Christmas Decorating- a Love/Hate Relationship

Christus StatueStocking Closeup

26 Stockings
I have to admit that Greg and I don't love Christmas decorating! We love the finished product and the spirit it brings at Christmas, but let's face it, the actual DOING is not great fun perhaps because there are ALWAYS strands of lights that don't work even when they were fine when you put them away last year, AND strands of lights tend to stop working AFTER you have them on the tree or above the window, etc.

Nine years ago, when Matt and Sara were married on December 10th, we had their Open House here at our home. We purchased a beautiful artificial tree (expensive one that honestly looks real) and some beautiful and, yes, expensive decorations. We elicited the help of our good friend, Mary Cook, to help us decorate it and it turned out absolutely gorgeous! And for 9 years we have LOVED that tree. Reason being, when the holidays are over, we simply wrap the tree in a shrink wrap, leaving all decorations and lights in place, and carry it out into our garage to its perfect little storage nook. And when Christmas rolls around again, we carry it in, cut off said shrink wrap, pull down the branches, make a few adjustments, and stand back and say "Ahhhhh, I love this tree!"

Now, I cannot honestly say that there have not been a few problems over the years. After about the 5th or 6th year, many strands of lights went out over the holiday season and Brad and Lori had to come to our rescue! Yes, without taking off too many decorations, they cut the dead strands of lights out of the tree and loosely wound replacements! And because there are so many beautiful bobbles, it still looked great! But each year since, we have had at least one strand which either would not light upon bringing the tree in, or went out over the course of days. This year was no exception. In spite of that, I did LOVE my tree this year!

However, I believe we have seen the last of our "perpetual evergreen" as it is! When we were covering it with shrink wrap this year, we heard a funny noise and realized that the trunk had probably cracked or something. And since I am actually typing this in Feb 09 though posting it with a before Christmas date, I can tell you that we noticed the top of the tree is leaning WAY over out in the garage! Well, I guess a good thing like that can't last forever! We will just have to break down and get another tree this next Christmas and start the whole process over again. I still do have my same decorations, however, and will reapply! Now, do you think we are crazy? Really, you should try it!

Now, notice that I did not take a picture of my tree. I am not sure why, but it tells me that our evergreen symbol of Christmas is not my favorite decoration! My favorites as you can see are my statue of Christ purchased not long after the Madrid Temple dedication and my 26 stockings above our gas fireplace representing each one of our family. As for the Christus, it is a Lladro, the only one I have or will ever have. But I treasure it. These were commissioned by the church and created in commemoration of the opening of the first temple in Spain where my son-in-law, Brad, served a mission. The Lladro artists drew their inspiration from the original by Bertel Thorvaldsen. A life-size statue stands in the Visitors Center on Temple Square in Salt Lake. I love it so much that it stays in my front room all year around minus the greenery you see here. It is a daily reminder of what is really important.

Regarding the stockings, each has a name on it beginning with Greg and me, grouped by families, and ending with our little Cannon most recently born into our family just last August. Every time Greg and I look at it, it reminds us how blessed we have been and how grateful we are for the ministry of the Savior and his teachings that have brought us joy beyond measure! The picture does not do this justice, but I can't put into words how happy it makes us every time I look at these simple little stockings.

So, though I may not like the actual process of decorating, I do love the result and the reminders of the real purpose of the Christmas season!