Ornaments

This was our first Christmas without mom. Determined to make her proud, Christmas went on as usual. When she lost dad, she continued to live for the rest of us. Following her example, she’s not here, but I still have loved ones to “Christmas” all over. Each task was done remembering all the times before I did them with her. So often there were pauses for tears. That’s OK.

I don’t know why but one of the hardest jobs I did was put on the lights on the tree. It didn’t make sense, this was often a job I did with Dad while mom was baking in the kitchen.  After Dad was gone, I tried to put the tree up and the lights on and let her and the children do the ‘fun’ part with the ornaments. The only thing I can think of is that I had selected blue lights this year, always her color of choice.

Today, the day after Christmas, I just had fun with my camera and our ornaments. They reflect a diverse selection.

This ornament was given to me from my Spanish students when I was pregnant with Laura. O Come Let Us Adore Him.

My love for all things Dutch. Wooden shoes waiting to be filled.

Rubí can’t stop looking at this one. This is one from Mom’s collection. When Rubí found out it came from Ocean City, she loved it all the more.

Well our tree had to have an Aussie flavor, no? This is our Christmas Kookaburra.

Mom got these, a whole set of rocking horses.

A guitarist serenading his señorita. Paz en La Tierra, Peace on Earth.

Remembering 500 years that Columbus came, and going to see the replicas in the port of Baltimore.

Another Aussie addition.

Not an ornament, but certainly a treasure we will find a place for; a present from Petra and Leoni in a flower centerpiece.