Christmas is the time of
year I cherish. As I sit here by my
fireplace and look at the beautiful Christmas tree my family and I decorated, I
feel so blessed to have this amazing life. The holiday season is a time for
appreciation, gratitude, giving, and celebrating life.
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| Our Tree |
My family has a tradition
of giving ornaments as gifts. My mother
gave me an ornament every year and I now give my boys a special ornament each
year. My plan is that they will
eventually have a box of ornaments that carry special memories of their
childhood, just like I have. I give this
gift (an ornament) on the night before Christmas. I have each of my little boys
sit down with their hands out and eyes closed.
I gently place the specially wrapped box in their hands and watch them
open their gift. I then explain why the
ornament is significant and why I want them to have it. Even though this gift is the most
insignificant gift they receive each year as far as monetary value, my heart
explodes with love when I watch their little faces light up as they unwrap
their newest addition to their collection.
It is at this moment every year that I remember that it is the simple
gifts in life that are the most precious.
One of the things I
started doing a few years ago is labeling my Christmas ornaments. I create a
small label that I can hide on the inside or bottom of the ornament. I label who gave it to me and the year. One of my favorite pass times during the
holiday season is to pour a glass of wine and look at all my beautiful
ornaments while reminiscing about all the wonderful memories I have been
blessed to have.
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| This is an ornament that my Aunt made for my husband and I. We were pregnant with our first child Hunter in this photo. The ornament in the background is a photo of my sister and I as little girls. My mom gave me this ornament in 1983. These are the types of ornaments that makes me smile. |