“Hey, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Joel, our music minister stopped me just outside the church office. “You’ve written skits before, haven’t you?”

“Years ago for the youth department.”

“Well, we’re planning the Christmas play and could use your help. Would you mind giving us a hand?”

And that’s how Sixty Acres and a Bride came to be.

What? I hear you gasp. The Historical Romance that releases next month from Bethany House started as a Christmas play? But it’s set in the summer, in Texas. What does that have to do with Christmas?

First off, you’re a well-informed reader if you know that it’s set in the summer. You must’ve used the “Look Inside” feature on Amazon. Secondly, if you have the time, I’d love to explain.

“The theme is Redeemer,” Joel said at our first meeting. “We have the music selected, but we don’t have any narration or drama to tie it together. We’d like to have 4 or 5 skits that demonstrate redemption.”

I should’ve asked how much time was allotted for drama. I should’ve asked how many people we had trying out for parts, but I’d already jumped past such practical considerations to the creative. We could do an adoption skit, definitely. Maybe we could pull off a sketch about a soldier who volunteers for a dangerous mission to save his buddy. And of course, we have to have Ruth and Boaz – Mr. Kinsman Redeemer himself.

Joel gave me a CD of the music and I got to work.

Some features were nonnegotiable. There would be a children’s choir, a nativity scene, awkward Christmas carol remixes – the basics for a church Christmas play. Beyond that we had a lot of leeway. Animal appearances were approved. Choreography was expected. We even had a snow machine. This could be fun.

But as I worked on ideas to present to the committee, one thing bothered me – those cheesy Bethlehem costumes. While we were still young, my husband and I played the Joseph and Mary roles, and Mary had the worst costume on the stage. I had to wear a paper-thin, pastel sack that was gathered by a rope. Ugh. The townspeople didn’t fare much better. Having the ugly Bethlehem costumes in the nativity scene was one thing, but couldn’t Ruth and Boaz jazz it up a bit? Did we need two skits with the same boring costumes?

Next week – What part did this man play and why did I marry him 18 years ago?

The Best Ruth & Boaz Cowboy Christmas Play Ever! – Part 2