Christmas Trees & Family Museums . . .

Have you ever noticed that when you put your ornaments on your Christmas tree that you are creating a family museum? If you and your family are like most families, over the years, you bought, collected, got handed-down and even made many of the ornaments. Perhaps there are a few left from your childhood that were significant to you or another family member. Maybe the ones you have purchased over the years were because the ornament reminded you of a special person or event in you and your family’s life. Could be that there is a particular collection of ornaments from places visited. The ones that are most precious are the ones that were hand made by you or your child.

 

All or many of these decorations represent your family and your memories, and that is what a Family Museum is all about. As you take the baubles out of the box, I bet you can tell a story about it as you gaze upon the shining object, touch the sparkles, and even see your reflection on the ornament as you hang it on the tree. And as you tell the story it makes you recall that moment in time when you first saw it and put it on the tree. And when you find one that has broken it might make you ponder on why it broke. Were you not careful enough with it? Did you rush it into the box not realizing that it may be in jeopardy as other ornaments were placed in the box? Though it may have broken, the memory is still there and maybe you can find another one like it to replace it or maybe even fix it.

Whatever and however you decorated your Christmas tree this year, remember that you are witnessing a gathering of memories and perhaps you should write them down, place the little note with the ornament for the future. It is essential in life to keep your memories alive and well.

My Christmas gift to you and your family are these wonderful quotes I have assembled and listed in my book,

Create a Family Museum and Save Your History,

to read and keep in mind as you go through life.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

 

 

Quotes:

 

“Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future.”                                          ~ Mattie Stepanek

"Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your children's children."                                                         ~ Deuteronomy

 

“A morsel of genuine history, a thing so rare as to be always valuable.”             ~ Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States

 

“Keep some souvenirs of your past, or how will you ever prove it wasn’t all a dream?”                                                           ~ Ashleigh Brilliant

“If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them, too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are.”                                               ~ Madeleine L’Engle, American Writer

 

My book is available through the publisher’s website:

Orders@HeritageBooks.com and available on Amazon

 

  

 

Christmas Memories . . . The Decorations

How many boxes of holiday decorations do you have? Over the years my family has amassed a collection of Christmas decorations, so much so, we could personally decorate several homes.  And over the years we have organized and re-organized these boxes, storing them in closets, basements, attics, and the garage. We have gotten better at this task and after 45 years of Christmas decorating, we have it down to a science, but like all organizational tasks, it takes time and patience, but it does pay off.  

Let’s start at the end of the holiday when everything goes back into their box. This is the time you really need to take your time and it is also the time you don’t want to take because honestly, the holidays are over and so is the excitement. So, as the saying goes, it takes time to make time.  One box at a time and if possible, purchase the boxes that are made to store holiday items. These boxes are pretty sturdy and are well marked so you know what is inside them. And label the box as well. For example, “Family room decorations.”

The tree ornaments need special care, especially when they have been in the family for a long time. Over the years we have collected some wonderful ornaments that have special meanings and memories. I would love to put one or two into our Family Museum, however, space is limited. But when they come out of their wrappings and are once again hung on the tree, all those memories can be shared again, for at least a month or so.

Decorative and tree lights are always my bane, and I must admit, after I have literally pulled them off a mirror or the long string off the tree, I don’t plug the lights back in to make sure I didn’t pull a light out or broke one, which means either I fix it right then and there, or buy a new set, which is not very economical. So again, taking the time to make sure all the lights still work will be a blessing next Christmas.

Outside decorations are another animal. Big, bulky, and messy from weather-related events. For storing these items, purchase those big green plastic containers and again, label the containers with what is inside. And whether you store them in a garage or basement, you want to be sure the containers are air-tight for all the reasons you know.    

So now with all your decorations are organized and preserved, you can look forward to the next time you begin this endeavor and perhaps when you start your decorating, you will feel like a “Who in Who Ville” instead of a “Grinch.“