Christmas Tree '06

Christmas Tree '06
Originally uploaded by blountman.

I love our family Christmas Tree.

Christmas Trees mean different things to different people. For the Blounts, the tree is a family history and an expression of our love for Jesus. Numerous ornaments depicting the manger can be found. Red birds that once adorned Mama Thelma’s tree are there. So are those ornaments that twirl around from the heat of the lights that used to hang on Mama Stella’s tree. How about the cross-stitch ornaments that my Mom made for us? The Angel topper once was on Mae Mae's tree. The hand-made ornaments from each of the kids loving crafted during their early childhood years always bring smiles to our faces as we decorate the tree. We have ornaments reflecting high schools and colleges we love, sports teams about which we are passionate, ornaments given to Peggy as gifts from her students over the years, and that egg ornament made for me by...well, I've "Ben" trying to remember who made that one (an inside joke, sorry). We have ornaments reminding us of family vacations, and we have family ornaments with all of our names on them dating back over the past decade! This year's family ornament includes the newest member of the family: Abi, who becomes Elliott's Bride just before Christmas this year. Being a Trekkie, we have several starship ornaments on our tree; being a Veggie Tales fanatic, we have Bob, Larry and the gang hanging out on our tree as well. We have ornaments that remind us of Christmas books we have read as a family, and we have hand-made ornaments from church family over the years. Every ornament on our tree tells part of the story of our family.

Now, I know that people decorate trees in many different ways, with different themes and different schemes. However, I like seeing our family story played out on our Christmas Tree. The reflection of our shared love for Jesus warms my heart. The fact that many ornaments on this year's tree will move to Elliott and Abi's tree next year is part of that process. It is time for them to start making family memories to be represented by various ornaments. Ian and Emily will soon follow in Elliott's footsteps, and then Peggy and I will have fewer ornaments hanging on our tree, but we will still have the memories of the family love we share.

I love our family Christmas Tree.