Sentimental Christmas

I am very much delighted that the Winter Season has shown up! Not only does the weather have me thinking about Christmas but all of the lights and decor that is out and about. I got our home in the swing of things over the past week; the tree is up and the decorations are set out, and the light are on the condo. This year I really want to enjoy Christmas for as long as possible. With all the cheer and festivity in the air is a reminder of how this season is a season of giving and love. And that  it is not about who has the best looking tree or get the most gifts but the gift of a baby boy who changed the world forever.

Last week while driving I heard Amy Grant's Emmanuel on the radio, this brought back a flood of wonderful memories. My mom use to crank up her CD actually it was probably a tape while we would get all of our ornaments out to hang on the tree. The tree trimming was always as special time in many ways, not only was is quality time with the family but we had some very simple traditions that always stuck. At time I must admit that I wished that we had that classic "Martha Stewart" looking tree but when I recall not only the traditions that have been established and what this time of year means I would not let one "perfect" tree replace all the years of our family tree. We each got hang our ornaments on the tree and we would rotate one at a time from oldest to youngest. As the year passed and the amount of ornaments grew I found that each ornament held a memory or story in my heart  As I hung the ornaments on my own tree I realized how many I have now after 28 years and not one of them did I buy myself. All of the ornaments that I have are were given as gifts. What a special gift of love ornaments are.

Looking at my own tree now it is a storybook of  laughs as well. I say laughs because amidst all the cheer that I mentioned there was also some arguments over who's was who's growing up. Sometimes it would get rather intense and so my Mom began to label the box with a first initial. I will never forget this one ornament that now probably bears stronghold in my heart because of all the torment it took to get it. It is a little Eskimo sitting on a block of clear plastic made to look like ice and he has a present hanging off his fishing pole. Well, every year without fail my older sister Janelle would say, "the Eskimo is mine!" and take it from my pile to hers and exchange for her penguin with snow shoes. I don't hold on to this story with any grudge but as a laughable memory. Believe me on day my her kids will hear it too! I actually looked the ornament up on line and come to find out this little Eskimo is worth some $$. Come to find out it is a part of a special series that Hallmark did in the 80's. I guess my sister was on to something beyond her years.

The prized Eskimo Ornament 

Another tradition that always done was the placement of the last ornament on the tree. This was something that my parents would do. They would kiss, and then place their "First Christmas" ornament on the tree together. As a young children you can probably guess that our reactions was "eeewww gross!" but now as an adult I see the sentiment behind it. Most leave the star or angel for the last touch before lighting up the tree, but this special tradition is something that I have carried into my own little family now.

After taking a look at our tree I know that I would never find its way in to Better Home and Gardens magazine, and I am 100% content. As of last year we started using an artificial tree which many will argue takes away not only the smell of a real tree but some charm. And I must also admit that when we have a large front room or kids we will definitely make the switch back to the real deal. However for now, this is not only a cost effective easy route to go it is another reason that I find double comfort and love in celebrating Jesus this season and not just the tree and what is under it.