Every December I let the hustle and bustle steal my joy. Not this year! I’m celebrating Christmas with a new idea every day. This idea Number 13 is to start an ornament collection.

Robert and I are celebrating our sixth Christmas together. Since we married five years ago, we combined our households and Christmas ornaments. Throughout the years I had theme-based Christmas trees, meaning coordinated ornaments with styles and colors. Robert, on the other hand, had a collection of ornaments that he had received from his family. Each ornament held a special meaning.

As a wedding present, we received a set of ornaments as a gift. At the time, Robert and I looked at each other after we opened the present and thought it was kind of weird. We had gone the wedding register route through our local department store asking for cutlery, wine glasses, china, and the like, but Christmas ornaments?

It turns out that these are very special ornaments based on an old German tradition. Newlywed couples receive a set of twelve different ornaments to insure their happiness for their life together. Now, we love putting these ornaments on the tree especially knowing what they mean. We love them! We also always think of Carol, the person who gave them to us.

Another reason to collect ornaments is that some will break or suffer other disasters. Take for instance, the new addition to our family, Wilson the yellow lab and dead ringer for Marley from Marley and Me. Wilson has eaten three ornaments already. Fortunately, none have been keepsake ornaments….yet.  We’re moving those higher on the tree.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulder. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6