If you want to 12 day someone

I posted the Journey back in 2006; there are two pages of posts that are in this topic. Go to the oldest post first and then read through them to the newest post. It is a 12-day thing, too, but instead of taking food to people you take a piece of a nativity each night to the family or person you are twelve daying. I will post more of these as we get into the season. My MIL has sent me two versions that her family did as my husband grew up; they called it pixieing (you know, like pixie dust). You knock on the door and run like crazy to not get caught. I am posting a link on the side bar labeled Christmas 12 days I will add The journey and the current 12 daying happening to me and the ones my MIL sent as I post them to this, so if people want to come back and find them easily they can. Under popular tutorials I have also posted a Poinsettia with these same links; either way works to find all the 12 dayed items.

Head Start on Christmas Journey

If you want to do the "Journey" from last year, I thought I would post this now so people could plan to take the journey. Follow the link and read all posts and all extra instructions in the following links on the new pages.

The Journey: Baby Jesus and our jouneys end / Merry Christmas

It is Christmas! I am wishing everyone a day full of loved ones and good feelings.

Baby Jesus:

Tonight, in the city of Bethlehem, Christ Our Savior was born. With only his mother, Mary, Joseph, and the cattle and oxen to first welcome him there. He came to a lowly stable, because he descended to the lowliest place on earth so he could rise to be great.

The birth of our savior was the most wonderful event that has happened here on earth. He was born of an earthly mother, with a God for a father. He is truly the Prince of Peace.

Heavenly Father gave us the greatest gift ever given, the gift of His son, Jesus Christ. He came to save us all from our sins. He came to give us Eternal life if we seek it. He has come to free us, and He will never leave us. Let us not ever leave Him.

And so our Journey has come to an end. Our family would like to thank yours for letting us share the true meaning of Christmas with you. We hope you have enjoyed the journey to Bethlehem. Thank you for letting our family serve your families at this holiday season. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. May the Prince of Peace be with you, this year and always.

Our Baby Jesus

Here is our baby Jesus from last year. Now the set is complete, and it is Christmas Day.

The Journey: the Three Wise Men Christmas Eve

Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar (The Magi)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

The First Wise man was Balthazar; his gift to the Christ Child was Frankincense. Frankincense is a fragrant, resinous exudation of various species of Boswella. It was imported into Judaea from Arabia. It is an ingredient in the holy incense for sacrificial purposes and was highly valued as perfume.

The Second Wise Man was Melchior; his gift to the Christ Child was Gold. His gift was used to help Mary and Joseph to go to Egypt with Jesus when Herod was searching for him. Gold was very valuable.

The Third Wise Man was Caspar; his gift to the Christ Child was Myrrh. Myrrh was used for embalming. It was obtained from various thorny shrubs of the dry districts of Arabia and Eastern Africa. Myrrh is the gum of the rockrose.

It is Christmas Eve, the day my family gets together to celebrate the coming of the Savior of all.

Our 3 Wise Men

Here is our three Wise Men from last year. Don't forget these all come together as a set, plus any animals and the such that go with them.

The Journey: The shepard

The Shepherd:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.


And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at these things, which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Wishing all a joyous holiday.

Our Shepherd

Here is our Shepherd from last year.

If you noticed, the completed nativity is shown at the bottom of the Journey page for the Shepherds. But I am still going to show one a day 'till we get to baby Jesus. Just thought I would let you know what it looked like all together.

The Journey: The angel

The Angel:

The angel was the first to announce the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
A host of heavenly angels were singing praises unto the newborn King. "Hark the herald angel sing, glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise; Join the Triumph of the skies with angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in the Bethlehem. Hark the herald angel, sing glory to the newborn King." Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing."
" Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace."

My children made this Creche last year; we have three of them on our tree. I think it is just precious, even if baby Jesus is made out of a Popsicle stick. Don't forget in all the rushing around to spend time with your children. They are the closest you can come to being with angles without being in heaven.

Our Angel

Here is our Angel from last year.

The Journey: The sheep

The sheep:

The sheep were out in the fields that night, while the shepherds watched over them. The sheep represent us, as children of our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd. The sheep followed the shepherds to the stable to worship the newborn King.

Before Jesus was born, they would sacrifice the firstlings of the flocks. That was in similitude of the Only Begotten Son of the Father. After Christ's birth, this kind of sacrifice was no longer needed.

Let us be like the sheep on that night that followed their shepherd. Let us follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our sheep

Here is our sheep from last year.

The Journey: The Donkey

The Donkey:

When Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, Joseph guided the donkey with care. Mary rode upon the donkey's back.

Custom was that the wives were to walk, and their husband's rode upon the back of the donkeys.

Donkeys were also used to carry their owner's belongings. They were also used for farming

The kids are getting out of school and are excited for Christmas.

Our Donkey

Here is our Donkey from last year.

The Journey: the oxen

The Oxen:

The oxen were regarded as very valuable animals to have back in Christ's day. Think of Solomon's temple, and how the oxen were used to hold up the baptismal font; and still, to this day, in many temples they are underneath some of the baptismal fonts to help hold them up. The significance of that is that they represent the twelve tribes of Israel.Oxen were used to bear the weight of their owner's belongings. The pioneers used oxen to help carry their belongings across the plains into the great Salt Lake Valley. Oxen were used to help haul the stones to the temple block.

Now, when we think of oxen, they will have a more special meaning to us. The oxen were one of the first to welcome the newborn King. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Our Oxen

Here is our Ox from last year. Feel free to leave out the above third paragraph in the oxen from the journey. That is a regional thing and may not work in your area.

The Journey:The Stable

The Stable:

One of the Innkeepers told Joseph that all he had was a stable in which he and Mary could spend the night. Imagine for a moment what that must have been like for Mary. She was pregnant, and in labor, and all she had for shelter for her, Joseph and her new Babe, was a stable full of hay. Can you imagine how you would feel today? However, I am sure they were very thankful and grateful that they had a place in which she could bear the Son of God. It was actually nicer than being in the inn. In that day and age, inns would house multiple people in a room. Complete strangers would stay in the same room and, sometimes, the same bed. In the stable, they would be alone and have privacy for giving birth.

What a very humble, meek and lowly place in which the Son of God, a King, would come into the world surrounded by animals. A feeding trough full of hay, which was used for the animals to eat and drink, was all Mary had in which to lay her newborn Son. No crib, no cradle, only an animals' feeding trough. The stable was a place that was used to keep the animals such as cattle, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.

Our stable

Here is our Stable from last year. It was purchased separately from the nativity which, if you are doing the journey, you might have to do, also. Not all sets come with a stable; However, most craft stores carry them.

The Journey: Joseph

Joseph:

Joseph was a carpenter. He lived in a city called Nazareth. God chose Joseph as Christ's earthly father. Joseph, being a just man, and not willing to make Mary a public example, was minded to put Mary away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary for thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife , being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Joseph looked around the town and he checked every Inn, but there was no room at the Inn...

Our Joseph

Here is our Joseph from last year.