Little Belle has a hymn that she sings,
She wouldn’t trade it for loftier things.
She’s inclined to ignore,
Her distinction as poor,
And grows rich on the joy her song brings.
I was going to try to write a bit more about our trip to Florida. It will have to wait. I’m just not into it right now.
I’ll get there.
In the mean time, I finally finished decorating the Christmas tree yesterday. We didn’t shop far and wide for a good tree and the Lowe’s closest to us only had like one suitable tree and that is a bit of a stretch. I told Kris that we definitely need to look into getting an artificial tree after Christmas while they are on sale. We can have it on hand for years like this when our selection of the real thing is seemingly limited. Had we taken the time to drive outside of Mt. Juliet, we probably could have found a better tree at some of the roadside places. We didn’t though and the gaps in the tree we found were glaring to me and demanded some intervention.
I found a couple berry garlands yesterday that fill in pretty well and while I was at it I picked out several decorations for the tree. I really haven’t done that in the past. Just a few things here and there, but this year I was hungry for a specific color combination on the tree and not excited about making my gingerbread cookies…(GASP)…I know. I will still make gingerbread, but I think this year we’ll try something different. Ivan wants so badly to decorate a gingerbread tree (like this). I think we could probably make our own and not have to track down a kit. It might be more fun that way anyway. AND…whatever is left over of the dough can be cut out into cookies and decorated as well. If they hang on the tree…so be it. The colors I wanted are red and brown and I found brown and red snowflakes at Target so I got them, along with some white and gold ones. I picked out a package each of red and brown balls and with the berries on brown vines I think it looks pretty good. Not awesome, but I’m happy with it and it was a lot less time consuming than making cookies.
The boys each were determined to be the one to place the star on top. They’ve been begging non stop since we got the tree. Kris and I talked about it and I wanted to take turns but worried that I would forget who had done it which year and find myself being unfair. He suggested we allow the one boy whose age is divisible by three that Christmas to have the honor. It works. Aron is three this year and has placed the star. Next year they will be 4, 6 and 8 so Ivan will place the star. The following year Owen will be 9 and he will top things off for us. I thought that Owen would be bothered by the fact that he has to wait two years to place the star, but he just liked the idea so much it didn’t bother him at all. I find that rather funny.
I will probably miss the cookies if I don’t do them at all. I saved the ribbons last year so that I wouldn’t have to tie them again and when I opened my tree trimmings box this year the smell of ginger and cinnamon was pretty sweet. That alone made me happy.
I’m writing like I’m hungry for attention.
Maybe I am.
Somebody comment and tell me you think I’m awesome.
My love language is words of affirmation so I’m probably suffering from some sort of missed quota somewhere.
In all truth…I hope you’re laughing at this because if you don’t find it funny…you probably find it pitiful and that would be embarrassing.
This is just getting worse.
I’d better go.
bye.
Mary: I’m so privileged to be the first to comment! I too thrive on words–writing them and receiving them. Unfortunately, not too many people give them to me. The preacher husband uses all of his for 40 minutes on a Sunday morning. The blog was started to help me both give words and receive them–so I was thrilled with your comment the other day. The tree looks lovely. I would not have noticed gaps. Speaking of words, I just returned from my most successful book signing! Hooray! Have a lovely Christmas!
I think you’re awesome 😀
I love the tree. If you hadn’t pointed out that it wasn’t perfect, I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed. *And* I have those same stars…only in purple, pink, turquoise and lime green. We haven’t actually gotten a tree yet and I’m wondering if we will. Sad. I’m sure we’ll figure something out.
GASP!!! I did gasp. I love your cookie ornaments and was just telling a friend about your tree as encouragement for making ornaments since they don’t have much right now. I think the gingerbread tree is awesome, too! We have nativity scene cutters, so I am looking toward to making that again.
Also, I think you’re awesome! Very very awesome. How’s the quota now?
I couldn’t possibly think you were more awesome, even if you were my own daughter…….you are as good as one anyway. I am blessed. Love the tree!
Um, hi. You’re awesome. I’m not sure how you’ve managed to miss that 🙂
The tree looks fantastic and I love, love, love the colors! Don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes, the extra time that comes your way when you simplify things a bit is just what your family needs.
Congrats Lori! Where was your book signing? I should talk to you sometime about publishing.
Amy: I loved all the colors they had at Target and was thrilled that they had what I wanted among the rainbow of brighter things. One year we couldn’t get a tree so I pulled some big sticks/small branches from the growth in the yard, put them in a bucket of sand and decorated them. It was a little Charlie Brown but I liked it.
Tisra: I saw some old pictures after I wrote this post and nearly got convicted about the cookies. I’ll probably write another post about it…after I bake some gingerbread of course. 🙂
Mom: Thank you…I am blessed.
Wow…it’s great waking up to such good affirmation! Now…for that world I’m planning to conquer. 🙂
Christy: I don’t know that I’ve totally missed it…just miss hearing it. 🙂 Tee Hee!
I think we are simplifying more and more each year. Part of that is just what you are saying. Being content to pick a few things up at the store and not feeling the need to make it all myself…just because “I can”…”mom did it that way”…or “I should.” I think I have mistaken frugal for simple at times, because simplicity was represented that way to me so often.
You are awesome. You were missed yesterday. You and the 4 men in your house. I like the tree. Looks better than mimne. Oh yeah, I didn’t bother with one. When you’re busy busy busy and out of town almost every weekend, there’s not much point. I’ll just look at pictures of yours!