivia all hard at work.

a shop where we turned corn and oats into flour. that was hard work!

olivia was using her muscles and using a stone to make flour.

and then there was an inn with an inn keeper, just like the bible says. the inn keeper told us that there was no room for us. when we looked inside the inn there were puppets in all the beds, so he told us to go outside. when we went outside we saw real live animals!! goats, sheep, and a donkey. the kids got to pet the animals and then they saw mary and joseph and baby jesus in the stable with the animals. just like the bible tells us.

jack loved the animals and pet them all.

we really enjoyed spending the evening together as a family and getting to experience part of the bible becoming alive and hands-on for our kids. it was such a great way for them to begin to understand the awesomeness yet the simplicity of that first christmas.