I received a beautiful beaded Christmas tree ornament in the mail from Dee (Little Stone Schoolhouse) on my sidebar. Isn’t it lovely? Thank you so much Dee. It’s hanging on the tree where I can see it often.
I’m currently working on a nine patch square. I think I have nineteen squares done and I’m now knitting the border on this one. They are quite time consuming and it’s all I have worked on since I last posted.
I thought I would share some of my favorite Christmas decorations and ornaments with you and why they are important to me.
Many of you have seen these decorations before as I talk about them often because they mean so much to me.
First of all is the ornament I got when I was five years old from my Sunday school teacher. It always gets pride of place on the tree. It’s been on the tree for 54 years now!
The star is from the very first Christmas tree after Dennis was born. His Mom gave it to us when we first got married for our tree, so that makes 63 years for the star! I cherish it.
This nativity in a jar is from Teresa, (Teresa Kasner) on my side bar, she made it for me several years ago and I love it. I received the card this week from Sharon who is (calligraphy cards-Shaz in Oz) on my side bar. She makes all of her own cards and does an amazing job. Isn’t it beautiful?
I have a few more I’ll be sharing with you over the next couple of weeks.
Alex’s flight yesterday morning was canceled, he never did find out why they kept delaying it and delaying it and finally just canceled it altogether with the result that he was left for an extra day in Omaha. Tara‘s flight did take-off for New York City and she was already at work in the afternoon when she sent me a message. The airline paid for a very nice hotel room for Alex. He took an Uber to Grandma’s and spent the afternoon and evening with her. He said it actually was a wonderful gift and he’s glad it happened, although he had to do quite a bit of juggling on his schedule because he was scheduled for meetings in Tokyo today. They really enjoyed their time together. As I write this, he is about halfway across the Pacific Ocean.
The kids have all been gone for a week and I thought I was prepared for them to be so far away again. But as I type this, tears are falling again. I know. I sound like a whiner. Goodness, I do miss our kids. I think having had such a wonderful time Thanksgiving week makes me realize how much I miss those days of being together. I know life changes and the days move on and for heavens sake, we’ve been empty-nesters for 12 years now! You would really think I would be used to this. Goodbyes never get any easier though do they? I am so proud of all of our kids and I wouldn’t expect them to change their lives and I hope I never feel make them feel bad for the choices they’ve made. But, I would rather have the tears when they leave than to not care at all. Don’t you think so too? I think it’s a normal mom thing. At least that’s what I tell myself! Ha!
I hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday and enjoying the preparations for Christmas without having too much stress. I’m enjoying watching a lot of YouTube knitters/crocheters as they do what is called Vlogmas. Short daily videos of their Christmas preparations. Lots of fun.
I will leave you with a photo of Alex and Tara at the Grand Canyon at sunrise last Wednesday. Aren’t those colors beautiful? He sent me a photo this morning when he flew back over the Grand Canyon on his way to Los Angeles. The two different perspectives are amazing.
From his flight this morning.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” Galatians 6:10a
Blessings,
Betsy
How special that you still have those very old ornaments, my goodness, and they are still beautiful. I felt like crying, reading about your children being so far away again and the house being quiet. When Andee and Todd lived in Alaska, and then in Germany, it felt like my heart would break I missed them so much, and their visits home went by too fast. Good thing you have your knitting and crocheting. The colors are beautiful in that picture.
ReplyDeleteNormal? You bet it is normal! They are the dearest part of our hearts. Yes they are happy, the world is smaller thank God, and we are blessed. BUT WE MISS THEM and each visit ends for us in tears and a bit of sadness no matter how we try not to let it be so.
ReplyDeleteI love your ornaments
Your boy sure did cover a lot of ground while he was here! It was fun to see them at the Grand Canyon and then to see him flying over it. I'm glad he got that bonus time with Grandma. You're getting lots of gifts sent your way, you're a well loved blogger. It was good to talk with you! Enjoy your peaceful week. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
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Ornaments that have a story behind them are the most precious. Yours are so sweet.
ReplyDeleteIt must be so very hard to have your children be so far away, especially at Christmas.
My childhood tree had the exact star on top! Thanks for the memories
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty ornament from Dee! I enjoyed seeing all your special ornaments Betsy. I hope to show some of mine (once we get the tree decorated...tomorrow!!). It is so hard when your children are far away. The year Colin taught in South Korea was tough for me. Thank goodness it is easier to get around these days!
ReplyDeleteYour ornaments are lovely. I have a shoe box of "my" ornaments that the family knows not to touch. They are special to me and I'm the only one allowed to hang or remove them from the tree. Another special to me thing is the angel for our tree. It's cheaply made and pretty ugly but my dad bought it for me the year I moved out of the house and I cherish it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the kids being far away... I don't know how moms let their kids move across or out of the country. I just found out my son will be starting a new job in May and he'll be moving an hour and a half away. And hour and a half, and I'm completely freaking out about it. LOL But if I'm honest with myself, what I'm really freaked out about is that he's having my first grand baby in March and he'll be taking her "so far" away from me.
It breaks my heart to think of you having to wait so long to see your dear children again, and I can surely understand how much it meant to you to have them all together. We can get so accustomed to current life sometimes that we forget just how much we are missing by having lost what was normal for us in the past. I think it is very normal for a loving mother's heart to feel the way you do, dear friend. It shows how deeply you truly care, and I am sure your kids do not feel that you guilt them. It probably makes them feel extremely loved to know that you miss them so much. That was neat how Alex sent you the two pictures of the Grand Canyon. My, what a difference there was between the two perspectives of the photos! So sweet to visit with you today. May God bless and comfort your heart in times of longing for your loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing about your ornaments! I've got some precious ones too but since the cats showed up I've been afraid to put them out.
ReplyDeleteI understand your tears all too well. I have cried my way to and from the airport so many times I've lost count. Thank goodness for today's technology. Texting is the only way I know my kids are still alive.
That star was on my tree growing up, too!
ReplyDeleteNice to see the glimpses of your Christmas season!
I love your ornaments and the story behind them. I don't blame you for missing your family. They seem pretty wonderful and they must love you and Dennis quite a bit to all come home to be with you! Great picture of Alex and Tara? Is that his girlfriend? I can't keep track of all of them. That was probably no coincidence that he got to spend time with his grandmother. I hope he has a safe trip home and that you stay warm and cozy! The beaded ornament is beautiful and so is Teresa'a nativity scene.
ReplyDeleteYes, so hard to say goodbye to the kids when they leave. The Grand Canyon is just beautiful. We have only been to the south rim. So nice to have those saved ornaments. Nancy
ReplyDeleteI had an ornament very similar your yours they handed them out in church on Christmas Eve....I wonder if my Mom kept them? Your husbands ornament is so so beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteToday I got your card and the stitch marker! That was ever so kind of you! Thank you!
Empty nests are so very hard...have to make the best of the time we have when we are together. I know that probably doesn't help much.
Sending you lots of love Betsy, I will never get used to my kids being away. It is like a piece of my heart is missing. You are a wonderful mother and grandmother, you love so deeply and those kids all have been blessed by our love.
ReplyDeleteYup...good bye tears and empty nest tears are normal in my experience as well. I am so grateful for the times of love shared in our families. Could you send me the names of some of the YouTube knitters/crocheters you are watching, please. Sending you lots of hugs, dear Betsy.
ReplyDeleteSending some great big hugs!! I know how you feel and my kids are not that far away. Holidays always make me a bit sad- especially Christmas. I look back on all the wnderful times we had when the kids and grands were little. Now my kids are 40(ish) and my grands are all teens except for my youngest.
ReplyDeleteOh my!
Thanks so much for the sweet Christmas card. I loved it. Have a Merry Christmas.