THE GUYMON FAMILY ADVENTURES: Bethlehem in Burnet (Dec. 7, 2012)

So it is early in the morning but I just couldn’t sleep without blogging about the most magnificent time we had at Main Street Bethlehem in Burnet! We had heard from friends that it was so worth the drive & time you had to wait in line but we just never got around to going & we almost didn’t go again this year but my sweet husband made it happen for me!

Let me say it wasn’t that I didn’t want to go it just is I have had a couple of funk/depressive days & so I just didn’t know if I could stand being with all those people & I didn’t know if we would be fighting the kids the whole time too, so it just didn’t seem like I could emotionally do it so we just decided to have a quiet night at home & do our usual Friday Family Movie Night!

Well, after Andrew came home we ran some errands & just getting out of the house helped a lot so all of the sudden I was questioning if we should go to Bethlehem in Burnet so before I had time to change my mind we ran home to grab coats & the stroller & off we went to Burnet to see what the fuss was all about!

WOW, is all I can say!!! WOW,WOW, WOW!!! I am so glad we didn’t let another year go by without going to see this amazing production put on by The First Baptist Church there in Burnet. This will for sure be one of our Christmas traditions from now on!

Jackson did okay riding in the stroller for the first 30 minutes in line but after that he had fun riding on daddy’s shoulders!

Also while we were waiting in line I was very surprised to see people from all walks of life standing in the same line with us to get into Bethlehem & see the Savior! There were men that had tattoos & piercings, families like ours, & grandma & grandpas. In fact there was a sweet grandma & grandpa in front of us & they were so cute with our kids & just made standing in the LONG line easier!

I just was very touched by the Spirit & again reminded that the Savior came for EVERYONE!!!

Another special thing that happened while we were waiting in line was a little girl, probably about 4, kept yelling “Daddy where is Jesus, I can’t see him?” WOW, that made my heart & spirit so happy b/c usually kids are yelling to see Santa but this little girl had been brought by her family to celebrate the REAL REASON for the SEASON!

Then I almost cried b/c I realized I almost didn’t bring my little kids b/c of my depression & how it affects me sometimes. I am SO GLAD my hunny just made it happen & brought our family to this amazing place at this amazing time of year!

Andrew was getting SO EXCITED as we neared the gates to Bethlehem!

This lady was so sweet & let Andrew pet her goose. Jackson even pet the goose too but I wasn’t able to get a picture of that.

She & everyone kept in character even when they were answering all of Andrew’s numerous questions about what they were doing. As we were walking away from this lady I heard her call out, “Come pet the finest geese in Bethlehem.” It was SO COOL!!!

Also can you see the New Star in the sky? COOL!!!

We also went inside this little home where a family was preparing to sit down for dinner! I was so impressed of how even the little kids stayed in character & weren’t silly or out of line but just enjoyed playing their part.

They had these cool signs up on the buildings so you knew what you were looking at.

There was a backup around the jail cell so we were just standing there for a while b/c it was VERY CROWDED & all of the sudden the jail keeper asked Andrew if he wanted to hold the keys. Andrew was SO EXCITED & thought he was the coolest kid!

He didn’t get put in jail but he did get put in the stocks & shackles & even had a Roman soldier stand guard over him! Funny thing he actually was kind of scared of the Roman soldiers that were roaming around Bethlehem & we had to remind him they were just people acting like Roman soldiers & it was all okay!

After we walked through these buildings that had the basket makers & rug weavers we came to the tax collector area. I don’t know why but that was neat for me to see that. I guess I just imagined Mary & Joseph paying their taxes there & it was the first part of the village that was part of the Christmas story so it just touched me!

I have no clue why there are all these dots, but this part was really cool too. All of the sudden these shepherds jumped up on the side of the well in the middle of the city & started yelling, “The Messiah is born. Follow the new star in the sky to find him.” Then all of the sudden these Roman soldiers came over & shooed the shepherds away.

Wow, I just got chills when that happened & all of the sudden I remembered why we were here…to see the Christ child & I had an overwhelming desire to find him. So we looked up in the sky & found the “star” & started to follow it though the really crazy & LOUD market area.

In the market area there was this tree with a cross leaning against it & again I was overcome by the Spirit & almost cried! I LOVE how this picture turned out b/c if you look you can see the “new star” up in the sky right above the Roman soldiers head!

Andrew really liked going up into this chariot & said we had to get a picture of him in it! Funny kid!

Then he saw this King David Inn & he had to get a picture of him up on the top floor!

While I was waiting for Jon, Andrew & Jackson to come back down I overheard this man (the Inn keeper) telling these women that some shepherds had come into his inn declaring that they had seen angels & that the Messiah had been born. Then he went on to explain that just seeing shepherds in the city was weird b/c they are usually up in the hills watching over their flocks, but tonight the city was over run by them. He was so awesome at staying in character but at the same time really telling part of the Christmas story.

It was amazing when we entered into the area where the “stable/cave” was b/c all of the sudden everyone went quiet & there was such a feeling of reverence. I was sad that I wasn’t able to get a better picture but I did have a very special moment with Andrew there in this sacred place.

We both knelt down by the big boulder in the middle & talked about baby Jesus & I bore my testimony to him briefly of how much I love my Savior & how much our Savior loves him & that I know Christ was born like this & that because of Him we can return to our Heavenly Father again.

Then I asked him if he felt anything. He said, “Yes, I feel good!” Then I said, “Do you think that could be the Spirit you are feeling?” He said, “Yes, of course mom.”

It was such a simple testimony & simple moment in time but I don’t think I will ever forget that feeling of peace & love I felt kneeling there in front of that baby & with the ones I love!

Then as we were walking out of Bethlehem they had these signs about Christ’s life with scriptures. This one touched both Jon & I! That crown of thorns really is very hard to see especially after you have just witnessed that sweet baby & realize what He will have to face in His life. But it was also sweet realizing that because He is willing to go through those things we are able to live with our LOVED ones again & return to our Heavenly Father again!

The boys fell asleep on the way home but when we got home they woke up ready to play. Jackson wouldn’t be smiling so big if he knew he was headed to bed right after this picture was taken.

Earlier when we were running our errands I asked Jon for an early Christmas present…a Little People Nativity. I have wanted a Nativity the kids could play with for years but just never got one so this year I decided to get one. Merry Christmas to me!!!