By now, you probably know that at our house, we like to keep our Christmas tree up half the year. This is not out of laziness, but because we love it so much. In Christmas Tree Confessions, I tell the whole story of how it gets redecorated for each major holiday up until Easter. And then, it comes down. Well, here we are at that time of year, and it always has me feeling a host of feelings.
When it’s time to let our multi-holiday tree rest a spell, I always feel an initial pang of sadness as I click the button to turn off the lights until next year. I love soft glow of the lights on the tree, and the warmth they bring to the house. I love the way they sparkle silently when the rest of the house is quiet and has gone to bed. When I sneak into the kitchen for a late-night cup of my favorite sleepytime tea, I sit and admire their twinkling as I wait for the water to heat up. This is the part I miss the most.
Along with this slight sadness, I also feel a hint of relief as a bit of the clutter goes away with the tree. You know what I mean…the “extra” stuff that competes for my attention during the day, as my eyes scan the room for things to tidy. We could say that putting the tree away is like a sweeping of the proverbial cobwebs (nevermind the real ones that get lost behind the tree…). It feels something like a reboot for the house. Since I am already in Spring Cleaning mode, this is perfect.
And then there’s the reminiscing. You see, we decorate our holiday trees with ornaments handmade by the kids when they were young, cards given to us in years past, and even photos sometimes. I can’t resist opening the cards to read who they’re from, staring just a moment at the photos, and holding the decorations in my hands just a little longer than normal to remember the tiny hands that made them. Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes. It always brings a smile to my face, though. It’s an emotional journey each time, regardless of which emotions, because the “great tree cleanup” never fails to remind me how quickly time passes. How precious it truly is. How much we really have to be thankful for and joyful about.
What do you have, or do, in your home that helps you think about these things? Do you have a memory wall filled with collage-framed family photos? My grandma’s house always did when I was growing up. I loves strolling down the hallway slowly, staring at each one, connecting with family members I never got to meet on this side of life. Maybe you have collection of figurines that you gathered through the years, and each one holds a memory of its origin. I have a bunch of Precious Moments that commemorate many large events in my life since I was a child. Or perhaps you are looking to start an ongoing tradition or project that will help you and your kids connect the past with the present. Any way it happens, I pray that the blessings of your memories, and the knowledge of your past, will grow with you into your future. Here are a few starter ideas if you need some help along the way:
- teacup collection…I have a few antiques from both of my grandmothers
- golf ball collection from places you’ve traveled, displayed on a hanging wall rack
- wall-hanging photo collage of family and friends
- photo books for your coffee table
- guest book for the house…especially if you have family come from far away to visit you during the year
- Christmas tree ornaments from places you’ve traveled
- poems and artwork by each child…save at least one per year and make into a book to be added to each year
- special holiday cards sent by “snail mail”
- beautiful rocks from different family homes and vacation destinations (use a paint pen to label where each is from and the date it was collected)…displayed in a pretty glass container
And now, I am off to take down the Easter Tree. Wish me luck! I’ve got my fresh cup of coffee poured, my jazz music in the background, and a load of laundry in the washing machine. Let’s do this. I’m ready. Aren’t I?? I think I’ll just grab a quick bite of dark chocolate for good measure…here we go!!