Aliante Christmas Party

18 Dec 09

My stress level peaked this past week....all due to the fact that I had finals for school, combined with a huge Christmas party that I was in charge of. Plus, my parents were in town, and I was feeling guilty about not spending much time with them. I had so much going on at once that it had me pretty wired. Thankfully, everything turned out fine but, leading up to each event, I felt pressure about doing my best. My living room floor got turned into an art studio. I painted some stone backdrops,made paper mache pottery,

...and completed many other decorative effects for the big night! There were lots of hours invested into the appearance of the place. I wanted the place to replicate Bethlehem, so authentication was important to me.

I enlisted the help of others to make sure our party portrayed the look I was going for. We called it "A Night in Bethlehem". I have to thank Jamie Jewett for her time and energy that she put into this night. She came up with the structures for us to decorate on. She basically built my marketplace for me...it was perfect!!! =) Then, Danell and I embellished Jamie's work. There were many contributions to the success of the party. I was just truly grateful for each of them.
My husband played the role of "tax collector." ( Every family brought a canned good as their tax to be donated to the needy, and they also signed our census. Then Frank gave them faux money (one gold coin and several river rocks) to be spent in the marketplace.) However, before they were allowed in the marketplace, they had to pass our "Tailors." The YW dressed people who did not have on Biblical attire. They at least gave them a headress to put on, and then the two Roman Soldiers standing by the gym doors would let them enter (I don't have a picture of that booth.)In the marketplace, we served bread, hummus, cheeses, and crackers...
dried fruits and grapes......nuts and olives...
(this is the aftermath following the party) ...and cranberry-nut pastries.
We also had meatballs and pastrami (not too authentic, but it worked).

We had a "Bishop's vineyard" which served wine (grape juice--each family brought a jar and the booth is pictured right), OR people could get this lovely well water (which Jamie made...fabulous!). I had to have Br. Fox dip it out for everyone, because kids were too tempted to put their hands in it. ;) Hahaha! =)
I had two Roman soldiers to guard our "Treasury." They could come there and get "gold, frankinsense and myrrh."
**Ty Harmon (on the left) painted this for me...awesome! Brandon and Carly were also part of my Roman population. They ended up helping out at our "Toy Store." They gave out dreidels, and played with the kids.
The missionaries also assisted with our Toy Store. They had fun with the kids too.
Not pictured, we had a "Synagogue" (beautiful) where people could come and learn Hebrew. We had them translate and write their name. Candy Symmonds decorated it (fabulous!!!!), and I did the teaching (located right outside in the hallway). Frank and I cherished the nativity. I have such a hallowed feeling knowing that our Savior was born under such humble conditions. Yet in life, we always expect to have so much more ourselves, even though the King of Kings didn't. These circumstances remind me to be grateful for what I have, and to also know that I can do much with what I am given...like Jesus did. I may not have everything, but with what I do have, I can magnify it, and bless the lives of others. Gosh! I REALLY LOVE my Savior! ♥

**I have to give my husband props here for putting this part together. My older boys helped him too, and they did a great job. It ended up quite adorable, I thought. (The sheep were painted by Br. Thomas and he also did the cow for me...great! Sis. Fox painted my donkey (gorgeous), Danell got me the fencing, and Br. Dunsmoor built my manger. Oh, and hahahaha, I got that huge star off of the Decker's Christmas tree.)
LOL! That's my dad back there as the angel. He got forced into doing it...since I was in charge. ;) It wasn't difficult, though. All he had to do was stand there. =) Also, both my husband and Frankie strung those lights for me...you can't see them all, but it was a difficult job. It required a very tall ladder! THANKS fellas!!!

I hope the program was touching to those present. I was running around and didn't get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked, but from what I did see, it made me smile.
The whole point of this night was to help everyone feel like they were a part of the Savior's birth. They entered Bethlehem, payed their taxes, signed the census, enjoyed the marketplace, and watched the miracle of our Lord being born. I hope that it impacted those who came. I wanted everyone to walk away with a renewed sense of what Christmas is all about. It's not about commercialism. It' s not about spending money. It's about remembering, worshiping, and devoting ourselves to Christ by serving and loving those around us like he did. If we can all celebrate Christmas in this way then I know our hearts will be filled, and there will be no emptiness to accompany this season. Please don't take Christ out of CHRISTmas. There is a REASON for the season. =)

Here are random pictures of our night:

Gabriel (center) getting some food.

Papa socializing.

Amy (our RS Pres) helping her girls.
Chelsea sang during our Nativity...she has an angelic voice...so beautiful!
During the program Sis. Harmon played the guitar while her little girls sang to us too.
Frankie (center) grabbing some food.

Noah (in red shirt) standing in line for pastries.
Noah sitting to eat his food.

Carlin and Br. Abbott were two of my wise men.

Here you can see some of the stone backdrops I painted.


Kela grabbed Sis. Bell and walked around with her.

Sis. Jewett with her family (I owe her a huge thanks for her hard work in constucting my marketplace...she's a genius!) Frankie (back left) and Shorty Nihapali
Erica Wyatt jumped right in and helped with preparing the food and serving it. She even stuck around for the clean-up! She is awesome!!!

Gabriel, Noah, Frankie, and Body Jewett (notice I only got the backs of my children...sad)

This was the most reverent social I have been to. We had a massive amount of people, but it was really quiet. The kids didn't run around or play loudly...it was amazing. I wonder if they were contemplating profound things??? Hmmm...I hope so!

Frankie and I

You can slightly see the synagogue to the far left of this pic. It was straight into the hallway with illuminated columns with plants on top. We sat on the floor and wrote in Hebrew.

If I do this activity again, I would like to add a pottery wheel for the kids to play on, and maybe have them bead a necklace. However, before Bethlehem is recreated again, I would like to have "A Night in Zarahemla" to experience the birth of the Savior through the eyes of the American Continent.