Pageant #30

Springfield's Live Nativity Pageant has just completed it's 30th year of presenting the story of Jesus to Springfield and the surrounding area. It's such a special time for our family and for our church.

I got out my album with all the pictures, flyers, newspaper articles, etc. in it and just reminisced about all the things that have happened over the years.

In 1978, when we started at the fairgrounds with the pageant, Todd was 8 years old, Matt was 6 and Wendy was 3. Gary has been a Wise Man every year and I have always been in the choir. The first year Todd was an angel on top of the stable. Matt took his turn the next year. Then over the years, as more scenes were added, they moved on to other parts, including operating a spotlight and singing in the choir. Wendy was the only little boy Jesus that first year. She moved on, as well, to other parts. Actually she went from being an angel one year to being one of King Herod's harem girls the next year, then to being Mary, the mother of Jesus. In 2002, 24 years later, she sat in the very scene where she was the boy Jesus, only now she is the mother and her son, Lucas, 3 years old, is little Jesus. Bailey, 2 years old, took her turn, as well. When they moved to Texas in August of 2005, the kids were just sure that they would be back for the pageant. Wendy said that Bailey thought of it this year and said "I just love that hot chocolate and you get to pick out your own cookie!"

I think we were all interviewed at one time or another by a newspaper reporter. I found one article that said, "Ten year old Matt Wallace stood under a light post, on break, while the donkey, goats and sheep he tends were on stage..'I was an angel on the manger for two years, then I got too big' he said." This year Matt's 6 year old son, Gavin, was an angel on the manger. He did such a great job.

Todd's son, Jadon, 3 years old, was the little Jesus again this year, (with Heather as Mary) and so proud of it.. One day in the car we were listening to Christmas music and they were singing about the Baby Jesus. Jadon said, "They're singing about me!!"

We made it through the kids' high school years with ball games and school activities without missing too many performances. And in the past few years, it's been such a joy seeing our grandchildren take their turns as the little boy Jesus, or a traveler, or an angel, wherever they are needed. They love it! Doesn't matter how cold it is, they wish they could do it year round.

So many memories...I need to organize this album a little better...A SCRAPBOOK...that's what I need to do.