Symbols of Christmas

1982 Our First Christmas togeather.
Thos clogs have a great story. Beloved killed a cock roach for the sales clerk and got 10% off:) Wow we still have his old lunch box. I wore the clogs out though.

1984

1986
The first year in our second home.

In 1997 this is the match Photo we received for Christmas. It is Beauty. We had to wait a long three months to hold her in our arms

1999 Our First year in this home. This is all for one child! Nuts!

2000 A little girl in paradise.

Her favorite gift! A "Moses stick" I whittled for her and dried in the attic. I sanded it down and she adored it!

2001 We returned from Russia on December 15th with our son. What a Gift!

2002

2003

This year my family received a Mother alive. December 21st, after I was hit by a man who fell asleep at the wheel and struck my car doing in excess of 120 mpr.
However I was out of action for several months to come.
This has an amazing story behind it os God's intervention and protection.

2004

2005

2006 We totally splurged and answered a little girls prayer. A bonus made us able to give her a pony. We did not have to feed it or clean up after it. Youth fades so quickly.

I once had a tree decorated with forest birds hanging from fishing lie from the ceiling laying popcorn carlands around the tree. The tree was full of bird nests and dried flowers.

Many symbols of Christmas are absorbed from Pagan origins and assimilated into Christian customs. The Christmas Tree is one of them. Like the pumpkin of Halloween it has its roots in paganism. There was a time when I had a large wooden cross in my living room in opposition to the tree. Then as I looked back I became aware that it is a symbol of torture (the realization of it has made me not to fond of wearing a cross either having known torture personally). I much rather see Him on the thrown :). I use a Tree as a place to put reminders of our life time together on display for the holiday season. Because Dash and I have asthma we use an artificial tree. I sorta don't get into the thing to cut down a tree for my own self if I am not going to burn the wood and use the resources, but thats just me. Living trees pose a lot of insect and mold issues. A couple of years or so ago we were fortunate to find this tree at a reduced price. Our former tree was dwarfed by our high ceilings and this one is tall and skinny so we keep the much loved floor space.

He is so pleased to be trusted with the glass ones .

Beauty is placing her "1st Christmas "

The children had so much fun. For every year of their life I have made or purchased an ornament that was applicable to the year lived and a token of remembrance. Prized treasures. I need to make them this year (we are being VERY disciplined to conserve our funds to go back East next year, pay for Beauty's braces and an tooth implant for me) We all love them (the memories and ornaments). The kids did all the decorating except the ribbon and the lights and star. I put a few of the very top things on. Beloved helped a while and asked to be excused because he wants to clean the kitchen for me to have a fresh start in the morning. How sweet is that!
My children have grown so quickly. These days will be a blur soon for the years are as a vapor in time. Treasure the years you have with you kids. They are a sweet gift. We are going back now to our roots for it is vanity to continue to splurge like this. I will make them a nice Christmas. It is time to stop the over abundance and now we live within the lesser means made available to us. We had fun when we were in the money... It will be fun now too. Just take a little getting used too.