What's Up!

December 15, 2019

What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!

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PURCHASE IN STORE OR ONLINE. To find a location nearest your visit: LaVidaMassage.com | Open 7 Days a Week. Extended Hours. Licensed Therapists. Walk-ins Welcome. Franchise opportunities available. Call 248.360.6157. Bentonville 479.876.8004 Fayetteville 479.521.3232 $25 expires march 31, 2020 bonus card happy AHH...lidays Receive a $25 bonus card when you purchase $100 in gift cards give the gift of relaxation happy AHH...lidays Ben_Fay_Holiday_2019_fll_2ad.indd 1 10/25/2019 10:18:19 AM give the gift of relaxation happy AHH...lidays PURCHASE IN STORE OR ONLINE . LaVidaMassage.com | Open 7 Days a Week. Extended Hours. Licensed Therapists. Walk-ins Welcome. Franchise opportunities available. Call 248.360.6157. Bentonville 479.876.8004 Fayetteville 479.521.3232 Please vote for us Dec. 2-19 Go to http://votebestnwa.com/lavida Receive a $25 bonus card when you purchase $100 in gift cards Offer valid until 12/31/19 DECEMBER 15-21, 2019 WHAT'S UP! 7 BELLA VISTA One Bethlehem Night Nativities look at Christmas 600 ways BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette W e always say that our favorite is the last one purchased," jokes Pat Kirby. It would almost have to be true — because who can keep track of 600 nativities? Kirby and her husband, Mark, started collecting the representations of Jesus' first night on Earth when they were newlyweds 40 years ago in Manilla, Iowa. Pat's mother made a ceramic set for them, and the rest is history. "When we travel, we make an effort to check out local gift shops, especially near the Christmas season," Pat says of finding new additions. "But flea markets and antique shops sometimes give us the best finds. We also love to shop at Fair Trade/ TenThousand Villages. These are global maker-to-market stores that break the cycle of generational poverty and ignite social change. As a pioneer of giving the people a fair trade for their product, they do business differently, putting people and planet first. "Many have been gifts through the years," Kirby adds. "One piece which holds a special place in our hearts is the set carved from thorn wood. When we did our display/open house back in Iowa, a couple presented it to us. Their son was a missionary to Tanzania, and they had seen the display the year before and wanted us to have this set. The pieces are less than 2 inches tall, [and] the kings are bringing yams to the Baby Jesus. You will find in the nativities from other countries, the gifts given by the Wise Men are native to what the people know and use. But a couple of the most talked about pieces are the bears and rubber duckies!" The Kirbys moved to Bella Vista and began attending Forest Hills Church in 2014. A tradition of a one-day open house showcasing members' nativities already existed, but with so many new displays, the event has grown to three weekends this year. "About 600 are ours," Pat Kirby says. "The rest belong to Monica and Larry Milam. They were both employed by the government and lived in the Panama Canal area. They traveled extensively to many of the Central and South American countries, depicted in some of their nativities. At last count we had a total of 683 nativities on display." And Pat's favorite? "Mark has a favorite," she says. "I can never pinpoint just one. Each one has a special meaning — from where it came, the story behind it, the medium used. I can walk around the display tables and think, 'OK, that's my favorite,' but go to another one and say, 'No, that one is.' We also enjoy seeing and hearing the viewer's reaction. So many share favorite memories of their nativity sets growing up." FAQ One Bethlehem Night WHEN — 2-4 p.m. Dec. 15 and again Dec. 21-22 WHERE — Forest Hills Church, 1702 Forest Hills Blvd. in Bella Vista COST — Free; coffee, hot chocolate and cookies are also offered at no cost INFO — 855-3555, foresthills church.info Courtesy Photos Lifelong collectors bring together more than 600 nativities for "One Bethlehem Night," which continues this weekend and next at Forest Hills Church in Bella Vista.

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