Comments on: A Family Tree For Christmas, Part 1

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:41:28 +0000

I love this tree…and i love that Orison took the initiative to get that tree out.

This is my first Christmas without my baby daughter. I know I will be counting Christmases as I have been counting months. I sort of wish this month will fly quickly by…just this year…but then I remember I will never get this time back with my four little ones still at home. Ahh, so I continue to move forward, navigating through this journey…

By: Phoenix

Phoenix — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:09:57 +0000

My husband passed away this year. Christmas seems to intensify the feelings of loss. We put up our tree last night. Our Christmas decorating was also prompted and orchestrated by a small child.

By: Laura @ Texas in Africa

Laura @ Texas in Africa — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:38:22 +0000

I have a dinky tree that I bought at Target for $15 my first year of grad school when I was so homesick and cold I couldn’t stand to not have some lights in my little apartment. It’s barely holding together anymore and I will probably replace it at the after-holiday sales, but I don’t know if I can get rid of it. I’ve been to 36 or so countries since then and try to bring home an ornament from as many as possible. My collection is such a good reminder of God’s grace that has brought me safe thus far…

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:11:38 +0000

Hi Molly!
I’m actually doing a few posts on our families’ Christmas traditions- we’re having so much fun with the kids! What is special about our tree this year, is that we are following “The Advent Jesse Tree” for the first time (our oldest is 4 so first year she could REALLY start to understand) and I’m loving the simple yet sacredness of it all. But I love our Nativity tradition too…so much fun for the kids, and fun for my husband and I to make Mary take naps and rest and sit on the donkey, etc. I bet Orison and Morrow would enjoy it and can only guess that Abraham and you would make it fun as well. Hope you all have a blessed Christmas. How special it will be for you to one day be reunited with your Felicity all because of this very holiday…God sending His Son to earth as a babe that we might have eternal life with Him forever.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:02:12 +0000

Hi Molly,

That is a BEAUTIFUL tree! Hooray for Orison for taking the initiative. It sounds as though you are going to have a VERY exciting Christmas this year.

I used to look at the trees in shopping catalogues and in department stores – so perfect – all decorated in one colour only…all gold baubles and gold ribbon and gold tinsel…or all red…or all blue. They always look so beautiful.

Our own tree has a crazy mix of decorations that don’t match at all. But every single decoration has a special story – a gift from a special friend, a decoration bought by us at a special time to mark a special occasion like the birth of a child, a precious decoration made at Kindergarten. Each year we put our tree up very slowly, remembering the background of each decoration and giving thanks for the person who generously gave it to us or giving thanks for the special memory (and people) it marks.

We live in Australia where sadly we do not celebrate Thanksgiving Day. But in our family, the day we put our Christmas tree up is our Thanksgiving Day. So it doesn’t look perfect like the glossy ones in the shops. But it couldn’t be more perfect.

Have a blessed Christmas. Thanks for your beautiful blog.

By: joyinthevalley

joyinthevalley — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:49:14 +0000

Great idea! An online video tutorial is in order. After all, that’s how I learned how to fold a fitted sheet ;)

By: Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:51:35 +0000

I loved this post.
My husband and I have been married 5 years and have had a tree for 3 of those years. I like that my mom gave me all the ornaments that my grandparents gave to me each year for Christmas when I was little so I can now put them on my own tree.
I love the white glow from the lights. It makes me pause and think, “all is calm, all is bright.”

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:49:24 +0000

Praise the Lord for Orison. I remember as child hearing that children were a blessing from the Lord, and I thought it was some sentimental phrase about cuddling with cute kids and cheesy Christmas photo cards.

It wasn’t until I became a mama that I began to experience the life-altering blessings that He gives us through our children. I can’t count the times that Ava with a turn of a phrase has brought me back into the present or shaken off a stupor of sadness.

I love how Orison pulls into Christmas completely unaware of the gift he is giving you.

By: Abbie Kampman

Abbie Kampman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:19:54 +0000

just read the above comments on the nativity calendar. bummer! i wonder if your mother in law could tell us how to make one??

By: Abbie Kampman

Abbie Kampman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:18:23 +0000

I loved this post. However, I am very interested in that advent nativity calendar that is behind the tree–can you email me about where you bought it (Or how you made it??). I would love to own one myself! What a great idea :) Or you could write a post about it…either way! Thanks!