Over the last couple of weeks I have been revisiting the history of my life as I decorated my house for the holidays. Last year at this time my heart was lacking the spirit with Brady and Eric gone. So decorations were very limited. But this year I have gone through every box and reminisced and we put out almost every decoration we own.
One of my Christmas trees was my Grandma Pieper's. I can't believe I still have it. It was Eric's and my first Christmas tree as a married couple 25 years ago. When I pull it out of the box, the smell of old polyethylene triggers a memory of my childhood at Christmas time. I don't always put this tree up. But there was new sentiment this year for me as I pulled it out of the box once again. I can think back to that time in my life as a 10 year old girl and know that I had no appreciation or understanding of anything military. But I can also imagine that my Gram was overcome with fear and insecurity as Pearl Harbor happened and she was a young mother with three young children.
Our big family tree was my mom and dad's all of my teen years. She gave me that tree in 1996 when my oldest son Brady was about 10. Over the years we have collected and filled that tree with all of their ornaments plus ones from my childhood and a couple my Gram used to hang on her tree. As I pulled out each one, I was reminded of the time it was made or given. I treasure them. All three hundred are individually wrapped and as I pull out each one I try and repeat the story of where it came from or whose it was. My boys often say to me, "I know Mom". But someday I hope at least one of them will appreciate the history behind them all like I do.
A couple of our other trees, we have five, remind me of the journey we have taken as a family. Our smallest tree was always in the stairwell of the house we built. Our slim 7 foot tree was bought for our second country house because we had no room at the inn for a big tree. And my white tree was purchased from a garage sale with my dearest friend, Melody. That tree will always remind me of great times with a great friend.
I am sure by Christmas in 1941 most of the family members of the lost soldiers knew their loved one was gone. I'm sure Christmas that year was a very devastating time for them. I am so thankful to be facing holidays with my soldiers home and so grateful for all our military men and women who served and lost their lives for my freedom. Their sacrifice gives me and my family the freedom to celebrate Jesus' birth and the freedom to enjoy all these wonderful Christmas memories.
A little section of Gram's tree. It has been decorated many ways over the years.
I used to help my Gram put this tree together. It is very fragile and I treasure it.
My childhood radio flyer sled... We pulled the kids on it when they were little. I adore it decorated on my porch.
Our family tree.. I think Ayden loves the tree topper because it has been around his whole life. It is his history.
This is an old ornament from my childhood...I didn't realize until I was an adult that it wasn't Jesus. :) But I tell my kids every year it is hung that I thought this was Jesus when I was a little girl. They inform me they know.
And this is another ornament from my childhood... a favorite.
I hope you'll all take time to reflect this Christmas season over your own histories, good or bad, and count your blessings. Our histories make us who we are.
God Bless,
much love and Merry Christmas,
Monica
Luke 2:11-14
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
