Hosted by Cecily and Rachael
On our first Christmas, back in 1994, Sharon and I gave each other a Christmas ornament. We were living in a small studio apartment in Cedar City, and trying to establish our own Christmas traditions. The next year we did it again -- and then every year since.
When Jordan was born we decided we would continue the tradition -- a new Christmas ornament each year.
They are more than just Christmas ornaments, each one is symbolic of our lives in the preceding year.
As I lay underneath the soft lights of the Christmas tree the other night, I did the math: fifteen years of marriage, and three kids equals sixty-three ornaments (which is assuming that we've only done one ornament each and every year. Which we have not). On a seven foot tree that doesn't leave much room for anything else. I realized this year that we no longer have any generic ornaments on our tree.
Every ornament was a gift.
Each one is a story.
Our Christmas tree has become the storybook of our lives.
As I walked around the tree, I was lost in the memories.
There were our Disneyland ornaments, from our trip this year.
There was the little angel that I bought for our second Christmas, because I thought it looked like Sharon.
There was the somber silver ball, with the date we would never forget.
The story that our tree tells is one of love and adventure, of heartbreak and redemption, of joy and innocence and heritage. It's the story of our family.
20 comments:
That's really beautiful. We do that too. I can't even tell you how sad it was when our oldest took his ornaments when he got married. I was happy for him, but the holes on the tree were bittersweet.
what a wonderful way to keep a history. I've been married 32 years now and I am just realizing how important these little things are. I wish I had kept a pictorial history as I went along. Maybe while you've got some time you could photograph each ornament and write the history behind it, who it belongs to, what it represents, the year it was given. In years to come when your memory dims and details are hard to recall you'll be glad to have the document.
I loved this post.
Why am I not surprised you have a Indy ornament? We have a Griswold family one. :) Those are the best kind of trees...the ones that tell a story. I'll never understand how some people are so concerned with their tree "matching"...
Funny, we get ornaments too, but I have never really thought that much about it. I guess they really do tell a story. I should probably start paying more attention to the ones we have.
We do the same thing. I'm assuming there is a leg lamp ornament on there someplace? I saw one at a Hallmark store several years ago and I thought of you. We need to drive by your house just so we can see it again. :)
Beautiful photos, decorations and idea Chris!
What an awesome tradition to have!
I love making a trip down memory lane when we put up our ornaments, too! I'm so - what's the word? - "Precise?" That I put them on in the order they were received (by year!) What a geek, I am! :)
I want to start doing this for my boys. We have an ornament from when they were born, but we need to get going on that.
What a wonderful way to decorate a Christmas tree! My favorite ornaments on our tree are the ones that have history.
it's a sentimental thing.
a history in every little decoration you put on your tree..
How beautiful. I love the idea. And, I think it's way better that all of your ornaments have meaning.
That is an amazing idea! How special!!
I love the stories each set of ornaments can tell. You have so much to share and I enjoy reading of your life.
BTW..the picture of the Disneyland ornaments..I think Belle lost her mind;0) Well..her head anyways..giggle
That is an amazing story and heritage. Something I think our family needs to start and soon.
That is amazing!! I think we need to start doing this. :)
Great tradition and thanks for sharing it....but I wanted to know where is Bell's head?
I have been giving my girls a new ornament (Hallmark) each year since they were born. Each one reflects something about their year.
love it! Troy's grandma made an ornament each year for each grandkid, grandkid-in-law and great grandkid until last year when she could no longer do it. I think the best kind of ornament is the kind that tell a story!
Merry Christmas!
Oh, you've got me all choked up over here. How absolutely beautiful. :)
I really wanted to do something like that too. We did for the first few years. But ornaments are expensive, and the budget won over being sentimental. :( :(
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