What a great story! It is a beautiful set, she did a great job painting them. You have a real treasure!

This is easy. Buy a few books for her classroom for Christmas. If not that, as someone else suggested, tissues/lysol/wipes for the classroom. No way am I giving cash for a present to the teacher. But donations to the classroom are typically very appreciated. Usually, I would buy the books during the school book sale which benefits the school and then the classroom, all with one purchase.

This is perfect. It just feels very right. This will be my WOTY. For POTY I found a post in last year's thread about "Let It Be" (the Beatles song). I can't remember the poster that talked about it, but think it was @BlsdMama maybe? Anyway, she had a link to the article, and it was powerful and spoke to me. It is also a song that I have always loved. Thank you! Edit: I went back and looked, it was @Pawz4me who had the link to an article about "Let It Be". So thank you officially to Pawz4me for the article and the idea.

You are so inspirational. I am in awe of you.

I looked back at the thread from last year and it looks like I didn't pick a word for this year. This year (and last year) have been hard and painful. Years of losses and struggles on multiple fronts. I have never felt more alone and lost than I do now. Does anyone have a suggestion for both a word and a phrase for this next year that may help me in every way (yeah, that's a lot to ask for a word and a phrase, I know)?

This has been my year too. Actually, the last 3 years have been this way. But last year and this year have been absolutely brutal. I hope 2024 is better for both of us.

That makes two of us.

Absolutely! I will never give it up either. It looks cleaner, nicer, and more readable. Obviously, I feel the same way about the Oxford Comma.

That window is beautiful and I agree you need to take advantage of it. They make lower "benches" with cushions on them. You might find one that would fit just under the window and hopefully the length of it too. It would provide options for seating but also to lay on and read a book or to put a game on and kids sit on floor to play it if they want to. Another option is a short bookcase that would fit under it and possibly several together to go the length of the window. For books, games, puzzles, etc.

Congratulations! This would fill my bucket as well. I am happy for you.

This is what I would love too. If you find a way to hibernate till Easter, please let me know.

That is exactly what I am looking for! Thank you so much.

Those are incredibly cool! They are painted beautifully and so different. Love them! I bet your grandchildren love playing with them.

What a lovely and generous gift from your MIL. I would love to have Willow Tree but just can't justify the cost of it. I wish the Holy Family came alone (but not in the connected statue form they do come in....I don't like that one at all) because just having them would be enough for me. Willow Tree is truly something special.

Growing up my grandparents would get all the grandchildren matching pajamas. But the adults never had them.

New jobs are hard. You are grieving. You are homeschooling. You inherited a dumpster fire from the person who had the job before you. Being tired seems to be expected. Congratulations on this job!

You are right! I posted way too early in my excitement to see pretty nativity sets. I love yours! Thank you for posting it.

She wanted to be a SAHM and wasn't able to? She wishes she had a supportive loving husband like yours and is jealous? She isn't fond of women? She has a crush on your husband? She is bat-shit crazy?

I have had plenty of therapy in my life, including for PTSD. She is way out of line and very inappropriate. She is a threat and he needs to run far away and do so immediately. I'm glad he recognizes that this is odd and is being proactive in getting a new therapist. It stinks he has to go through finding a new therapist, but it is definitely for the best.

Hugs and prayers. I'm glad it is over and I pray it was successful and his last surgery for a very long time (preferably forever!).

Gosh, you guys have such nice nativity sets. I really like them all. Thank you very much sharing them with me. I hope more will post their pictures (or links) and stories.

I am tempted to get a Peanuts set too!

I like it!!

I love this one!

I really like all of these. I hadn't thought about getting a Peanuts set, but you have tempted me!