Caroline decorating the tree with Jeff this year
She Photographs on Tuesday

Challenge: Favorite Christmas Ornament

At the beginning of the month we decorated our Christmas tree. We bought a fake tree last year for like 80% off and while I was hesitant to make the jump into not having a real tree, when it took us seriously 5 minutes to set it up with the lights, I am sold!

But my husband does a great job or making decorating the tree so much fun. I am a perfectionist so times like this can be punishing for me. I want them all in the right spot. He keeps me under control and lets the kids pull out the ornaments , talk about each one and put them on the tree. the night we decorated the tree this year.

Each ornament brings such awesome memories back to life. Our best wedding gift was a box of ornaments. She gave two of each kind to represent the two of us joining our lives. They are some of my favorite ornaments.

2002 - in New Mexico

But the ones from my childhood really bring out the awesome feelings in me. A few years back my mom put out all the Christmas ornaments that she wanted to get rid of. All 6 of us kids were invited to sit down and starting with the oldest pick an ornament until they were all gone. The catch was there was NO TALKING allowed. I have video of it somewhere, but can not find it! It is the funniest thing you have ever seen. It was as if all of us learned some new form of sign language. We all were laughing so HARD!! In the silent exchange these next two ornaments were two of some that I left with.

This was one my mom made and is now probably 30 years old.
I just love it!
if my siblings read this no take backs...
this dough ornament is one from a series that my mom and dad would buy at a craft fair every year. My sister and I did an great job and dividing these up, we both feel very tender about these ornaments and I was thrilled that each or favorites were not the others. Every year these are the last ones we pull out and my girls always say, "These are the ones we are not allowed to touch right?" and I say Right!

Then the last item I must make mention to is one I keep with my Christmas items, even though it could sit out all year long. I love bringing it out of the box and remembering one of the best Christmas's of my life! Even better than the Christmas I got the Holly Hobbie Record player. It was given to me by my friend Stacy.
It is to remember the Christmas her daughter was born.

She and her husband got the phone call of their lives to jump in their car a few weeks before Christmas and drive a state away to come meet their daughter. They may have had a few days, but I remember it as just being one. They packed up and took off with only an undecorated Christmas tree left in their home. The few days they were gone me and a few friends did the Christmas Home Makeover of a lifetime. Everyone woman at church had an assignment, from filling the fridge with groceries, to bring over ornaments, a bassinet, buy curtains for the baby room, diapers, wipes etc - you name it! That house was buzzing the whole time they were gone. What is such an amazing part of the story is their daughter was patiently waiting for them just hours old in the arms of my friend Mindy. My circle of friends had truly become a circle.
The night they came home the house was seriously lite up like a Christmas tree. We had candles burning in every room, the tree covered in Pink with photo ornaments of their new daughter, pink food all over the house and Christmas music playing. We hid out on their back lawn watching them walk in from the window. I just remember seeing them hold her in that room and crying. I will never forget it.
in my looking for my other video i found one of some of the photos from that great Christmas.




Lelly, you have done it again, your challenge has brought out some wonderful memories. Thank you!