Our Christmas

We had a good Christmas here, even though money was tight. The amount of money we had to spend on the children was nearly half what it normally was, but it all worked out great, and the girls were exceedingly grateful for their gifts. We had some Christmas surprises, including a laundry basket of groceries being delivered anonymously to our door. We were really shocked, although we think we know where it came from. I was given a new camera, even though I didn’t want any money spent on me. I hope to be able to use it to make money. I am really loving it!

I had wanted to post many times about how we spend Christmas, but time has been short. Although I said no to everything I could, it was still a very busy time. The children had a lot of ministry opportunities at church. It helped tremendously this year that my oldest is driving and could take her sisters and herself back and forth. Also, for the first time in many years, the girls got to spend time with their father, which I’m glad of. Although it has left me with some mixed feelings and different situations to face, I know that God is doing something wonderful in all their lives, and I can rest in that, if I will but trust Him.

Christmas has been a hard holiday season for me over the years, and I’ve not enjoyed it the way I wanted. I remember my very first Christmas alone. I had been single for about 2 months, and hid tears as best I could from the children, as I attempted to put together their toys on Christmas morning. I felt so stupid and lost, because I didn’t know how to easily put together things. I also felt in the core of my being that it just wasn’t right that a mother had to do all that. I remember one year not even having a tree until about a week before Christmas, because I just didn’t want to face what Christmas meant alone. Last year, the girls did all the decorating. This year, I felt a bit of a rebirth of some of the joy of Christmas. Although I’m so glad for the hustle and bustle to be ended, there are parts of Christmas that I don’t want to give up yet. I am enjoying still looking at our beautiful, but broken tree.:) (The stand broke, so the tree was just placed into a sturdy magazine rack and covered with beautiful fabric.)

I try to buy the girls an ornament every year. I want to give the ornaments to them whenever they are on their own and have their own tree. I try to buy quality ornaments that will last over the years. I found out quick that the cheap ones are just that–cheap! I love Hallmark ornaments, especially the ones by Marjolein Bastin, because I love nature and birds. I have learned to put the girls’ initials on them, but now realize I should have been putting the year on them all these years! Ugh!

Here are some pictures of the ornaments on our tree.

The girls’ made my mom and me quite a few of these ornaments made with old CDs and old Christmas cards. They are beautiful with the lights on them. I love them!

My 2 oldest girls each chose a solid wood owl this year. These large birds carefully watch over everybody on the tree.:)

For my youngest, who loves Club Penguin.:)

I’ve had this Raggedy Ann, along with others, for years.

A little chickadee nibbling on a pine cone. My oldest and I have one just alike. These are teensy!

This birdhouse belongs to my youngest.

I just love this very large snowflake.

This busy feeder belongs to my middle daughter.

This silver teapot was on our tree when I was a little girl.

This ornament was for my daughter whose name I could not find already imprinted on these angel ornaments.

My Marjolein Bastin ornament this year.