Our Hodgepodge Christmas

Friday morning we got out the tree and all the trimmings. I love decorating for christmas! We got about as far as setting the tree up before it was time to head out for a bit, so the tree sat there waiting, like a blank canvas. Every once in a while I think that maybe one year I will do a theme tree and coordinate everything. Maybe all old fashioned ornaments this time. Or all handmade. You see, my family has a tradition of exchanging ornaments every year so I have ended up with a very random assortment. They range from things I made as a small child to things made for me and eccentric store bought items. There are teddy bears and angles, snowflakes, nutcrackers, stars and bells. There are wizards on broom sticks and santas on skis. And so I sometimes think it might be interesting to set aside all the silliness and have a "plan" for the tree. But then I start unwrapping ornaments and I remember when I got them or who gave them to me or what phase of my life I was in when a particular ornament was gifted. There are ornaments from old friends and teachers and ornaments that commemorate milestones or accomplishments. The warmth and love in those ornaments is really the true essence of Christmas, so despite thinking about things like coordinating and having a plan, every year I am truly happy to hang my hodgepodge of ornaments and create a tree that is unique. No one else has a Christmas tree exactly like mine. And now my husbands story has joined mine on the tree. The ornaments my family gave him as we dated are there. The ornament my sister-in-law had made to commemorate our engagement sits front and center. And the ornaments we have given each other mix in through the years of ornaments on the tree. And every year the story on our tree will grow and change. And every year it will be a thrill to unwrap those ornaments and remember all those Christmases past.I love our hodgepodge Christmas tree and I wouldn't trade it for anything.