Tuesday Tell-all: O Christmas Tree

Wow, this is such a fun tell-all! It's being told on Wednesday because as I started taking pictures last night I really needed the light of another day to get decent shots of a few of these ornaments, so here were are posting a day late again. But I love christmas trees, so it's still fun! I started collecting Christmas ornaments years ago when I discovered they made great souveniers from trips we'd been on. The practice quickly expanded to include knick knacks from high school, kids' keepsakes and dozens of other little life markers. It makes putting up the tree extra special because we reminisce a little about each year as we add the ornaments to its branches. Our tree is a kind of history of us. I love to stare at it in the evenings when the room lights are low. For me there's always something else to see and something else to remember. We have a few ornament "sets", but mostly fill the tree with a lot of randomness - it seems to work and I think it's beautiful.




These two ornaments are from my mother's tree and were on the tree I grew up with. Most of those are either long gone or still on my mother's tree, but I love pulling them out every year. My parents' tree has largely remained the same from year to year, and I love how each of her ornaments had a story growing up. My favorites were her 12-days of Christmas - she had an ornament for each of the days - because I remember staring at the tree for hours trying to find each one. Her trees got me excited to have one of my own someday - one where the ornaments would talk and tell the story of our years.



These are ornaments I share with others and represent happy memories and friendship. The Santa I just fell in love with and bought one for me and sent one to my sister, Shelly, for her tree. I love the long silly legs!

The soldiers are from college - my roommmates and I purchased a set and painted them for our tree one year. These obviously are mine, but I hope the others from that set are out there floating around somewhere.






These ornaments were gifts from people I love. The first came from my stake relief society president when I was serving as a newly-called ward president. She'd brought them from israel and used them to remind us to let our lights always shine. I think it's an especially appropriate ornament this time of year.

The glass ball was from Kylie, our little friend and neighbor from O'Fallon. She made it at school for a project, and I was touched when she gave it to us for Christmas. Kylie spent a lot of time at our house, and we miss her! She loved the kids and was so good with them, and was a thoughtful friend. It was so sweet to add her ornament to our tree this year and it reminds me of the importance of reaching out to others.

The mouse and sombrero was a gift from my mom while I was on my mission. It says "feliz navidad 2007" and the memories of those christmases away from home - but at home nonetheless, fill me with joy and reminders of how Christmas can be so much, even with so little.





These adorable ornaments were gifts to Justin on his mission in Ukraine. There's a set of something like 60, and every ornament is hand-painted and different from every other. I had to include pictures of them front and back so you could really see how cute and detailed they are. It was a huge act of service performed for a missionary they obviously loved very much.






The snowflakes were also gifts to Justin - each handmade by his older sister, Heike. Again, every snowflake is different, and I love adding them to the tree every year. They always go on right after the lights and garland because they are so beautiful placed on the interior of the tree. One is a little floppy these days because I caught Erick sucking on it as a baby. I tried my best to starch and iron it out but it's never been the same. These remind me of family because they are different but beautiful on our tree - they set the stage for everything that follows.






Justin's parents give us a new hallmark ornament every year for our tree, and they are always so cute and add something "fun" for the kids to hang and enjoy on the tree. These are some of the favorites. It's amazing how some things, like Snoopy, transcend every generation! I think these will be favorite ornaments for a long time to come.



Here are the ornaments that play homage to our little family. Justin and I purchased the bells in Monterrey, California on our honeymoon and tied them together so they drape over the top branches of the tree, high out of reach of little fingers. I purchased the kids' initials this year at Target. I've looked every year but because they're all vowels it's been rather hard to find a matching set with every letter. A's, E's, and I's seem to go quickly. I'm excited to finally have them! And they're metal, so the kids can hang their ornament themselves - they're an important part of this tree!















Our homemade ornaments for the year - we went to Kori's house the other day and happily helped her with some materials leftover from an activity she was in charge of. We glued sequins on christmas trees and beaded candycanes. The candycanes, never quite materialized, because when audrey gets a hold of them the beads go everywhere. So we made candy rings instead. they have better chance of survival.

The paper light is from Erick's preschool last year, so I was thrilled to see it made the move in all its glittery glory, but think it better be spotlighted in the blog for posterity because you never know how many more years will be kind to it.




Finally, my little travel ornaments. Most of them indicate pretty clearly where they're from, so I'll just list two of my favorites.

The Santa is obviously from San Fransisco, but he's a favorite because he's new to our tree this year. He joined the crew when we visited the Bay Area in January for Rob and Kristy's wedding. It was really our biggest "trip" as a family to a destination other than Utah. It was so fun to take the kids around to see everything, and they were so good! Happy memories all around, and that little guy reminds me.

My little angel baby is from the Carribean. I bought it a long time ago on a cruise with my parents - which in and of itself is a fun memory! But she reminds me, too, of a friend of mine's little angel baby from Haiti who passed away at Christmas a few years ago. Nichole's experience with her family as they dealt with that and the faith they showed touched me and I've never seen that little angel in the same way again. She represents love, family, and the hope we have in Christ - those great gifts of Christmas.




These last two are also from trips - Philadelphia and Palmyra, respectively. Again, they spark thoughts of not only the trips, but of the things these icons represent in my life.

Last year there was a huge debate over Christmas Trees and the proper nomenclature of these marvelous and beautiful symbols of this season. Christmas tree or Holiday tree? Remember that one? It will probably come up again at some point this year. I remember thinking something along these lines -

Who honestly cares? Isn't the idea that we're all together enjoying the season together more important than what we call the tree? Can't we see the big picture and come together, instead of being so defensive about just whose tradition it is?

However, after taking a closer look at our tree this year and thinking about what it means, I've changed a little. My Christmas tree very literally cradles every blessing I consider dear. In its branches I'm reminded of goodness and of life, of where I've been and what I can possibly become. I see home and friends and family. My fondest memories and my dearest hopes are illuminated by tiny twinkling lights on a tree that remains steady and unchanging from season to season. Our tree is very much a symbol of Christ. He is the provider of everything I've mentioned and like my tree holds each of these blessings is in His hands. In that light, calling this beautiful creation nothing more than a "holiday" tree seems profane. I think whatever anyone else chooses to call theirs, our family's tree will be a Christmas Tree, for now and always.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

With faithful leaves unchanging,

Your boughs are green in summer's glow

And do not change with winter's snow.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

of all the trees most lovely.