Hannah
Long before my days of professional graphic design, I could be found dreaming up my next painting and trying my hand at lettering. I’m inspired by beautiful typography and passionate about design that adds joy and efficiency to life. After years of creating planners, I found myself yearning for a new creative venture.
When I think back to my childhood Christmas memories, many of those memories center around my parents. Their joyful, grand celebration that was part of their family’s heritage for generations, the Christmas they surprised us with a puppy, the Christmas when they put a trampoline together for us on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night in freezing weather, my mom’s Jelly Cookies, and most importantly, the way they centered all of our celebration around Jesus.
I remember doing The Manger Mission with my younger sister Tori. We would choose places to put the Wise Men—some of them so funny to us at the time!—and we couldn’t wait until our dad got home from work so we could show him where we put them. At the time we just thought we were having fun, but looking back on it now, I can see the intentionality in that tradition as we were focused on moving closer to Jesus each day as we decided where to place the Wise Men.
For me, home means catching a football game with family or sipping coffee on the porch with my Goldendoodle. But I feel most comfortable, happiest, at peace (you name it!) when I’m creating, and my heart is full when I think of being able to share this special, meaningful tradition from my home to yours. Thank you for joining us on this dream journey!
Kristin
I have been an English teacher for 17 years, and when Hannah was a Junior in High School, she was a student in my British Literature class. She also spent many of her study halls doing her homework in my classroom. After graduation, Hannah and I stayed in touch and regularly met to catch up. Over the years, Hannah has become a treasured friend, and our friendship has now become a partnership as well.
About 12 years after I taught Hannah, she and her mom asked if we could meet to talk about an idea. They told me the story about their family’s tradition, and they invited me to pray about writing a children’s book so this tradition could be shared with other families. For five years prior to that meeting, I had felt a strong desire to write a children’s book. As they unfolded their family’s story and their desire to share it with others, I knew this was it—the vision I had been waiting for.
The Manger Mission has now become one of my family’s treasured Christmas traditions, and I can’t wait to see where my girls (now 2 and 7 years old) will put the Wise Men this Christmas season. I am thankful for the opportunity to share their special tradition with other families!