Cole's favorite Christmas symbol thus far has to be the tree. He spots them wherever we go and admires each ornament and light. We've always had a fake tree (love the real tree smell but not the hassle) and getting the boxes down from the attic is always a special treat announcing that Christmas has arrived. Decorating together is cherished as we gently open each ornament and reminisce its origin. Whether they are from our travels (we collect one everywhere we go), handmade, or mark special occasions, each one is unique and sparks chatter of memories and days gone by.
A few favorite ornaments:
Honeymoon in St. John/St. Thomas
First Christmas together
Cole's first Christmas
Gatlinburg where my family has vacationed and spent Thanksgiving for the past 30+ years
Cade Elias is coming soon! :)
We've begun a tradition for Cole where he gets a special ornament each year marking a name of Christ. I keep a journal and record each year, the ornament given, the name of Christ it represents, and a Scripture verse. When he marries, these will be a special gift for his new home - I pray he cherishes them as much as I do.
2007 - Where it all began - King of Kings
2008 - Crystal pear - "Fruit of the Spirit"
2009 - Glass grapes - "I am the Vine, ye are the branches"
2010 - Lit Lantern - Light of the world
My favorite keepsake ornaments are the ones handmade by my grandmother. She's made a set for my mom, myself, and my sis-in-law, Laura. There are 20+ symbols of Christ that she has stitched and written the meaning on the back. Along with the delicate crosses, it makes for a beautiful and meaningful tree. As we trim these branches, we are always reminded of the TRUE meaning of Christmas.
The first three letters for Jesus in Greek
The crown of thorns and three nails representing his suffering on the cross
The cross used by the early Christians to declare their faith when having to be discreet.
Beautiful crosses add that special touch
We pray you are enjoying the beauty that surrounds us this Christmas and rejoice daily in God's perfect, precious gift. . . Jesus Christ.
2 comments:
What a great tradition with the symbolism of the ornaments! Wonderful idea! Are you planning to post about your time in NYC?! So excited you were able to get away. . . love that city!! :)
I love this post - how sweet! Beautiful trees and ornaments.
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