Christmas Traditions
We have quite a few Christmas traditions at our house... and yes, I am a bit CRAZY about Christmas. The tradition I focused on with my card is actually one that brings a sweet tear to my eye every year - each and EVERY year!
The tradition is the one that centers around the last ornament placed on our main Christmas tree each year. It is a very special ornament... one of two that I have that were my grandparents. (The other one is a very fragile and very old glass ball. Due to its fragility, I take it out of the wrapping and lovingly look at it a moment and then store it away - safely - not to be seen again until the following Christmas.)
The ornament of this tradition is a non-breakable ornament, red and white. There's nothing outstanding about its appearance, but it is very special to me because of whose it was. My grandparents were very important in my life. As a young child, I spent as much time with them as I could, which was challenging since we rarely lived very close to them... and it was always a joy to be there. Most years we made the journey to their home/farm during Christmas break. Their tree was a cedar that my Grandpa found on their farm. I'd go along, if we got there a day or two earlier than Christmas, as Grandpa walked the fields hunting for that year's tree. I'd watch as he sawed it down. I'd think I was helping as he took it home, though I'm sure now that I really was no help at all. After it was trimmed, placed in water, and set up, I'd get to help decorate it.
My Grandpa made Christmas a special time for me. Those are the memories that bring the tears to my eye when I put my grandparents' ornament on our tree each year. As I said, it is the last ornament placed on that tree and I always reflect on my love for my grandparents as I place it there.
I just wish my grandparents were still with us and I was putting that ornament on the tree in their living room instead of in my own.
I hope you'll share your Christmas Traditions
with us at International Art & Soul!
July 22 - August 4
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
Supplies Used
Stamp: MFT Sparkling Season stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers
Papers: Recollections Green, 110# Red, and 110# White CS and DP from the Paper Studio Holiday Wonder Paper Pad
Embellishments: Foof-a-La Buttons, Paper Studio Snowflake Brad, and Ribbon (from a friend - THANK YOU Vickie!)
Oh, it's a lovely tradition to keep up. We were in N Carolina in 1984 and one of our hosts gave us a silver dogwood tree ornament and said "hang it on your tree and think of me" and I do it every year, though my tree now is an artificial ornamental one. Our family has many traditions that I hope I've passed on to my sons. Hazel x
ReplyDeleteLove your story Jeanette, how wonderful to have those memories!! A wonderful card to go with it too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
Pretty holiday card!
ReplyDeleteWe have a Christmas tradition that involves dressing up a rubber chicken! Enough said!
Oh what a lovely story of your childhood and Christmas Jeanette, wonderful memories. My Chrismtas was a curry lunch on a beach in West Africa :) :) Love this card and the link you have in creating it with your traditions :) :) xxxx
ReplyDeleteA beautiful card and a tradition that brought a tear to my eye, such a beautiful tradition to have. Long may it continue
ReplyDelete