Our Christmas decorating is decidedly homespun – no competition for the best dressed home here. The tree doesn’t have a theme and isn’t color coordinated. My daughter and I pulled out the same old boxes of decorations again this year. Many are showing signs of age and some aren’t fit to be hung anymore. I should throw them out...but I probably won’t. Just seeing them takes me on a stroll down memory lane.
There are leftovers from the days when I made a different ornament each year as gifts...
Those made by special friends...
The ones my kids and I made together...
Slovak folk art...
More Slovak memories...
My son’s first gift purchased on his own for me...
And nativity scenes to focus our attention on the One the celebration is all about.
Decorating the Christmas tree was a big deal when I was a child. A joyful ritual accompanied by our favorite Christmas music, my Dad in the thick of it and in his glory. A depression child, he was determined to make sure Christmas was magical for his children. He did it well and the memories are sweet. Sure, we got wonderful gifts, but they’re far overshadowed by wonderful memories of family, fun and the love that filled our home.
I'm now blessed to share Christmas traditions with my own children. I’m hoping to create memories filled with riches that money can’t buy.
10 comments:
I really like handmade ornaments and yours are so nice. They hold so much meaning and are made with love. I really like the one your friend made of the bell from wire. The one you and your kids made is so precious.
I like the Slovak corn husk dollies. Such character in each little face.
Love your beautiful Christmas tree. Those hand-made decorations are more meaningful and hold everlasting memories than bought ones! Merry Christmas!
I'm definitely a homespun fan! We've been pulling out the same Christmas trees and the same ornaments for nearly 30 years now ... it's always a fantastic trip down memory lane!
Love your tree and the ornaments are terrific! Gotta really love the decoration that was your son's first ever gift! Priceless and precious.
And memories is truly what Christmas is all about. Love your tree!
Very impressive ornaments indeed and beautiful tree. Merry Christmas.
Christmas with children brings it back to when you were a child. Merry Christmas to you. Lovely ornaments, some look like they are from Germany. I see you are in south central PA... I went to college in your area. Where are you?
Thank you all for your kind comments! I'm glad that you enjoyed seeing our ornaments, and wish you all a joyous Christmas!
In answer to Janet's questions: All of the bought orrnaments are from Slovakia except two. My son's gift was bought in Vienna and the little wooden manger scene below that was bought in Oberammergau, Germany. We live in the Harrisburg area.
Chris, I was at Shippensburg....a million years ago.
Oberammergau is beautiful, we lived in Germany for seven years, love the ornaments.
My husband and I still have a few homemade ornaments from our first Christmas together, 35 years ago. We were too poor to buy ornaments, so we had a party and friends came over and helped us make some. Then there are those made by my children through the years and those we received as gifts. My tree is much like yours. I admire the theme trees and the contemporary beauties, but I love our tree filled with meaning and memories.
Merry Christmas to you, and may you receive God's richest blessings in the new year.
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