Monday, December 29, 2014

The Christmas Pageant!

Christmas Pageant 2014  


 

Christmas Pageant “Nativity Scene

In the midst of getting my Shop’s ready for Christmas, filling Custom Orders, etc., my main goal during the Christmas Holiday, is the preparation of our annual Christmas Pageant in our Parish Church. This year marks my 25th year of organizing the Pageant, which started when my boys were very young.  In the beginning we would average about 15 children participating in the Pageant.

           Baby Jesus
Angels

Since that time, we have now grown to 70 children.  This year we had 27 little Angels, as well as our group of Little Shepherds. The planning of our Pageant begins in early November and by the beginning of December, our little Committee of 3, my daughter, Kelly Baker-Wolfe, Jan DeLeo, and myself, start assigning the parts.  The children range in age from 3 to 12.  I should add that the youngest was 5 mo, playing the part of Baby Jesus (we always have a real baby!).  The older children are given the main parts of Mary, Joseph, the Angel Gabriel, Wisemen, led by the Star Angels guiding their way while carrying the “Star” they follow. Something our little Angels and Shepherds look forward to as they progress from year to year.  Once the parts have been assigned, without hurt feelings, and the comments from a few of the parents, who want their child to have one of the “main” parts, the Practices begin!

Shepherds

The past few years, I have turned the Directing over to my daughter Kelly, while I concentrate on getting all the costumes ready for the children, making a few alterations here and there. This year with so many little Angels, I had to quickly order new Angels Costumes for our “main Angels”.   It is amazing to see how well Kelly works with the children - by the end of the first practice, all the children know exactly what to do, where to stand, and all their cues. 

Wisemen
Star Angels









                                                 

The success of the Pageant is well noted as the Narrators (children grades 5-7) begin to tell the story of the Nativity, and you look at the smiles on the faces of each parent. Although our little angels, who range in age from age 4 - 7, completely steal the show; along with our little shepherds of the same age group, the other children are so professional, as they kneel so reverently portraying, Mary and Jesus from the time they are approached by the Angel Gabriel, to the birth of Jesus, and the arrival of the Wisemen.  Our youngest participant this year was just 5 mos. old, playing the "Infant Jesus”, love the little Bonnet on the Baby with the pacifier in her mouth.

Although our little angels, who I said were only 3 and 4 years old, completely steal the show; the other children are so professional, while they kneel so reverently as they portray, Mary and Joseph, from the time they are approached by the Angel Gabriel, to the birth of Jesus, and the arrival of The Three Wisemen.

The final scene begins with the Children’s Choir singing “The Little Drummer Boy” (this year we had 2 Drummer girls, and one little Drummer Boy all just 4 yrs. of age.  They walk so very slowly down the center aisle playing their drums while the choir sings.  The Little Drummer with the hat is my grandson, Zachary. The most adorable thing is not only watching them, but watching the little Angels singing their hearts out - pa rum pum pum pum, I could continue talking about the beauty of the children in the Pageant, but the pictures tell it all.



Group Shot  of the Pageant Children

A lot of the credit goes not just to the Director, but to the small group of parents, as well as a few students, two of whom, Olivia and Alyssa, who both portrayed Mary a few years ago; who dedicate their time each year helping with the Pageant.  They each automatically assume the various jobs that they have taken over each year; assembling the little Angels, Shepherds, and Wisemen, as well as the Drummer Boy’s and Girl. It is this team work that makes this so successful.

I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures, visualizing each child in their part; as much as I enjoy working with these little ones, while already thinking ahead of next year’s Pageant!

Zachary - Little Shepherd - Age 3
Although I am the Coordinator, I am also a proud “Grandma” who has watched little Zachary start at age 2 mos., as “Baby Jesus, only to graduate to a Shepherd at age 2 -3 then the “Little Drummer Boy”!
Zachary.Drummer Boy- age 4

Zachary.Baby Jesus 2 mo
                  










Wednesday, October 22, 2014

MagdaleneJewels/Knits "Giving Thanks" Promotional Blog: Oct 23 - Nov 5, 2014



"I'm thankful for every moment"

In honor of "Thanksgiving", welcome to the "Giving Thanks" Promotional Blog which invites Members & Friends to Link (Showcase) (5) Items from their Shop(s) which will be promoted through this Blog on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, & Google. Each item will be promoted continuously though out the 2 weeks this Link is posted! This Link will begin Thursday, October 23 @ 12:00 pm and will expire on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 @ 12:00 pm.

Click on the (Add Link) and follow the various prompts! I will renew this Link bi-weekly! So feel free to add your links;
♥♥♥Please remember to take a moment to view the many items items listed and give them a heart or tweet♥♥♥ If any of your posted items are sold, please feel free to add a new link to the Blog.**




Wednesday, October 1, 2014

MagdaleneJewels/Knits "Sleepy Hollow" Promotional Blog: Oct 2 - Oct 15, 2014




The Original "Old Dutch Church" from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow


 

Welcome to the "Sleepy Hollow" Promotional Blog which invites Members & Friends to Link (Showcase) (5) items from their
Shop(s) which will promoted through this Blog on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, & Google.  Each item will be promoted continuously though out the 2 weeks this Link is posted.  The Link will begin on Thursday, Oct 2 @12:00 pm, and will expire on Wednesday, Oct 15 @ 12:00 pm.
 
Click on the (Add Link) and follow the various prompts! I will renew this Link bi-weekly! So feel free to add your links; ♥♥♥and take a moment now and then to view the many items items listed and give them a heart♥♥♥ If any of your posted items are sold, please feel free to add a new link to the Blog.**

 

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

MagdaleneJewels/MagdaleneKnits "When Summer Ends" Promotional Blog: Sept 18 - Oct 1, 2014

"Wake Me Up When September Ends"
"Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends"..."GreenDay"







My "...When September Ends" Promotional Blog invites
Members & Friends to Link (Showcase) (5) Items from
 their Shop(s) which will be promoted through this Blog on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, & Google. Each item will be promoted continuously though out the 2 weeks this Link is posted! This
Link will begin Thursday, September 18 @ 12:00 pm and will expire on Wednesday, October 1 @ 12:00 pm.


Click on the (Add Link) and follow the various prompts! I

will renew this Link bi-weekly! So feel free to add your links; ♥♥♥and take a moment now and then to view the many
items items listed and give them a heart♥♥♥ If any of your posted item(s) is sold, please feel free to add a new link to the Blog.**





Thursday, September 11, 2014

Remembering September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001
Let Us Not Forget
 
 

 
 
 
 
Remembering Sept 11, 2001.  Thought and Prayers go out to those who lost so much.  The memories are as vivid today as it was that day watching the smoke rising through the sky, with the whole City shutting down.
 
 At 8:45 am as I was just getting into work I heard on the Radio that a report of a plane flying into the World Trade Center - Building 1.  Being not to far from JFK Airport - we all thought it was a plane about to land, but off course.  We immediately put on the television, watching the flames coming out of Building 1; at 9:02 am, we suddenly saw another plane flying just past the Towers and quickly turn and headed directly into Building #2 of the World Trade Center.  I remember that we just all stood in shock realizing this was more than a plane off course, soon to cause each building turn into a rubble of melted steel,  with bodies lying among the ash.  This was a direct hit intended to destroy the Financial Buildings of not only NY, but a statement to the World.  
 
Suddenly the word "Terrorists" became a word that was to become a part of our everyday vernacular. Currently working in the Financial Trade Business at that time, we were quite effected as so many from the Stock Market were in those Building.  Unfortunately, we new many lost that day.  Each year as they read the over 3,000+ names of those lost, it still gives me such a sense of loss.  In fact, they just read the name of a friend's husband, whose remains have still not been found.
 
Everything in NY shut down - all offices, school, local business closed down. After spending time with my children who were so confused as to what just took place and what it would mean to their lives and future.  I went with a friend to the harbor, sitting on top of the rocks (one of my favorite places) we sat frozen in time as we watched the smoke rising through the skies from Manhattan.  It is another memory that will always stay with me, as we just sat in silence; for no words could comprehend what we were witnessing. 
 
So I ask that today be a day of reflection not just of September 11, 2011 and the many lives lost; but a reflection of how our World as knew it then, has changed into the World of so many lives lost since then fighting for our Freedom.