An Ornament a Year: a family tradition
Today’s guest post comes from Karissa, who
is continuing her family tradition of giving each child his or her own special
ornament on Christmas. I love how Karissa works hard to make Christmas meaningful for her family!
is continuing her family tradition of giving each child his or her own special
ornament on Christmas. I love how Karissa works hard to make Christmas meaningful for her family!
When I was growing up, my parents had a special tradition for me
and my four siblings. Each year on Christmas Eve, they would present to
us a new ornament. The ornament was a reminder of something significant
that happened in our life during the previous year. It represented a
major milestone, a memorable experience, a big accomplishment etc. When I
got married and moved to California with my new husband, my mom gave me a box
filled with 22 years worth of ornaments. To this day, when I open that
box, I don’t see the ornaments as much as I see the memories. Many
highlights of my childhood, teenage, and young-adult years are tucked snugly
into that shoebox.
and my four siblings. Each year on Christmas Eve, they would present to
us a new ornament. The ornament was a reminder of something significant
that happened in our life during the previous year. It represented a
major milestone, a memorable experience, a big accomplishment etc. When I
got married and moved to California with my new husband, my mom gave me a box
filled with 22 years worth of ornaments. To this day, when I open that
box, I don’t see the ornaments as much as I see the memories. Many
highlights of my childhood, teenage, and young-adult years are tucked snugly
into that shoebox.
When our first daughter was born, my husband and I decided we
wanted to continue the ornament tradition. I’ll admit, I don’t always put
as much thought into this as my mother did. If she couldn’t find an
ornament to suit, she would make her own. Some of the ornaments we’ve
chosen for our kids are funny and fun. Like the doll-house potty we gave
to a child who finally potty trained or the Star Wars Lego figure our son will
receive this year to represent his love for Lego building. Some ornaments
are more serious and significant. Like the snowflake we gave our oldest
daughter the year she chose to accept Jesus as her Savior. (Isaiah 1:18)
wanted to continue the ornament tradition. I’ll admit, I don’t always put
as much thought into this as my mother did. If she couldn’t find an
ornament to suit, she would make her own. Some of the ornaments we’ve
chosen for our kids are funny and fun. Like the doll-house potty we gave
to a child who finally potty trained or the Star Wars Lego figure our son will
receive this year to represent his love for Lego building. Some ornaments
are more serious and significant. Like the snowflake we gave our oldest
daughter the year she chose to accept Jesus as her Savior. (Isaiah 1:18)
As a family, we cut and decorate our Christmas tree the weekend
after Thanksgiving. My favorite moments of this weekend are watching our
kids unpack their ornament boxes. They laugh and shout and chatter over each
other in their excitement to become re-acquainted with their ornaments.
“Mom, I remember THIS ornament! Mom, this is my favorite! Mom,
remember when you and Dad gave me this one?”
after Thanksgiving. My favorite moments of this weekend are watching our
kids unpack their ornament boxes. They laugh and shout and chatter over each
other in their excitement to become re-acquainted with their ornaments.
“Mom, I remember THIS ornament! Mom, this is my favorite! Mom,
remember when you and Dad gave me this one?”
One day, Lord willing, when my kids are setting up their own home,
I hope to give them an ornament box filled with fun and special memories.
Just as my own mother did for me.
I hope to give them an ornament box filled with fun and special memories.
Just as my own mother did for me.
Last Year’s Ornaments:
9 year-old Corrine: mementos from memorable family vacations to
Kiawah Island, SC and Glen Arbor, MI
Kiawah Island, SC and Glen Arbor, MI
5 year-old Zachary: a Letter People ornament to remember his first
year of school and the curriculum his teacher used to teach the alphabet
year of school and the curriculum his teacher used to teach the alphabet
3 year old Miriam: our girly girl who hopes to wear a dress every
day of her life and dreams of becoming a princess when she grows up
day of her life and dreams of becoming a princess when she grows up
You can see this year’s ornaments in the photo at the top.
Corinne will get a photo ornament of her beloved hamster
“Margaret” who joined our family this past April. As mentioned,
Zach will get a Star Wars Lego Figure. Miriam will get her last “binky”
on a ribbon. She was our only child to use a pacifier and boy did she
LOVE her “bink”.
Corinne will get a photo ornament of her beloved hamster
“Margaret” who joined our family this past April. As mentioned,
Zach will get a Star Wars Lego Figure. Miriam will get her last “binky”
on a ribbon. She was our only child to use a pacifier and boy did she
LOVE her “bink”.
Thanks for sharing this fun family tradition, Karissa!
Awesome idea! I think our parents did this for us but sadly with a divorce and multiple moves, I never received my box (though I still have vague memories of some of them)…I just need to rebuild.
Is there a way of storing the ornaments that you'd recommend? Do you just pack them all up or organize them separately? I wouldn't mind knowing about a special kind of box or whatever…since ornaments tend to be so many different sizes and shapes and levels of fragility, I wish my Christmas box was easier to dig into each year and easier to get put away…