Memories

  For me, the best part of Christmas decorating is the memories it brings back. After hauling way too many boxes, that are way too heavy, up way too many stairs, it's nice to take each precious item out and remember it's significance. And boy do we have some great memories!

  We have a Christmas house that plays music. I remember buying it from a jewelry store in Halifax for $45....29 years ago!! It was a huge extravagance for us and the first real decoration we bought together. I look at it now and wonder what were we thinking but it's still displayed with pride every year.

  There are four ornaments for the tree that belonged to my Grandmother. They are probably sixty years old. Very fragile and very dirty but they can't be cleaned because the last bit of sparkle will come off. They are irreplaceable.

  Over the years the kids have made decorations at school and they all hang with pride on the tree. It's funny to see how much they have changed as most of them have their picture on it. They are growing so fast.

  Everywhere we travel, as a family or alone, we get an ornament. Those all have stories that go with them and we laugh at some crazy memory from the trip. Now the kids tell us the anecdotes and we smile knowing they will always remember our adventures. That's a true Christmas blessing.

  Take a few minutes as you begin to prepare your home for the holidays to think about past festivities. Those memories will start the celebration for you.

  Ang