photos via IMDb

Naturally, I had to create a few pieces of my own inspired by this amazing film!

illustrations by Brittney Guest

Remember, y'all, "A bit of madness is key to give us color to see. Who knows where it will lead us? And that's why they need us. So bring on the rebels, the ripples from pebbles, the painters, and poets, and plays...here's to the fools who dream!"

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told."

-Luke 2:1-20

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."
-John 3:16-17

Who loves presents? I love picking out the perfect presents for everyone on my list and seeing the looks on their faces as they open the gifts I carefully selected and lovingly wrapped just for them. When it comes to gift giving, how you present your present can be part of the gift itself. You know those presents that make you say, "Oh, this is too pretty to open!" and then you proceed to rip into it anyway? Yeah, I'm all about those kind of presents! I'm going to show you how to wrap a perfect present they won't want to unwrap, but they'll be glad they did! After all, it's what's on the inside that counts!

Happy gifting!