Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decor Crawl ~ Karen Witemeyer

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I love to decorate for Christmas. Almost all of the items that I have collected over the years carry sentimental value. Some I can remember picking out with my husband 30 years ago. Others I remember crafting with love as a new mom. Some were gifts from friends and family. Others were made by the kids when they were in school. Some were crafted by my daughter as she fell in love with hand-making Christmas items. Our decor wouldn’t be found in the pages of a magazine, but it warms my heart every year.

The item I chose to share for our Filly Christmas Decor Crawl is my fireplace mantle. This section is dear to my heart for many reasons.

  1. Sentiment. I cross-stitched each of the stockings. Opening stockings on Christmas morning is a tradition I grew up with and one I intended to keep after I married. When my daughter was born, it was important for me to have personalized stockings for each family member. So, for the first year, I stitched stockings for my husband, myself, and my little girl. Two years later, I added my first son. Then after another two years, I added number three. Each of these stocking took months to stitch, but every thread carried love and joy.
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  2. Festivity. I love Christmas garlands, and while this one is simple, the classic green and red shout Christmas and bring a smile to my face.
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  3. Faith. It’s always been important to me to remember that Christmas is all about the birth of our Savior. Since the fireplace is the focal point of our room, I wanted there to be a prominent display of the nativity there. I have collected Willow Tree figurines for years, and when I discovered they had a nativity set, I began asking for the pieces for Christmas. Then last year, I found the “O Come All Ye Faithful” sign at Hobby Lobby and it added the perfect finishing touch. Some of the nativity animals are hard to see behind the garland, but I love the reminder of the reason for the season.

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and that you are enjoying time with family and friends. May 2024 be a year of abundant blessings and good books.

Christmas Decor Crawl ~ Jeannie Watt

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Happy Day After Christmas!

I have to admit that my decorating has become more free form as time goes on. This year my two-year-old granddaughter helped decorate the tree, so we put the “special” decorations at the top and then let her direct the rest, using those wonder plastic Christmas balls that never break–even when a two-year-old feels enthusiastic in her decorating efforts. It’s a cheerful free for all, and we had so much fun putting it up.

We also decorate our outside “tree”. We put up this tree to give larger birds a place to land as they survey the area, and every Christmas it becomes our Festivus Tree.

And, as you can see, the cats truly enjoy the season. Sometimes they help with the wrapping and sometimes they guard the tree.

I hope everyone had the best Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

Jeannie