Christmas Nostalgia

Christmas brings out the nostalgia in everyone, doesn't it?! I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday, and Susan at Thoughts from Over the Rainbow for Deck the Halls.

But first let me show you a little Santa collection I have. They are all made of different materials and have different themes, but last year I was so glad to get the "builder" Santa in honor of my building Hubby.

Now I can really appreciate a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with a theme, but I've gotta tell you that our tree is a pot pourri of all sorts of ornaments....gifts from friends, ornaments collected during our children's childhoods, ornaments from special events we've attended, etc.

But today our tree metamorphed a little from yesterday! We have had to move my dear mother-in-law (91 years young!) to assisted living and the past week has been spent going through her things and divying them up among the family.

This red ball came from my MIL - see the string holding it? It is a VERY old ornament from Germany.

I bought over a dozen of these crocheted ornaments (made by little old ladies) from my children's preschool about 30 years ago.

First ornament I bought at the birth of our daughter in 1972.

Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict brought a half dozen of these little bears to me from a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France.

My MIL bought this little angel in Rothburg, Germany 30 years ago.

A VERY, VERY old ornament - probably 70 years old from MIL.

Another delicate ornament from MIL made in Germany.

This tacky red mouse has hung on our tree for 40 years! Not sure where it came from, but we would be sad if he got lost!

A very old flocked ornament (my favorite as a little girl) from the 50's.

Another 30 year old ornament from Rothberg, Germany.

The next ornament is not very pretty, and the colors are not very good for Christmas, but the story is great - it was made during World War II. All glass was being used for the war effort, so ornaments were made of plastic at that time. So this ornament represents that unique and special time of the "Greatest Generation". .....also from MIL.

Last, my precious Willow Tree nativity. I put it in front of this oil painting. To me, the landscape reminds me of what one would expect in the Holy Land. The painting was a yard sale find and the nativity a cherished gift from daughter.

But the event it represents is what Christmas is all about - the birth of Jesus - salvation for those who believe - hope for the world - a light in the darkness.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and pray that you and your family will know God's true peace and joy now and in the New Year. Blessings, Linda