Away in a Manger

Of all the new things that came to the Burdett household this Christmas, I think my favorite is the Fischer Price Little People Nativity set, complete with stable, the Angel of the Lord, Joseph and Mary and the donkey that brought them to Bethlehem, the Baby Jesus in the manger, the Three Kings of Orient and their camel, and the cow and sheep whose food trough was used as a makeshift crib:

This little Nativity set is adorable, and gives me much-needed moments of peace and hope. Whenever I (ill-advisedly) hear some news on the radio or go to CNN.com and am blasted with

GUN CONTROL     FISCAL CLIFF     CLIMATE CHANGE     VIOLENCE ERUPTED

I go rearrange the Kings a little, or I have the cow and donkey switch places, and I look at the smiling face of the little Child in the manger, and for a few minutes at least I feel better.