I am logging in and showing off the beautiful gifts I received for Christmas this year from my friend, Michelle V (here's a link to her blog). She and I have become even better friends since being linked up in the Siesta Ornament Exchange, and I just love her transparency and her beautiful testimony of God's mercy and grace as He remains and sustains her as Bridegroom in life and as a Father to her children in every way. She is a joy, a blessing and a beautiful treasure of God to me. So, now... as they say from the Big Stage... On With The Show (off)!
First of all, Michelle learned all about our two Christmas trees and the holiday trauma that has often ensued. I will write more about the trees in a different post, but I have a tree that I purchased the year Justin died (a small in diameter, 6 1/2 foot pre-lit number) that was easy to assemble and disassemble solo. And, I decorate it these days with all manner of Gold, Silver, Glass and Red ornaments that honor Christ, the Nativity, Heaven, and so forth. It is a heavenly display of angels and stars and all things gloriously delicate and beautiful. I call it the "Jesus" Tree.
Michelle sent me these two beautiful Dayspring ornaments for my "Jesus" Tree:
An elegant set of Silver Hearts on a Red Ribbon contains a reflection about Christmas.
Heart 1: Faith (Galatians 2:20), Heart 2: Hope (Romans 15:13), Heart 3: Love (Romans 5:5)
Heart four: Joy (Nehemiah 8:10 - I Love this Verse!), Heart Five: Peace (John 14:27), Heart Six: Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11)
And this beautiful Jesus Ornament:
(Side Note: On October 31st, we were not planning to be home to hand out tracts and candy bars. So I bought regular sized candy bars and put them out on the front porch in a bowl with a poster that said, Please take one. "Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17. I used to pray that Scripture for Justin when he was going through his difficult days of adolescence. It has extra special meaning to me and so is a beautiful ornament that fits perfectly with my Jesus Tree.)Next, we have the "Memory" Tree. This is the tree that has all our "life story" ornaments on it. Our favorite things like snowflakes and teddy bears, Santa Claus, Snowmen and Reindeer run the branches... There's even a Harley Davidson ornament in there that I often call my husband's dream ornament. All the ornaments that I have that were made by my children are on this tree and even a few that I made as a child as well as ornaments from my mother's Santa collection as well.
Michelle also sent me these precious little wooden snowmen complete with a rustic wire hook attached. She sent me an email after she sent the package out in the mail telling me she had a story about some of what she sent me. The story is that her mother made her a whole bunch of these snowmen for her own tree and when she learned I loved snowmen she had to send me a couple. I just love them. Snowmen make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. My house is covered in them... They are precious on our memory tree. A terrific reminder of the beautiful year I have had with God and the Siestas. Such a blessing, what a joy! I'm overwhelmed.
A special thanks to Patty, Kim and Holly over at the Siesta Blog for hosting this fun and friendly exchange. Stop by and check out what others received for Christmas from one Siesta to another
Merry Christmas, because JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON.
