Nativity

I am painting the details on every single nativity character that has been carefully cut out of 1"x4" dressed pine boards.
This I am doing for my grandchildren.
Each family will receive a Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and his Manger, Asian Wiseman, African Wiseman, European Wiseman, Shepherd, Sheep, Angel and Donkey.
Times THREE.
It's a lot of tracing and cutting and sanding and painting and varnishing.

Why-oh-Why did I ever START THIS this close to Christmas!!!?
Will the grandkids care how much time and love I poured into this?
Not likely.
BUT that's okay. ha!

Once, I made a similar set for my children and foster children to have.... to be able to touch and move about as we talked about the Real meaning of Christmas and allowed them to re-enact it whenever they wanted to and I remember how they did so often.

And then, tonight, as I'm trying to paint the Angel's faces, I start to cry.

Something I read that makes me miss my mom.
I didn't have my mom to see and help me 'turn things around' with the wisdom of her years, when I was in the pressure-cooker of a crazy busy life.
She was dying for 5 years while I parented young children and tried to be present to her and still run a home.
And then she was gone.

I failed more than I succeeded I've since learned.
And learning it shredded my heart. My identity.

So now, when I see my own daughters being amazing moms I am blessed and oh-so-grateful, that they have learned from my inefficiencies.
and.... I do my best to be available if I can help,
to give them things they need for the kids, to encourage and support them emotionally, to help them make their lives and homes and experience a good one.

And I make wooden Nativity characters .... so their children can re-enact the story of Christmas.
And hopefully begin a tradition for their family for many years to come.