Today I took the tree down. Usually this is a task that I don't really want to do, but for some strange reason, this year was different. As I was taking the ornaments off the tree one by one, memories kept flooding into my head about what each of the ornaments meant. The really old ones like the felt ones that started my whole crafting mode off made me think of the time Mama and Daddy came up for Christmas after Tommy and I got married. I got the idea from Tommy's mother who had been to an extension craft meeting. I guess you would say that's when the bug bit me. Then there were so many that made me think of when Bonny and Julie were little. The ones they had made and put their time in. Then there are the ones that Julie and I would buy on the day after Christmas sales at Homestead and other places. That reminds of times spent with her. Then there are the ones that my sisters have given me that they have made or picked up on trips or all the farm animal ones that they knew would be special to me. My Aunt Dot, who passed away this year, made intricate ornaments and gave me one each year for a while. They were special and unique just like she was. It was like having all these people in my house this morning. One that touched me was a picture of Shyann the border collie that we lost this fall. Julie had put it in a frame and fixed it to hang on the tree. I know a lot of people might see this as corny, but as I get older more of these things happen day to day. Another thing is every year I say I am going to throw my tree out and get a new one. This year I realized that this tree has been through so much with me and has hung around. What difference does it make that when we bought it many years ago on after Christmas clearance it didn't have a stand in the box and it has to be tied up to something to keep it from falling over. Tommy just rigged it up using an old stand that was used for real trees. That is just one of many times he has fixed something for me like that and made it work.
So today I am feeling so blessed to have this tree and all the ornaments. I realize that there were so many things involved before they ever made it on my tree. Thank you Lord for everything you bless me with and all the people and animals that you have put in my path.
Happy New Year to everyone!!!
