Sunday Snapshot: Our Christmas Ornaments

I wanted to participate in last week's Sunday Snapshot, but because of the Christmas craziness, I couldn't get it together in time. Better late than never, yes? I wanted to share about our Christmas tree, but to do that, I need to give a little back story. (If I make some mistakes in the retelling, I hope my family will forgive me.)

My great Aunt Mary hosted Christmas breakfast for our family for years. And I am not talking about just our immediate family. I am talking about her 2 children, spouses, and grandchildren. Her 4 siblings, their spouses, their children, their spouses, and grandchildren. I am very close to this side of my family, and I honestly don't think I could count how many 1st cousins, 2nd cousins, and 3rd cousins were involved, not to mention the random precious friends who are counted as family and show up.

Many years ago (35?), my 2nd cousin came to Christmas breakfast, and upon seeing all of the presents around the tree, asked where her gift was. This broke my aunt's heart, and she swore she would always have a gift for every child at her house on Christmas.



Thus started our ornament tradition. Every year, my Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill make hundreds of Christmas ornaments for the children in their family and community. The deal is, you get an ornament until you have children, and then the children get their own ornaments. So I have over 20 ornaments with Amy on them, 4 ornaments with Amy & Tim, and now my children get ornaments with each of their names on them. Sometimes they are cross stitched, but usually they are made of wood and painted. There have been angels, stars, snowmen, bells, bears, and many, many others.


I love Christmas ornaments, and I love getting new, store bought ones each year, but none compare with the ornaments that were made by my aunt and uncle. So, thank you, Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill, for starting and continuing such a special Christmas tradition in our family!


(For the record, my cousin and his wife have taken over Christmas breakfast, but Mary and Bill are still churning out ornaments each year.)