This Christmas story doesn't really advance the story lines in the Mitford books much, but is instead a quiet side trip for the holidays. I love the characters in this series and their quirky adventures, and this book showcases the quiet way they love and serve each other and make Christmas a special time. Father Tim finds an antique Nativity set and decides to restore it as a surprise for Cynthia. The book recounts his journey as he learns to do the restoration work and then learns the joy of creativity and working with his hands. A nice time-out in the Christmas season to remember the reason for the holiday.