Journey to Bethlehem

Last night our family took a little trip down to the Church of the Cross in Grapevine, Texas for a special journey to Bethlehem. We've tried to attend this event since 2007, but for one reason or another it has never happened. This year I was determined to make it happen and I'm glad we did.
We arrived at 5 pm and the doors opened at 5:30. We stood in a long line out in the cold, but fortunately made it inside after about 30-45 minutes. All in all, the event was about 3 hours, which at times was difficult with young children, but well worth the effort.

Journey to Bethlehem is a live performance of the journey Joseph and Mary would have taken to Bethlehem to participate in the census and pay taxes. Each person is given a travel passport to carry with them on the journey and a Jewish family (played by members of the congregation) leads your family on a very memorable journey.

At the beginning of our journey, we were nervous that Andrew would not make it. He was terrified by the loud Roman soldier who burst into the room brandishing a sword and asking for our passports. In the silence of the room, you could hear his little tearful voice saying, "I don't like it . . . I want to leave!" The only thing keeping him in that room was the hope that he might spot a monkey on our outdoor journey. I have no idea why he was so intent on seeing a monkey, but I decided not to break his heart by telling him there would be no monkeys on this journey. There were lots of camels, donkeys, and horses, but unfortunately no monkeys for little Andrew.

The spirit was present at this event. As we walked along the dirt path, my thoughts turned to the real journey taken by Mary and Joseph many, many years ago. Having delivered 3 children of my own, I thought of the tremendous travail Mary must have experienced as she not only gave birth to her son, but also traveled many, many miles to get to Bethlehem. Laurel remarked that the path was scary, especially when the Roman soldiers would approach our group. There were also thieves along the road who tried to rob us. I had never imagined the fear they might have felt on the journey, but they must have felt some trepidation.

As we approached the walls of Bethlehem, our family searched for a place to stay. When we least expected it, we came across the manger scene where Mary and Joseph stood holding their newborn son, our Savior. It was such a peaceful experience. What touched me most was watching my children experience the moment. There was a special reverence that overcame both Laurel and Andrew and I think it is something that they will remember.

The words of the song, "Breath of Heaven," came to my mind as I walked through our journey to Bethlehem. I love the Amy Grant version of this song. The words are posted below. As our guide reminded us, each of us must take our own journey to Bethlehem where we find the Christ child and let Him into our life to help us through the ups and downs of life. Some of our journeys involve trials of sickness, sin, heartache, and loss, but the end result is glorious. We will find eternal life through our faith in the Lord as we follow and live His teachings. What a beautiful reminder this event was during this Christmas season. Here are the words to the song:

I have traveled
Many moonless nights
Cold and Weary
With a babe inside
And I wonder
What I've done
Holy Father
You have come
Chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting
in a silent prayer
I am frightened
by the load i bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now

Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For your holy Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one, should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

Here is one final picture from our evening. Even though Ryan was heavy to carry at times, his warmth helped get me through the cold evening. I particularly loved his little Santa cap that his Grandma Chris gave him.

Sweet Baby Boy

Andrew at 3 months - December 2007

No matter who you become, I will always remember you like today. So forgive me if I (when I) struggle to recognize the man you will become, but I'm just a mom trying to hold on to the memory of my sweet little boy.

Two Princesses!

Laurel loves it when her Grandparents tuck her in at night. Here is a special night at Christmas when Grandma Chris actually got into bed with Laurel. I found this photo and couldn't resist posting it.

Howdy Partner!

We had a wonderful visit from Great Uncle Elden and Great Aunt Alice Peterson the day after Christmas. They are truly Great! Uncle Elden is Great Grandma Christensen's brother and one of the sweetest men ever born. His wife, Alice, is also a wonderful person with an uplifting personality. Whenever I'm around these two, I feel loved and like nothing is wrong in the world. Andrew loved Aunt Alice and whenever she would look at his face, he would brighten up with a huge smile. He knew that an angel was holding him! When Andrew was born and had trouble early on, these two sweet people sent cards, called us regularly, and put our names in the temple. We love them and are so glad they visited our family at Christmas. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Utah.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We are in Utah for Christmas. Dale's family is up here and we've had a great time. We enjoyed lots of great fun, food, and conversation. Here is Laurel in front of the gifts Santa left her. This was the first year that she really understood Christmas, both the secular and spiritual sides. One of the highlights was Dale's Christmas meal - he made prime rib, green bean bundles, mushrooms, and baked potatoes. It was all delicious. We also enjoyed attending church with our family and remembering the reason for the season.