A Very Merry Christmas to One and All!

It hard to imagine that last Christmas we were in Italy enjoying a wonderful and very special Christmas. One thing we enjoyed was this beautiful Precepe Vivente; a living Creche. Precepes (nativities) are all over Italy during the entire month of Christmas celebrations and the living ones are especially wonderful.

This one took place high atop a mountain and was a reenactment of typical scenes in the town of Bethlehem at the time of Christ's birth. This spectacular scene pictured above was at the very top and they even had two live oxen up there! This is done each year in this tiny village and the baby Jesus is always represented by the newest baby in town. And his parents are Mary and Joseph.

The night that we went was very stormy and there was water everywhere. It was kind of miserable to be so wet, in fact drenched, climbing slippery, uneven stone steps to the very top and down again. But still, there was something magical about it, something sacred, something profound. We struggled but, we endured and were the better for it.

I cannot help but think of that lesson this year as our little Granddaughter, Hazel, has been struggling with her health at this Christmas time. It is hard to be jolly but we are very satisfied that the message of Christmas goes so far beyond Jolly. The struggles we face are lifted and lightened because of the real meaning of Christmas which the scene so beautifully portrayed. They are love, joy, hope and peace. We know we will look back on this Christmas like all others with fond memories and a renewed hope in the Savior's gifts for each of us that help us endure the trials. We wish the same for all of you!

~Ever Upward~

With love,
Jim and Bonnie and Company

P.S. When you get to the end of the page if you look down and slightly to the right you will see Older Post. Click on it for the next of section to this card. I know you die hard bloggers know this but this is for those who have never been on a blog before.