Perfectly Themed Trees

The first year we were married we had a "themed" Christmas tree.  It was 2001 shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center so, like many other Americans, we had a patriotic tree.  Since we didn't have many ornaments to start with I spent a lot of time the last week of November collecting Red, White, and Blue ornaments.  By the time I was finished it was perfect and beautiful. 

The trees following that first year continued to have a mostly patriotic feel. The tree was mostly Red, White, and Blue plus snowmen, Santas, a random treasure from students.  The tree continued to be beautiful but I was envious of those super fancy trees that I would only be able to recreate if I was someone like Martha Stewart or my sister.  Each year I would dream of a newly decorated fancy tree but Mac was more sensible and would tell me we really didn't need to buy all new ornaments.  

Even this year, after admiring all the perfectly put together trees at the Festival of Trees, I was contemplating and scheming up a way to finally have the themed tree I have been dreaming of for years. However, the reality of the situation is that we are on a budget and buying all new ornaments would be absolutely ridiculous. So I did what any mature adult would do when they don't get their way; I pouted and considered not putting the tree up because it wouldn't be as beautiful as "so and so's" tree. 

Luckily my pity party was short lived and I had Mac set up the tree so the girls and I could decorate.  As we were decorating I realized that our tree does have a theme.  It is a tree of memories.  Every ornament we put on the tree brought up a memory, a thought, and even a story.  The girls loved hearing about the reasons we purchased certain ornaments.  A1 giggled and fake gagged when I held up the cute umbrella "Parents to Be" ornament and told her that we got that one when I was pregnant with her. Pregnant is a gag word when you are 7. 

Some of the ornaments also brought up memories of people who are no longer with us.  I was blessed to have a thoughtful co-worker and friend as a secret Santa a couple different times.  She would give me creative goodies and always several ornaments. Her memory lives on in those ornaments.  The girls shed a few tears when we dug out their ornaments from my grandparents.  Both of them passed away a little over a year ago but A1 and A2 miss them almost every day.  Seeing the bear with a tiny strawberry stuck to his head made A1 smile especially when I reminded her it was from Granny and Papa.

The most precious ornaments are the ones the girls made in school, especially the ones with their pictures.  We oohed and aahed over artwork from the past.  We even giggled a little the creative messes some of the ornaments displayed.  I assured the girls I loved all of them, even the snowman with a googly eye for a bellybutton. 

The funniest ornaments are the ones I rush out to Hallmark for the day after Christmas so I can get a 50% off family picture ornament.  It was a tradition I started in 2001.  We now have 12 family picture ornaments and you better believe I will be rushing out the day after Christmas to pick up number 13.  Maybe this year will be lucky number 13 and I will actually put our family picture in them... Although the stock picture does look nice in each one as it hangs on the tree.

Our Memory Tree is as beautiful as each ornament that dangles from the tree.  It is a perfect way to mark the passing of time and to get us to stop and reminisce about our past.  It is a salute to our loved ones who are no longer on this Earth to celebrate with us. I wouldn't trade our Memory Tree for any of the perfect trees in Martha Stewart Living. Does that magazine even exist? I haven't read a magazine in years...