Decking our halls......

We went tree shopping this weekend!

After shopping at three tree places,

we finally decided on a 7 foot

noble fir to decorate this year.


To our great pleasure,
only about 10% of our
Christmas ornaments were broken in the move
from Rhode Island to Washington.
Usually it's more like 75%
and we have to make a trip
to replenish them......
which is fun if you are a shop-a-holic
and like new and shiny things,
but it's not so great for
keeping traditions
and having a tree full of
passed down treasures.


One set has lasted through 16 years of moves though.
My mom bought this sports ornament set
when I was still in high school.
It was from one of those fund raiser magazines
that are full of holiday items.
Bren was so excited to
hang one of the soccer ball ornaments
from that set
this year!
You know, since she's a
soccer star and
everything.


Madison, Michael, Bren, David and I
adorned the tree
with enough sparkle and shimmer
to fill every branch!
It felt a little different this year
because Zach was at work
while we decorated.
Just a sign that
times they are a-changin.
We were very limited on time slots
to decorate this year,
because David deployed this morning
(he'll be home just in time for Christmas)
and there were so many other things
that needed to be done
to prepare for that.

So unfortunately
we had to pick a time that
didn't work for Zach.
He's 17 though,
so he'd rather walk into a fully decorated house
then have to actually do the decorating himself,
so it was all good.
We missed him though.

Every time we decorate a new dwelling

it takes a while for things to find their place.

Over the past few years,

we've found it difficult to establish an easy

transition from normal everyday decor to

our festive holiday decor

because

we've decorated a different house each time.

Often we are left with items that

just don't go in the new place,

or we put everything out and find that

it just doesn't look quite done.

That's where I am right now.

Something just isn't quite saying

"Merry Christmas, you are home!"

for me yet.

We don't really have the extra cash this year

to fix it like I want it,

but I'm thinking of doing a few crafts with Bren

and Madison

to fill in the gaps.

This is the first year we have had a mantle

to hang the stocking from!

So, naturally,

stocking holders were the first thing on my list

when we picked up a few Christmas items

for the house this year!

I'm going to go get some wooden letters

to paint gold and glue to the top of the plain holders.

It will say "REJOICE".

There are only 6 in our family,

but we'll hang an extra stocking

each year to fill for those who visit us for the holidays

or

if it's just us,

then we'll hang the extra one

to remember those who can't be with us.

This year the extra stocking will be filled

for my mom who flies in on Christmas Eve!!

Woot!!!!

I hope you like the

Christmas music I added to my blog.

The first song,

"How Many Kings"

by Down Here,

is my new favorite Christmas song!!

Here are the powerful lyrics....

*

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe after all we’ve projected

A child in a manger
Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl

Just a child

Is this who we’ve waited for?
Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior

All that we have whether costly or meek

Because we believe

Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer

Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?

It’s who we’ve waited for
How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me
All for me

All for you

All for me

All for you
*

What an incredibly awesome and unconditional

gift God's love for us is!

I'm so glad that He loved me enough to

step down from his thrown,

abandon his home,

become the least,

pour out his heart,

romance my world,

and give up his son,

all

for

me.