Christmas Memories

Each year I have a special tree that I set up. I call it my Memory Tree. On this tree the ornaments are different from a normal Christmas tree. Each ornament has a name of a family member that is passed away. The tree also has small antique frame pictures of those family members. My collection of angels set on each side of the tree and my nativity set is under the tree. This year I had a strange moment. As I was hanging each ornament and thinking about that family member I reach for my dads ornament and it was like a slap in the face. I would have to make an ornament for mother! Mother passed away last January and I have accepted and dealt with it but for some reason the memory tree really brought out the fact she won't be here in person. My memory tree is up and each of our precious family members that have passed have ornaments hung and lots of memories have been thought about. Their pictures are setting among the branches.... Except for mother. I will put her name on an ornament tonight and find a special picture to frame for the tree. Then I will turn all the lights off except for the Christmas trees and sit with a cup of tea and remember my Christmas pasts with mother. And I am blessed that I have so many memories of Christmas with her. The picture is of my first husband and our daughters. This is a picture of their last Christmas with their dad before he died. His ornament and picture is placed on the tree every year. Though he wasn't with them many years the girls have so many memories of their dad. Maggie loves to tell about how her daddy would go up on the roof and make footprints in the snow and shake jingle bells so she would think Santa was on the roof. We had a dairy farm so he would even leave "reindeer" poop in the yard for her to think the reindeer left it. Melody likes to tell about her daddy going to her daycare dressed up as Santa. Megan remembers the year all her daddy bought her was a glow warm but she had wanted one so bad that she didn't even think about that's all he bought her. She doesn't even remember what Santa brought or anyone else got her.. Just the glow worm. We all may feel very sad and depressed during the holidays but if we stop to enjoy all the memories that our family members have made with us we can smile and be blessed to have had them for the time given us. We can feel comfort in knowing we have special angels looking over us. I know I am very blessed to have such special angels in my life and such wonderful memories to last me a lifetime. So to honor a memory of the girls dad I have put the music "Little Drummer Boy" on my blog. That was his favorite Christmas Carol. Take time to enjoy your Christmas memories and don't forget to count your blessings with each one!