Some years I can't get the Christmas tree down soon enough. It's usually a dreaded chore... or a relief to get rid of the clutter.
This year is a little harder for me to want to take it down.
Maybe it's because of the newly added ornaments that came from Mom's family Christmas tree.
Ornament on the left I made for her, on the right was one she made herself in 1982. And notice the body-less snowman head -- our oldest ornament, circa 1967.The Precious Moments grandpa and grandma came from her tree.
Maybe I don't like putting away the Hawaiian ornaments that remind us of Greg and Misty's time in Laie. It makes their return to Georgia more final.
Putting up the tree was especially fun this year as we anticipated the their visit. The decorated tree became a symbol that they were coming.
I regret that I didn't get much one on one time with many of the 14 grandchildren in the Christmas tree room.
It's a favorite place of reminiscing.
There will be no more renditions of The Star Spangled Banner from the ornament David sent from his LDS mission in New York City each time we turn on the tree lights or one of the kids pushes the hidden button
I'll miss my beautiful hand-made sequin ornaments I brought back from mainland China in 1986.And I'll definitely miss the 23 year old apple doll faces made by Misty and Mindy in the first grade.
Another favorite is the eagle, globe and anchor and U.S. Marines' ornament we bought when we went to Christian's graduation from boot camp in San Diego.Decorating my Christmas tree is like a journey through 42 years of my life. Ornaments crafted, sewn, bought by friends and family, souvenirs from travels, and purchased for children over the years remind me of faces, places, and the magic of Christmas's past.
