Nativity track 2009 - "gloria in excelsis deo!"

As you can see, a shepherd has arrived to see if what all those angels were talking and singing about up in the sky was actually true. He's the first, the youngest shepherd. The rest are following behind. He's on one knee there at the manger, overcome with wonder, while Mary kneels with clasped hands and Joseph hovers protectively nearby.

Tonight at Mass, we sang the Gloria for the first time since the Feast of Christ the King at the end of November. Advent is a period of waiting, so we don't lift our voices in that familiar refrain that starts out with the words the angels, reeling in excitement, sang in the sky over that hillside near Bethlehem all those many years ago:

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth!

Nativity track 2009 - And unto us a son is given

Who would ever want to have a baby in a barn? I come from a line of farming people -- not a long line, but a line nonetheless -- and I have known some awesome barns in my day. My great-grandpa's barn was long and low and it had some pigs and some sheep and a bunch of friendly cats in it. The barn on grandad's property was huge and tall and the best place in the world to explore. If my parents knew to this day some of the rickety ladders I climbed high up into the haymow, lying on my stomach to look two floors below into my horse's stall, they would probably fall prostrate to the floor in a dead faint this very day.

So I have known some barns. But I also know childbirth. This progressive knowledge makes me be able to say with certainty that the two do not mix. When I had my babies, if my husband had driven me to a barn instead of a hospital, I would have done everything in my power to....to.....well, to do something bad to him. I feel somewhat repressed in saying exactly what I might have done because Pat told me tonight that I have too many grouchy posts lately, so let me just say: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REAL BAD.

But this baby? Born in this particular barn? To this one-of-a-kind mother? They all seem to go together. I can't imagine that the place was Mary's first choice, or Joseph's. But somehow, it all worked out for the best, didn't it?

Nativity track 2009

It's December 20, which is the official day of arrival for Mary and Joseph and their donkey in the little stable on top of the media cabinet. As you can see, Joseph has been out to the market and has bought a basket of fruit and vegetables and a jug of wine -- I was enchanted by those accessories when I bought this crèche years ago. You can't see the cow because she's lying down behind Joseph, saying, "No, really....you get in front. I was in the picture yesterday." The sheep, however, are interested in the apples.

Nativity track 2009

This pretty creche sits on top of our media center. It's been there for several weeks now and the cow and the sheep have been just kind of hanging out, chewing their cuds and waiting for something exciting to happen. On December 20 every year, a tired, travel-weary couple shows up and boyoboy.....from then on, there's not a dull moment. Especially what with those three kings in their outlandish hats who arrive on January 6. Fuuuuhhhreeeeeeaky. Those shepherds from the hills have never seen the like.