MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Every year my Christmas tree causes me to take a stroll down memory lane. I have a lot of ornaments that are very special to me. As I unbox each ornament, my mind and heart travels to the time and place where I received that ornament. It is a wonderful time of reflection and reminiscing as I put up and take down the tree. I thought today I would share a few pictures of our tree and some of the special ornaments we have been blessed with.
May I introduce you to our 2014 Christmas tree.
2014 tree
Beneath the presents, I always place one of my two tree skirts. These are not just any tree skirts. They were handmade by my mother, and have a message of love embroidered on the underside. I love both of them equally.
My ‘fancy’ tree skirt from last year’s tree.
My first tree skirt from Mother.
A very special ornament is one that I received in memory of my Daddy. He died in October of 2004 and I received this ornament in the weeks following.
Over the years, my Mother has made a couple of ornaments for me. Here is one she made out of wooden blocks that were my childhood toys. The other is an ornament she created from pinecones and wooden thread spools. The wooden spools are antiques, but once they graced her sewing machine as she created beautifully tailored clothes for herself, my sister, and me.
This ornament is one that was given to me by a patient of mine from my days in the Emory Lipid Clinic. Mrs. Bauman made incredible Santa ornaments. I have two on my tree, and gave some to my parents and my sister. I would love to have more because these are a treasured part of my collection.
A Donis Bauman original
At one of the apartment complexes I lived in in the early 1990’s, my neighbors were a sweet older couple named The Petleys. Mrs. Petley made this wreath ornament by hand and gave it to me. It has graced my tree since that first Christmas.
My parents gave me this ornament in 1993 when I bought my Atlanta condo. It was my first home purchase.
The local Chamber of Commerce for Union County sold Christmas ornaments each year for many years. Each ornament featured a different location or building in the county. I have all the Union County ornaments, and each reminds me of the special place in which I grew up and now live.
This handmade ornament was one I received from a Sunday school Christmas party in 1986. It was made by a gentleman in the class and I chose it during the Christmas ornament exchange.
This beautiful glass ball was a wedding present when Greg and I married. It came from long-time friends of Greg’s, the Deals. I love the beauty and simplicity of it.
My parents gave this ornament to Greg and me when we were married in 1995. Sweet!!
I received two beautiful blown glass ornaments from a woman I worked with at Emory. I have treasured them over the years and think of Irina every time I unwrap them. The second ornament pictured here is one I received from my BFF, Cindy. It is a reminder of the Fruit of the Spirit, which should be evident in the hearts of every Christian.
When Greg and I began gardening a few years back, my Mother gave me this cute Hallmark ornament.
These final pictures are of several ornaments that represent mine and Greg’s hobbies, loves, and profession.
Thank you for allowing me to share my Christmas tree with you. I will not be posting the rest of the week, so I may enjoy some family time. Please join me Monday as I introduce my 2014 Monday series. I pray you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
