Thursday, December 5, 2013

Christmas Stuff

Well, it's that time of year when I bring out the numerous bins of fun items.... loading them from the attics and storage places upstairs to bring the items downstairs. Then, I papck away all the treasures I keep up during the year to put up the decorations and festive items for this special time of year. This year I was determined to downsize....until..... I pondered.

As I was placing my items up this year, it occured to me that all of this trinkets and knick knacks have a place in my home. Things like: the many Santas from Around the World- the only present I can remember that my grandfather gave to me; the ceramic piece of Mary with Jesus that was presented to us at our wedding from a dear friend of my husbands; the Santas which are 1950's retro from my sister-in-law as we just started our family; the snow globes that each child played with in wonder and that my third child grew to love more and more; the numerous gingerbread figures and items that my children have blessed me with and made me smile; the lego figures which still bring back soft warm meories; the wingless angel stocking holders that I cherish as they hold memories of the past in the stockings which they display on the mantle; the 'heavenly hosts' on the top of the tree - paper plate angels, noodle angels, paper colorings and plastic glow in the dark figures--they are all the host of the heavens and the heart of the tree. As I continued looking through things, I noticed there wasn't a lot that I could part with. All of the items had a dear memory of a time in the past when our family was growing. Even the goofy little paper chins which counted down the days until Christmas..... it is all so precious to me.

So, this year, I shall not dream of the 'visually perfect' tree or Christmas house as I have in the past-- I am content with my mismatched items which hold dear memories of the times past and the times to come.

So, I will look at pinterest and see how wonderful things may look, but I know that in my heart, I love the things I have as they are alive and real and each tells a different story!

Take heart this Christmas-- cherish the baby in the manger, THE Savior, THE Messiah and cherish those things HE has blessed you with, either big, small, visually perfect or perfect in EVERY way....