This 2 day event featured 670 Nativities, the most we've ever had on display, and about 2400 in total attendance.
This year's event really went off without a hitch. Each year our attendance by those not of our faith slowly increases (950!) and it's being viewed as a community event more and more.
The musical numbers were excellent, the spirit was truly felt by those who attended, and we had very few problems with irreverent children.
We added a VIP preview night which was attended by the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem and some family members as well as a county judge. And we had 3 media publications carry publicity about our event, one of them had never done so in the past so that's progress. We'll take the baby steps!
One special experience I want to record is Friday morning is usually a slow time with not many people in the exhibit. This is appreciated by the committee who always seem to have a few extra things they're trying to finish up.
In my heart I'm having a panic and lack of faith that maybe no one will come. It IS the weekend of an away playoff High School Football game, and many people have been before, etc. Well, at 10:00 sharp, BUSSES of people from the Allen Senior Citizen Center arrived and they oohed and ahhhed appropriately at the exhibit. They stayed for HOURS asking details about each scene on display, I overheard them tell their friends that they come EVERY YEAR and others tell me that it was their first time but that their friend drug them along and how grateful they were that we did it.
The Spirit of our Savior was there, in that room, it was palpable! So many of them felt it. The special musical numbers began and we needed to set up more chairs. I stood silently in the corner fighting back the tears and in my heart said a prayer of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for letting me see first hand the fruits of our labors and bringing the true spirit of Christmas into the hearts of so many.
One special exper
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