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Stories to Tell

I believe that all of us have decorations with stories to tell. As I pulled some of my favorites out today so many wonderful memories flooded my mind. My mom had one of these Avon Pomanders when we were kids. My grandma sold Avon so we had many of their collectables. It smelled so good and we loved getting it out every year. I don't know exactly how it took place but several years ago my brother, Dallas, went on a hunt to get all of us one of these. I know he ended up getting at least one of them from the DI. They are tattered and old and worn but still have the slightest scent from our childhood memories. I couldn't love it more. This is the plastic canvas sled my grandma made for me at least 15 years ago. She is too old to see well enough and her hands are too sore so she will never make another one. Simply priceless.
A card that my aunt Dena painted for me the year I was married. I cherish this. She had 2 boys of her own so I was like her little girl.
I mentioned to my dad how much I loved a nativity set I saw at Sam's club. How touched I was when I came home from errands one day to find one sitting on my counter. It has a new place this year on my piano.

There are so many others I didn't take pictures of....the candy jar lid my friend Kim painted for me, the Christmas apron made by my mom, the ornaments from my boys school years, the white ceramic figure of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus we received as a wedding gift, the snowman picks that came in a plant my mom gave me when Douglas was born, the Home Interior figures and votive cups that remind me of when I sold Home Interiors to put Russell through flight school(I bet you didn't see that one coming:)), the advent box on my counter that my boys love to open each morning to find their little prizes, and many more. What stories do your decorations tell?


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Lincoln Farrell and Marilyn Barlow said…
Love your thoughts. I was going to do an African tree this year but while getting out the decorations started remembering, as you said, all the precious memories associated with the ornaments and couldn't leave them off the tree. They are so much a part of your Christmas celebration.
December 1, 2008 at 11:08 PM
wylie said…
Casey has a Santa Claus ornament that we love from his LDS mission in Florida/Alabama. He made it out of a starfish. The body and 4 legs are painted red, the remaining leg is painted as Santa's head. It is really quaint and kind of goofy at the same time.
December 2, 2008 at 8:40 AM
M.E. said…
I love the memories associated with Christmas ornaments! My Mom has some "Gingerbread cookies" ornaments from Avon. I love going over to smell them. They smell as good as they did thirty years ago, and it brings back my childhood in an instant. Your story has encouraged me to try and find some for my own tree!
December 2, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Meredith said…
We have a tree that is decorated only with things that someone in our family has made. There are crocheted snowflakes that I made for our first Christmas and there are sets of hand sewn ornaments from two of my sister-in-laws. Every year the girls make a few ornaments to add to it, and now it is covered!
December 2, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Sarah said…
What great Christmas memories. I'm impressed, I just put my fall things away yesterday and have a tree with just lights so far!
December 2, 2008 at 11:15 PM
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