If a Christmas Tree Could Talk

Brown paper packages tied up with string... These are a few of my favorite things!




My tree every year talks to me. It whispers of Christmas past and memories of the younger seasons of my life. It keeps a history of people I love and some who I miss. It reflects the art work of my small children, some who are now growing up and will be decorating trees of their own in the blink of an eye.

I thought I would share some of my ornaments. They are really more memory triggers for me. I love to sit in a darkened room with only the glow from the lights of the tree and remember.

My kids don't know about pondering ornaments yet. I didn't appreciate the ponderability of ornaments until I started putting ornaments of my own on.

In no particular order because I loaded them all at once and it's a pain to move the pictures all around.

Recruit 4 made this. I don't remember when, but thank goodness he put his name on the bottom of it! Not all kid-made ornaments survive. This is special because he is disgusted with me every year when I can't remember who made it EVEN with the name on bottom. He is NOT the one to forget what ornament he made and yet I do, every year.

Speaking of Recruit 4. This is his baby's first Christmas ornament. He doesn't particularly care for it I think. It's not very manly. He looks for it every year to hang though. He would know if it were missing...

Island Girl sent this to me after we left Camp Pendleton. I was involved in stuff there and was a part of EWC for a couple of years. Camp Pendleton was actually a working ranch at one time and the Eagle Globe & Anchor is set in the middle of what was the brand. See, bet ya thought this was The Marine's ornament. Nope, it's mine.

This is Recruit 5 or 6. I can't tell without looking at the year. I had to buy ornaments back to back since one had a first Christmas 03 and the other 04. I just loved having babies at Christmas. Except the Christmas Recruit 4 screamed all through Christmas dinner. I spent most of it in the bedroom with him. He was a November baby so he was just being new and difficult. Now he is just difficult. Especially when I don't remember who made the penguin ornament.

This is the other one of Recruit 5 or 6. They don't know this isn't very manly yet.

This decoupage ball is one of six. We bought them our very first Christmas. Well, I bought them. The Marine was on a border op in Arizona.

I still love the old fashion style. AND the kids can't break these. The very first balls my mother had on her tree in Spain were blue and fragile. They survived many years until Recruit 3 came along. She broke one. I remember it vividly to this day. I was mortified. My mother was so kind. I hope I'm kind to my children.

I didn't know when I bought these how smart I was buying something that would stand up to grand kids one day. I remember my first married Christmas well. Others since then are blurs.

This is one from a set of 12. They were also on our first tree. This is the 5 golden rings. We received them as a gift from The Marine's Grandma. His mom's mom. We still have them minus two. They are REALLY hard to find when taking down the tree. I'm pretty sure I know the year the two MIA ornaments disappeared.

Another relic from Christmas 1989. My mom sent me this Texas Christmas ornament. We weren't going home from California for Christmas. The first time I had ever spent Christmas away from my family. I was so sad that year. We drove home right after Christmas. My parents paid for the gas. The Marine bought me a toaster for Christmas though and a leather jacket with Fringe. It made me not be quite so sad that Christmas morning.

This is one of four. My mother-in-law painted each of the four children's names on them. The other two weren't around yet. I always love hanging these little angels. Reminds me who my children really are. Especially when they aren't acting like the ornament.

Recruit 1. She's the closest to leaving. I always thought I would give each one of them their ornament for their tree. But no. I've decided they can have them when I die. They are my babies' first Christmas ornaments. Emphases on the word MY. I really bought them for me each year, even though I didn't realize it then. Sorry kids. I changed my mind. These are mine.

Ornaments show our heritage. My mother-in-law again gave us this. I love this claddagh.

This is one of the ornaments that represent my dad. He was a pilot. He passed away in 2005. He liked Christmas. He loved having my children home for Christmas.

Recruit 2 has TWO. Last year I couldn't find his baby's first Christmas and I was so upset. I didn't tell him. I went online, found it and ordered it. Probably double the cost or more of the first one. I couldn't let him know. I just knew he'd be crushed. (I was crushed) Again, it's really about me, I just project onto my children. This year we found it. He now knows. He hung them together.

The only Christmas my Dad came to my house. We lived in California. We rented one of the trailers that used to be on Del Mar beach. I believe they've built cabins since then. We put up a Christmas tree in the trailer for Mom and Dad. These sea shells Island Girl and I glittered. There are others. I remember that Christmas well. It was nice even if it was really different.

Mom gave me this a year or two ago. It's their wedding picture. I should buy six of these if I can find them. I'll give the kids a picture of The Marine and I instead of their baby ornaments for their trees. I'm sure they'll appreciate us staring at them and their spouse all through Christmas....

My Grandmother sent us envelopes that go on the tree. When I was little the envelopes on the tree were from my Great Grandmother. My tree shows the generations and the marching on of life and posterity.

It makes me sad in some ways and in other ways it is very comforting. One day I'll be the white envelopes on a tree. Posterity I've not yet met.

My children are all so diverse, talented, and unique. I can't wait to meet my grandchildren. (well I can wait, you know what I mean... I already love them but don't want them here any sooner than their future parents should bring them....)

It figures the Recruit who got left out of the Christmas shopping would be the last baby ornament. Recruit 3 hides her ornaments deep in the tree. I had to pull this out AFTER she showed me where she tucked it. Not sure why. Maybe I should explore that further, but um, no.

My newest ornament. It came in a small brown box in the mail. My sweet friend April, another Marine Wife, sent it to me! I was so tickled to get it and it's beautiful. A tree made with bells. April you're now part of my pondering!

Most importantly my tree makes me grateful. I have so much. It reminds me of all that I have. Our tree topper is the Angel Moroni. He faces the east waiting to trumpet the return of our Savior. I am grateful for that Christmas night so long ago when our Savior was born and Herald Angels sang. My tree makes me want to sing too. But, that wasn't the talent I was given, so I'll just end here saying I love my tree.