Decorating the Christmas tree is not just the application of ornaments when we are putting up the "family tree". It is like opening up a scrapbook of our adventures. We have all the handcrafted ornaments that the kiddos have made since they were old enough to hold a pair of scissors or squeeze a glue bottle, We have the wreaths made of puzzle pieces that capture how young they were at the time. Reindeers made from their hand impressions and various paper mached items. Then we have the ornaments that we have gotten on various trips or vacations: cruise ships, mermaids, pieces of Yellowstone or Yosemite. My favorite is when we start putting up the ornaments that Steve and I have given to each other. Sometimes they are just cute holiday ornaments and others represent something we did that year. For example this year Steve gave me an ornament that looks like a purse to represent my new "business" venture. I made him one with a picture of Suzy Bogguss and a little guitar because he got to meet her this year after her concert.
Once it is all done, the ornaments are on, the angel is atop the tree and the pretty red bows have been attached to various limbs. I love to step back and bask in all we have done in our 16 years of marriage. A reminder of our good life and how much we are blessed.
