I remember that decorating for Christmas was always a time of excitement, bickering and reminiscing. We would fight over who got to set up the chipped nativity scene and then later redo it when no one was looking. We would debate who got to set up the musical statues.
One thing I LOVED was that my mom didn't just put up a tree. She had Christmas pictures that she changed out on the walls. she had all sorts of knicknacks to decorate the surfaces. She even had placemats and centerpieces we used year after year. The whole living area would transform, all to the soundtrack of christian Christmas praise.
I also loved that even if things were broken or chipped she'd just whip out her trusty, albeit a fire hazard, hot glue gun and fix it for next year. Alas that is why many of the items I associate with Christmas are no more. But I will always remember them. The holly leaf shaped taper candle holder that i would use to pretend we lived w/o electricity. Or the puffy fabric bunny Christmas scene wall hanging. It was kinda like Peter rabbit's family. And the nativity scene. SO COOL! it was ceramic so thus everything was chipped. but the "barn" was made of sticks and bark etc. I loved setting that up. Christmas feels incomplete without a nativity scene. We need to get one. Probably not ceramic though...
But most of all it was the Christmas ornaments. Each had a story and some made us all stop and remember. Like the one with the picture of my Dad's dog, Rex. I remember getting teary eyed each year for awhile after he died. Or the one's we made as crafts or the ones my aunt Peggy made over the years.
This year I got to share decorating the tree with Nora and she was THRILLED! she kept saying more more! and taking each ornament down that she could reach. And this year more than most I wish I could transform our little apartment into a Christmas wonderland. I will get there eventually. Until then, I'll hold on to those happy memories and try to recreate the feelings.
Thanks Mom :)
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