Bethlehem Walk

The kids and Brian went to one of our favorite holiday events last year. I think everyone should try to go if they can, it is totally geared for kids. Last year I only gave people about 2 hrs notice, so I promised I'd do better... Parkwood Baptist Church hosts A Walk Through Bethlehem. They decorate the entire basement floor of their church, walls, ceilings, lighting, everything to make it look like you walked back in time to Bethlehem. Everyone is in full, seriously great costume...women at the well chat with you about the arrival of the baby king, roman soldiers sign you in at the city gates on a scroll, trades people are scattered through the village you pass as you take your walk to find baby Jesus. The characters are all sitting on stumps or short stools so they are eye level to your kids and give them little things that they "make" in their trade (swatch of cloth from the weaver, piece of twine from the rope maker, leather bracelet, little cup of soup, etc, etc. They are amazing with the kids. Then you go outside in the courtyard to see baby jesus (a real baby and parents) and they have real donkeys, sheep and goat you can pet before you head back inside for cookies and juice. The kids both had a great time. Last year, Ben thought we were really going to meet Jesus. This year he understood that it was a baby pretending to be Jesus. He still enjoyed the experience. It makes it so much more real to them to have an interactive experience.