The Littlest Angels

At this time of year especially, I suffer more acutely from my usual predicament. Too many pictures and too little time. But today, since you can't take pictures in the chapel, you'll have to use your imagination for the most part.

Our December has been busy, busy, busy. GK's been finishing up finals and working hard being the dad around here. I've been hanging out with Van, watching him develop into a curious, beautiful, boy. He stops people on the street and on the subway with his stares. He loves watching people and engaging with anyone who's willing.

Once he's in bed, I've been pretty productive this season too. While putting together a million yummy plates of our traditional puffs, and sugar cookies, and brownies (a last minute substitute for a miserably failed batch of fudge),

I had a vision open in my mind. I thought about what wonderful little singers my primary kids are. Suddenly I thought, "Wouldn't they look sweet if they could dress in costumes while they sang? Hmmm."

And so it began. Out of simple pieces of fabric (curtains and scraps, plus a little tinsel), I made a Mary, a Joseph, 13 jr. shepherds(all sunbeams!), 5 lead shepherds,6 wisemen,

and 6 angels costumes.

This is Evelyn. She was supposed to be a jr. shepherd, but she wanted to be Glinda the good witch. She decided an angel was close enough. Good thing I had extra tinsel!

Imagine all of these little people crammed up on the stand singing with all their hearts "Away in a Manger" and "Still, Still, Still", feeling incredibly important. And they were. They gave me goose bumps. It was really beautiful.

This is the type of project that could go terribly wrong or perfectly right. Thank goodness for Christmas miracles.