Christmas Tree: Past, Present & Future Jolene Navarro
Hola! Jolene Navarro checking in from the Texas Hill Country.
Saturday after Thanksgiving is another day to carry out a tradition of gratitude for my family. Each year memories are treasured and hopes are added.
As a kid, I anticipated the holidays with nothing but joy and excitement. From baking cookies with my family to lights, performing at school and church, visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to the games we played and opening the first round of gift Christmas eve, to Santa’s visit and then Christmas day. It was one exciting event after another.
My mother, Cindy, sister Tracye and myself at the tree
Then as a young mother, it carried over to even more with my four little ones. I loved every minute of the celebrations. Which is one of the reasons I love writing Christmas stories. My lastest is full of Christmas joy as Xavier De La Rosa is finding his way back to his family in The Texan’s Surprise Return.
As we get older we also face loss. This can be the hardest and most obvious during the holidays. Our Christmas past becomes an important part of our present.
Now as I add each ornament it comes with a memory. Some I didn’t even know how important it would become until it was the last of something. Early in my marriage, I decided I wanted a theme tree and it would be all about angels and stars. My tree would celebrate the birth of Christ.
One of my daughters and one son putting on the lights.
Each year my mother would give me a new angel to add to my tree. Right before Thanksgiving in 2006, we lost her suddenly and unexpectedly. No chance to say goodbye. But she had already bought my angel for that year. It would be the last one I’d received from her.
In memory of my mother-in-law and the reminder that hope is part of our future
Of course, I have all the precious ones my children made during their school years. Then a couple of years ago after losing my mother-in-law, we made one for each of our parents. These ornaments became a special part of our Christmas tree each year. My husband and I don’t have our parents any longer but we have memories and those are added to the hopes for the future.
The white reindeer from my great grandmother and my daughter in the 2nd grade.
My children all are in their 20s now and the future is theirs.
The last angel my mother gave me.
Do you have special ornaments that remind you to be thankful for all you have had in Christmas past and items that give you hope for the future?
November Release The Texan’s Surprise Return
Jolene’s life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, and all of life's wonderful messiness. She knows that, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heart breakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that holding hands and dancing in the rain never gets old. She loves creating stories of love and faith in her much loved Texas.
I have decorations that my children made decades ago. Truly precious and full of wonderful memories.
I agree that every ornament on my tree has a story and a memory. Now that my children are grown and live several state away, I am the one decorating the tree. Thinking of those memories as I place them on the tree is one of the blessings I enjoy at Christmas.
Hi Jolene! Thanks for sharing your Christmas memories from the Texas Hill Country. Last month our youngest son just moved from Michigan to Austin, Texas, which is north of the Hill Country. I have never been to Texas so this inquiring mom had is now acquainting herself with the Lone Star state. My favorite Christmas Ornament is my youngest son’s preschool thumbprint made into a mouse. After my dad passed, I also made a special picture ornament to remember my parents for each of my children and my brother. On the back are their names and dates of birth, death and wedding anniversary. I also have special ornaments from friends and former students. Lots of memories. Now as an Oma, I gift yearly ornaments to my grandchildren. Best wishes.
I have ornaments that my oldest nephew made of hand-blown glass. I also have other ornaments that mean a lot to me, though we don’t put a tree up anymore. We use our ceramic tree a friend from church gave us, our Nativity, and other decorations. I think everyone has at least one sentimental decoration!
They are my favorite.
It’s a very peaceful time. I love going through my ornaments
Now you will have to visit. Austin is just about an hour and a half away from my home. It’s one of my favorite towns. I have a daughter that lives there.
Wow. I love glass ornaments. I had several before I had kids. Lol I dont have them anymore.
I have a dated ornament for every year since my hubby and I have been married. I collect ornaments from places we visit. So every time I put them on the trees (many years I decorate two trees), they remind me of the trip and the good time we had.
Most of my ornaments have a special memory. My mom gave me the ornament they bought the year I was born (1978), and my mother-in-love gave us the ornament from the year my husband was born (1979). I also have an ornament from my mom for the year I graduated high school, as well as ornaments for each year my kids were born, and the simple ornaments they made in Sunday School. We also have an ornament that my mother-in-love found that looks like my dog, who just died a month ago. It was so special to have that reminder this year, as it’s never been much noticed before.
We have the White House Christmas ornaments from when they were first made until now. My sons boys group at church sold them each year as a fund raiser. (We lived near the White House in northern Virginia. ) They are not glass and therefore not easily broken, which worked well for us as I did daycare in my home. He and his new wife set up and decorated our tree this year. When he puts up the White House ornaments he does it chronologically. Other years our other kids have helped and they are put up randomly. It was nice that he was able to help this year. It’s funny seeing the different personalities of our kids and grandkids.
Oh yes, I have ornaments my kids made in school many moons ago that I treasure! Seeing their smiling faces peeking out from a handmade frame ornament brings a warm smile to my face every time. I also have ones that they hand wrote something on or drawn some Christmas scene on. I go back in time whenever I pull them out and place them on the tree. Now I look forward to what my five year old grand-girl will make, you know it will be treasured for many years to come :-)
My husband and I also have a collection of dated ornaments from Hallmark for each year we’ve been married, 22 years worth! We always talk about the memories from that year.
Family is precious, isn’t it?
We have two trees. One is artificial that was my our family tree growing up. The ornaments are all ones that were given to our children, or ornaments they made. When they leave, they will have oraments to start with.
We also have a real tree. We go as a family to find it and put it up. The decorations are all from my childhood or through our married years.
I can hold nearly every one and have a memory attached. It’s precious.
My mom had clear Hallmark ornaments with the years on them. I have them now. Some years I remember better than others. LOL
Something ordinary gets ties to a precious memory and it becomes something special. <3 My little sister was born in 78 so I gave her the one from our mom's tree when we lost her. :)
I love that he did that. It is so true about personalities. I have four and they all attack the tree in a different way. :)
It really is. My mom had the Hallmark dated ornaments – they are clear with the date on them. I think they start in the 70s (they were married in 67) I have them now. I love going through the sweet memories.
What a great gift for your children. :)
I am so late cos the week is getting away from me. I have some ornaments that mum and dad bought the first Christmas with my Brother. He is about to turn 60 but as he was adopted it was the Christmas he turned one. So I have some 59 years old. I only have one of them on the tree this year cos I now have two brats I mean cats who also love the tree! Now most of the ornaments (besides the top part which are smaller balls) are ones I have been given or bought on trips or made or mum was given. I did buy an angel this year which is so cute. I have a pink trolley car from Hawaii (and for someone who dislikes pink its still special). My friend Kathy has sent me a couple of Squirrels as she knows I love them so much. Another friend sent an Operation Santa bear to support the USA troops.
Mum had a Senior angel who wrote every week and sent some lovely stars, a few small cherries which look great on the tree.
My oldest one on the tree is a red bird sadly over the years the others have broken but I just love having the birds on the tree.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your memories. There are so many reasons that make an ornament special.