Nativity Secret Santa

This is the Willow Tree Nativity and has been a long time favorite of mine, although I'm yet to own one piece! Someday I'd like to have it. I posted the other day about our Secret Santa (which we are still amazed by and enjoying! Love the rusty metal ornaments and the reindeer craft, in case you are reading! So Mikensee wanted to do one herself but she has $20 to her name, so I told her it might be tough. . . then I read a story about a woman who received a nativity set piece by piece only to find that Baby Jesus was a wrapped gift given to her by a friend early in the season and had been placed under the tree and forgotten. . . well, anyway, I was at Wal-Mart and found a Nativity already marked down, so I bought it. The kids and I prayed and picked a family and we are now delivering their nativity over today and the next 5 days. This is the poem we are using and I made simple tags to attach to each gift. It goes like this:

Day 1: In Bethlehem one special day, a couple sought a place to stay. The inns were full, there was no space. They could not find a resting place. . .
(We delivered the Stable/Creche tonight.)
Day 2: A kind inkeeper smiled and said his stable could be used instead. The stable creatures all felt blessed. Tonight they had a special guest. The little lambs so soft and white watched quietly that special night. (We will deliver the animals. . . a sheep, donkey and cow.)
Day 3: The woman Mary soon gave birth, she brough God's son into the earth. Shepherds on a lonely hill, saw a sight that made them still. Angels came to share great joy, announcing Mary's baby boy. (We will deliver Mary and Joseph, although the angel would go here too, but our set has the angel on the creche.)
Day 4: "The world now has a newborn King." "Go worship him!" They heard them sing. The Angels told where Jesus lay. A shining star would guide their way. (We will deliver the Shepherds.)
Day 5: And in the East a shining star, led three wise men from afar. The wisemen each brought gifts to share. They honor Jesus with a prayer. (We will deliver the wisemen.)
Day 6 - Christmas: Today we celebrate that night, when God's love brought new world new light. (We will deliver baby Jesus.)

This could be broken up into 24/25 lines and the set divided further. . . or you could do it in 12 (although our set has 13 pieces.) Either way, or anyway, I think its going to be great fun for the family receiving it and we are paying it forward from our Secret Santa!

Dear Secret Santa,

For the past 5 days my family has been on the receiving end of a Secret Santa's giving. We have received a Gingerbread Train Kit (the first night), little wooden toys, some tiny ornaments in tubes that looked so yummy and are now proudly displayed on my mini trees, cereal bowls with cereal bars for my kids (which saved me from having to make breafast this morning) and some cute ornament tins with tootsie rolls in them. It really hasn't been about the gifts for me (although my kids are unashamedly thrilled), but about the thought and care and just plain old amazement that I have for someone to be so thoughtful and kind to me. It is really easy for me to give and serve and I really love doing both, I'm just not often the one served. It's been really good for me to feel how I feel and see it from this end so that I know when I do a little something here or there that the person on the other end does care and does find joy in receiving. So, if my secret Santa is reading, just know that I really needed you and that we are having a ball! I don't know how you are doing it either because starting at about 6PM my kids check the door constantly, but every night it's been like a little miracle. We shut the door and they open it again only to find that you've arrived! I will admit that at first I thought it was a one time deal, but after the 2nd night, my kids just knew it wasn't a coincidence. We don't want to catch you, but hope you are having as much fun giving as we are receiving!

Lots of Love, Rachele and the Funky Five

P.S. Here is our Saturday Morning Art Project. Didn't it turn out great??!!??