O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum
Wie treu sind deine Blatter!
O Christmas tree O Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
We learned this song in school when I was young - in English and in German because our teacher was Canadian and taught us German.
Back in the 50's and '60's, you couldn't buy a Christmas tree in southern Japan. We would take the station wagon to the mountains and find a wild tree to cut down. We'd drag it home and Mom would decorate it. I would be mesmerized sitting in front of the Christmas tree as a child, looking at the colored lights through the spun glass "angel hair" Mom put around the tree. It sort of looked like the tree below. We even had similar curtains!
Many people put up beautiful designer trees each year. My tree is not designer, for sure. It is more of a feel good tree for me. A time to bring back memories of places we have been and people I love.
Our very first ornament from Hallmark the year we got married
An ornament that brings back memories of our son's Christmas
when he was 1 year old.
1979
Snowmen ornaments representing the states we all live in
Snowmen with our grandchildren's names on them
Japanese ornaments from my "home" country
from a friend
our church in Japan had these
ornaments from various places we have been - I try to get one wherever we travel to. Here are a few...
Israel
Switzerland - our relatives have the real bells hanging in their living room
Pinocchio from our trip to Italy
the Russian doll from supporting friends who went to Russia to teach
and the cross from our mission trip to Puebla, Mexico
from Haiti last year
from our summer trips to Dauphin Island
ornaments from teaching Sunday School
And of course, because we are fans!
whimsical ones
and sweet ones
and birds, of course!
and those from friends -
inside joke with our friends
one friend made this for me
from Aunt Millie
from my brother who made this shrinky dink ornament
and the word we clung to when our friend's little baby died
from our first year in this new house
I found this great case to keep all my ornaments in!
I love this ribbon! The Names of God!
Behold!
I bring GOOD NEWS!
One stocking looks "karappo!" or empty. My husband better get shopping!
My sister-in-law made this for my parents and she insisted I take it when they passed on. I LOVE it! Mr. and Mrs. Santa decorated with Japanese items.
Oh Come let us ADORE Him!
Last evening we were invited to a friend's house.
They had these simple trees with a train
running around and around at the bottom.
choo choo choo!
That would be so much easier to set up than ours.
It takes me at least 2 hours!
One day, we will simplify.
But for now, I just sit and enjoy the warm feelings!
