3:11 PM Unknown

Our Christmas tree has pretty much stayed the same as last year with the exception of adding a few new Christmas ornaments to the tree.

I made all the bows for our tree last year.

I have two of my favorite Christmas ornaments that have some meaning to me. The first one is the Silent Night Christmas ball which has been in our family for many many years. My Mom had it on her tree as a little girl. It’s the only one left and I’ve had it for about 25 years. The second is the heart. It is our first Christmas ornament together as husband and wife.

Growing up, we all had Christmas balls with our names on them. It was our family tradition that when we decorated our Christmas tree, we would all put our Christmas ball on the Christmas tree. As we married and the family grew, each and every family member would have a Christmas ball with their name on it. And it was still a family tradition that you put your Christmas ball on my parents’ Christmas tree. Now that both my parents are gone, I now have my childhood Christmas ball on my Christmas tree. Charlie’s Christmas ball was added to my parent’s Christmas tree in 2002 and now his Christmas ball is also a part of our Christmas tree.

I now have Christmas balls with all of our children and grandson’s names on them placed upon our Christmas tree.

Christmas will be different this year as it will be my first without my mom and then without our son Jordan. Jordan will be spending his first Christmas away from home in Afghanistan and Mom with our heavenly father.