In our Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving was unlike any Thanksgiving that our family has ever known.  Bitter Sweet, we had loved ones that were not able to help celebrate our humble gratitude towards our life and love for one another and our precious Dear Lord.

Taking life's detours from time to time, we are a remarkable family.  I don't suspect we are that different than others.  We learn everyday, there is no one in this family that I won't support.  There are no conditions.  At the end of the day, they are my love, they are my life.

The Christmas Tree.  I love the way it can transform an ordinary room into a festive celebration.
I am not a big collector in other parts of my life, but when it comes to tree ornaments…I don’t throw any away and I keep adding them to the tree.

Our tree is a bit over-laden with decoration.  It reminds me a bit of a department store display, but unlike that display each and every ornament on that tree is a friend of the families that tells a story of Christmases past, our families past.

It isn’t about the beauty or theme, it is about the story each tells. The girls and I put up the tree last week, Thanksgiving night, yes, that tradition stays the same.  I took a few pictures tonight of some of the treasures found between the tree boughs.

We have had Father Christmas adorn our tree for about 22 years now.  About 5 years ago I was hankering to add some retro to the Christmas decor. Specifically from the 50's, Late at night, I would browse eBay in search for some 50's ornaments.
Unless I wanted to fork over $5.00 for an ornament, I'll stay local.

 Brilliantly I thought I would pick up one of the stars that blink on top of trees, from the 50's, they made a comeback and I wanted to throw that star right on top. The Christmas Story was my inspiration.
Eeerrrkkkk, throw on the brakes.

Two of my daughter's were with me at Cracker Barrel, CB had the "ole fashion" decor, at the time, one must have been 25 and the other 22.  When I went for the star to place on top of the wooden table where they wrap presents, I heard, "Momma! don't you dare!"  I turn around startled, "What?"  "Don't you dare buy that star for our tree." Nothing at all is wrong with Father Christmas.  Dazed and confused I gently took my hand away from the star.
Who knew that it would make a difference weather or not what item nestled at the top of the family Christmas Tree.  I do now....


When the girls were young, I went in search of plastic tree ornaments. They were impossible to find. They were hideous as well,  I wasn't worried, they had a specific purpose.  I had a three year old that loved to play ball with the ornaments.  There was no way I was going to fight that game with a 3 year old all season. I finally gave up, none to be found  So, my grandmother, better known as Nanny, gave me 6 of her homemade ornaments, they had pearls, velvet, beads, and colorful pins all about, she had made them for a local retirement facility that her church often volunteered.  She knew of my hunt for plastic orniments, so, she brought some of  them over in a red cloth mesh bag, "Deanna", she said, "take some of these and let her throw them around until her heart is content."

Made with Love, Nannie

So it was, I placed them in places that I knew she could and would reach.  She spotted them later that day, grabbed them as she pleased and flung those things as far as she possibly could.  Her 2 older sisters look at her, then at me and daddy, expecting someone to get fussed at, they soon realized when I looked and noticed their concern and said, "Its OK baby, those are yours, for all of you to enjoy,  That's all they needed,  they went over to where their baby sister was and joined in on the ball game.  Year after year when they spotted those ornaments, they all knew that they belonged to them.  To this day, 24 years later the ornaments  adorn the tree with "pulls" and "frays, & stains" all over them.  I look at them and see my little girls playing ball at Christmas Time.

When the girls were little, Oh C'mon, just one more.  As I was saying, when the girls were little, Oh I imagine my oldest was about 6, Curtis and I had went and purchased are first very own set of Living Room furniture, see, before that, they were all just pieces that came from various places, some of those places I don't care to mentioned.  Anyway, I'll never forget what the suite looked like, it was modest stripes, all mauve and country blue pattern, a wood base and wood arms.  The Reeds owned Badcock then, I had went to school with Kevin Reed.  So, the first Christmas that came after we had bought the suite we received from them a little "village" house,  Just one.  I used them as ornaments.  They came every year for 10 years.  So much so, that I had put them together, bought a few other pieces, and created a village that I  put out every Christmas, and still do.

The girls themselves have ornaments on the tress that they had made through out the years.  Rugrats, the cartoon even adorns the tree.  My 2nd girl loved the cartoon.  So much so that she insisted that we bought Chickie, her favorite. 
The family has grown, 90% of the ornaments have a special meaning, event, or memory.  The grand children's first Christmas, and decor that they themselves have made live in the boughs of our tree.

He doesn't want to miss a thing

I’ve come to realize that there’s an odd parallel between men & children when it comes to bed time.  Now, the children are all grown up, but the memory always remains.  I do know that they always wanted to “stay up later”….. “just 5 more minutes……”

And, oddly enough, my hubby seems to share this inability to admit he is sleepy.

A typical evening at our home consists of some unwinding time in front of tv prior to bed.  Eventually I’m tired and will turn over and fall asleep, But first, like the nut that I am , I ask are you sleepy?  Then, like playing a broken record,  To which he always replies, “No, I’m gonna stay up a bit”.

Now this “staying up a bit” could be just after he’s:

• declared how tired he, himself, is.
• I had just looked over at him to find that he is in fact asleep, or has fallen asleep 2-3 times during the last hour while holding on to the remote
• announced that tv programming sucks, and there’s nothing to watch

But alas, none of the declarations are reason enough to put himself to bed.

So, I find myself negotiating like I would with a five year old.

“Honey, you do realize that you’re pretty much asleep?”

“Honey, you’ve been complaining all day that you didn’t get much sleep last night, so why would you want to force yourself to stay up?”

“Honey, I could understand wanting to stay up if you were in the middle of a great movie, but you are flipping through the channels deciding between Duck Dynasty and American Pickers… I bet nothing earth-shattering is going to happen that you need to know about”

And lastly…..

“Honey, I promise you will not miss anything by going to sleep now.”

And, there are generally one of 2 replies from him. He either says… “I’m just gonna flip around and see if there’s anything to watch”  — This makes no sense to me since he’s admittedly tired BUT there may just be something on some obscure channel that would keep him awake.  Or, he says “But it’s only __’o clock”  (and you can fill in just about any time whatsoever into the “__” time slot”).  It’s as if the clock dictates his bedtime not his level of exhaustion.  If it’s “only” 10:00, it’s too early to go to bed.   If it’s “only” 11:00, it’s too early to go to bed.  I’m not sure where he gathered the impression that he’s less of man if he can’t force himself to stay up past a certain time just so he can say he didn’t go to bed early.

This is not my hubby… but it might as well be!

Nope, I just don’t get it.    If I’m tired, I go to sleep.  If he’s tired he goes to sleep only if it’s past a certain time or he’s exhausted all possible options of crap tv. And, even after all that, sometimes he falls asleep with the T.V. on, lights on, no covers, and one of at least 3 doors unlocked.. thus, taking away the required decision to Go To Bed…. somehow, I feel like he thinks he’s won by not going to bed.  What exactly he’s the winner of is debatable.  In my world it’s probably along the lines of some sort of  man against man moron award, although I’m sure in the World of Men, this might just be some great honor that I’m unaware of!

Now I must ask myself.  What does it matter?  Why do I care?  Is it so important that everything and everyone is "tucked in" for me to be able to rest?
Now, that's a whole nuther' entry.

Not far from the tree...

My mother-in-law, my husband's mom, a strong woman, beautiful, witty, talented.  I could go on and on.  She is so much more than all of the above.  I can't explain  She unknowingly moves her words and movements.  You leave her a little bit kinder, a little bit nicer.
I always did learn by observation more than any book. She knows what is really important in this life.  To give love, receive love, help anyone you can that is in need, stay close to your family, never stray, teach, stand in your faith, and love the dear Lord Jesus.

Talk about "paying it forward"

She does.

Back in the day, September of 1983 I met this man, Why I fell in love so deep, so fast is quite obvious once you meet him and spend anytime at all with him.  Then, I saw him for the first time interact with his mom.  He walked up to her, picked her up by her waste and twirled her just a bit, about 1/2 a turn.  His voice was loyal, kind, and interested when he spoke to her.  "How ya doin' mom?"  The man meant it!  He look at her gently until she told him, told him how she was.  In her deep south tone, she was born, raised, and lived in the heart of the country, deep in Tennessee. You have to listen closely to understand, that's how deep her tone is. "Awe, I'm alright Son."

This man treats his mom like a fragile diamond.   Right then, right there, I knew I found MY diamond.  I knew, No other person in this world will love me in every since of the word as he.
There are no words, 
He is loved, very much loved.

By no means what-so-ever is this woman fragile, she's a spitfire.  She drives a semi, watches her grand babies and every one's babies for that matter.  She will answer your questions, so be careful what you ask.  She will tell you.  So, make sure you want to know the answer.  She's not one that will take any dishonest activities made towards her or her family.  She has worked hard her whole life, gardening for your veggies and canning is a must.  Walmart on the weekends, stocking up for another work week ahead.  Has her dinner on for her, her husband (Hi PoP, I miss you) and anyone else that drops by.  Don't come in that house and expect her to ask "you had dinner yet?"  If you know her, you know, if your hungry, grab a plate and sit down.

This woman, this woman is magic.
I love you Momma
I love you Mr. Webb
 Love, Mrs Webb