Christmas Tree

After our Thanksgiving meal, we decorated the tree per our family tradition. Clint took the pictures while I handed out the ornaments. Some of our ornaments are older than I am. I was also blessed with a set of vintage (1960s) nativity ornaments this year.

Brandon also set up our village for us which is something he took over as a young teen.

Brandon verbally playing a sibling.
Probably Joshua!

Amanda being goofy.

She told me this year that she appreciates how Clint and I did not do Santa and kept the focus solely on Christ. No distractions...and there are so many to choose from. Just Jesus and His Story. Amanda said it is how she is doing her home and is what she will do with her children.

When Brandon was a baby, after trying to do Jesus and Santa, we felt convicted. So, we sought the Lord through prayer and Scripture about how He wanted us to celebrate Christmas with our children. We felt God leading us to make all the room available for Christ and to leave the things of the world without room.

Joshua looking serious.

Caleb reading the back of an ornament.
Many of our ornaments are homemade and have 

the family member's name and the year it was made on the back.

Our tree was overwhelmed with ornaments until Brandon and Amanda 

moved and took theirs with them. We are about 75 to 80 ornaments less than we were a few years ago. I wanted each child to be able to take a token of fond memories of "Christmas past" with them into their adulthood, so we made an ornament or two each year. We also buy a family ornament each year that stays with Clint and I.

Bethany in the background with the reason we celebrate in the foreground.

Emily found one of her ornaments from years ago.

Hannah looking at the ornaments.

Can you spot what is different in this picture?


I don't put the tree skirt on until a few days before Christmas.
It will get messed up from the pets.