Saturday, December 10, 2016

Celebrating What Counts




  Celebrating with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  and linking with others who share their celebrations, too. I am grateful to Ruth for helping us celebrate together!  

          Sometimes Christmas is sad for me, missing my husband and all the good memories we had together.  Decorating the tree finds me filled with thoughts of the past. Nevertheless, I do find things to celebrate among all this, too. A few years ago I went through our many decorations and gave a box full of ornaments that were saved for my children, from their childhood.  There are still so many that now I only put on the favorites because I have a much smaller tree. The favorites year to year change, and that's fun, too.


         In our budget, we managed to purchase a few paper ornaments and create others. But one that has been at the top of our tree since the beginning was an angel. I don't remember what it cost then, but it seemed like a lot on a tight budget. This time I celebrate that in the early years when we didn't have much money and were just beginning our Christmas traditions, we found ways to decorate the tree for little money. I celebrate that even then we knew that money doesn't buy happiness. We loved our years decorating no matter what we had. Being together, and later with the kids and family were what made us rich indeed. 

     A few ornaments, a few memories.

created from a milkweed pod and a sliver of wood

one of those paper ornaments

a gift from one of my first "first grade" students

a knitted bell, jingle bell inside

         I imagine ornaments are part of your memories, too, and if you celebrate other religious holidays, those objects from the past are full of memories too. Happy Holidays to all!


18 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your Christmas memories and ornaments. I love the milkweed pod - how creative! We many special ornaments too. But you are so right in that being together is what makes us rich!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Leigh Anne. I have so many ornaments, but it's really fun to make them, too. Maybe I need to make and give away?

      Delete
  2. Love seeing these special ornaments, especially the angel. We have an angel on the top of our tree too. I'm decorating my tree today. Every ornament brings back happy memories, especially the ornaments that I have from my parents. Sara took her ornaments home last year, so it was great fun to visit them on her tree. I used to buy an ornament a year for my kids.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I give ornaments every year now, too. I don't have any from my parents. My mother loved to change things every year, so none were passed down. It is fun to remember where and from whom some of mine come from. Thanks, Ramona, you're going to have an exciting Christmas this year!

      Delete
  3. I think I might steal this idea for SOL this week. I have ornaments new and old that mean something to me. Great idea to write about them. I am sorry you feel sad. You always find a way to find joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd love to see what you share! It's okay about the sad. Some things are just harder than others. Arvie and I had many wonderful years and times together, so I pull from that and it helps. Thanks, Margaret.

      Delete
  4. I love pulling out ornaments and thinking about what each represents! I especially love the ones with my kids' faces on them. It's nice that you were able to pass along some ornaments to your kids. I'm sure that was special for them...and it sounds like you have many wonderful memories to hold on to. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jen, it was fun to pass those special ornaments on.

      Delete
  5. Memories are so sweet, especially when they are Christmas ones. When I open the Christmas tree accessories' box, I always linger over the ornaments and the memories they bring back. Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. This line will stick with me, Linda. "Being together, and later with the kids and family were what made us rich indeed." Here's to memories that fill our hearts with golden thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you know I agree, Carol. All the years of memories make each year one to celebrate again. Thank you!

      Delete
    2. Let's make memories this year, Linda.

      Delete
  6. I love your Angel. What lovely memories. I'm starting to see the faces of my growing children when we talk about memories as we hang up the ornaments. It is going so fast, but I'm loving every minute of it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you do, Kendra. Those times are good ones to keep! Thanks!

      Delete
  7. I put the tree up over the weekend, but couldn't find the hooks, so I will hang the ornaments tonight. Like you, I love unwrapping the special memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carol. Oh, those hooks. There must be a good way to remember where we put them! I bought some more. Somewhere there's a little box. . .

      Delete
  8. Your memories and ornaments are so sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  9. While I don't have ornaments, things do have so many memories which is probably why I have such a hard time letting go of things. Merry Christmas, Linda! I hope you make more merry memories!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting!