Decorating for Christmas

This year decorating for Christmas seems more like walking down memory lane. We are pulling out treasures from years past that remind us of people we hold dear in our hearts. I found a hairbow that Jessica Barfield made for Rachel when she was one. Jessica was a teenager from our first church. She had grown into a sweet young mother when last year at Christmas she died suddenly. We found Christmas decorations we had made and given to Ray's grandmother and have received back after her death last year. There are at least a dozen ornaments made by Mr. Richard Strawn and Elaine Reagan. And of course the precious Baby's First Christmas ornaments that take center stage. I love to hear the girls describe each of their favorite things as they come out of the boxes. But still one of my favorite treasures is the "fire girl". The girls gave this name to a tiny doll ornament that was mine when I was a little girl. My family's home burned down when I was in college and this was one of the few Christmas items that came out. It still has a soot covered face but hangs proudly on its own stand in my kitchen.

The day we could get our tree was raining and cold, so I had a hard time getting out of the car. The girls still had fun, but I didn't let them ride on top of the car this year.