Christmas tree

Bob and I aren't the type of people who hurry up putting up Christmas decorations nor are we the type to be in a hurry to take them down. We decided this morning we would put up the Christmas tree on Monday and that is earlier than normal. Monday is Alexandra's 8th birthday so we thought it would be a good part of the celebration of her life to put up the tree on that day.

Alex's presence in our family brought joy to Bob and I in a year that was traumatic and filled with an awful void. Our son Brian who we had taken care of at home died in April, eight months later Alexandra was born. There is nothing on this earth that can replace the despair of the loss of a child, but the birth of a baby brings joy and a creation of new love. Bob and I had the blessing of being present when Alex was born - there is nothing more beautiful than the birth of a child, hearing the first cry and first breath and experiencing first hand a magnificent miracle which could only come from God's hand. Alex was an absolutely beautiful baby and today is a beautiful young lady. She has a love of God and is joyful and loving to everyone. God blessed her and gave us the ultimate pleasure of being her family.

As I was thinking of our celebrating and putting up the Christmas tree on Monday, I thought about last Christmas and our family. This year we will be minus one member and the thought brought me to tears and sadness. Tom was with us last year, but this year he is in Iraq. Even though we sent lots of boxes filled with gifts, goodies and even Christmas decorations, we can't do anything that will replace his presence with us on Christmas morning. We will be sad without him with us. I miss his presence around the house every day but you kind of take that loneliness for granted after awhile but celebrating the holidays, is a family event and it won't be complete without him home.

These two photos were taken last year. Tom and Alex had opened some of their gifts in the first photo and the second was Tom with his trombone he played in the Foothill High School Band. He was good too. By the way - you can click on the photos to enlarge them.

If you look closely, you can see the side of the stable on the table to the right of the photo. Bob made that stable for our second Christmas (1965) from twigs. We didn't have a lot of money. We are still using the same plastic figures we had then. We have put up our manger set every Christmas just as we are still placing our original Christmas Angel on the top of our tree - the one we bought for our first Christmas in 1964 - and she looks better than Bob and I - she's been well preserved. These are only a few of the family traditions that Bob and I have created during the forty-four years of our love.