C: A Christmas Craft Tradition to Share

I am not especially "crafty." I love arts and crafts (don't all children?), but to call me "artistic" or "talented" craftwise is a stretch. Still, our creative juices seek outlets, don't they? Whether they are very high-grade creativities or not. And I find that it is the crafty activities that lend themselves to capturing personal family memories.

When my son was small I developed the habit of keeping up with significant events through the year. I have used a calendar for this or a list in my Bible where I would see it frequently and add to it as things occurred. Along toward Christmas, I would take myself to the craft store, buy the largest plain ornament I could find, and white, green and red paint pens. At the top of the ornament, I printed my son's name and the year. Then all over the ornament I would print the "happenings" of the year.

These are not the most beautiful ornaments we have. But every year when we decorate the tree, my son stops to read each of his memory ornaments and remember the good times and bad. "This is the year I starred in the Peter Pan play!" "Oh, I remember Chuck falling from the horse and breaking his arm!" "Look! This is the year we went to San Francisco!"

I thought I would share this with you because it is a cheap, easy (even I can do this) way to grab memories for years to come. It is a lot of "bang" for a little buck. And, just think: when your child grows up and leaves home, he can take with him a box full of memories to hang on his own tree! And, if I ever get any grandkids (!) I plan to continue this tradition for them! C

PS - Yes, it did occur to me to add pictures of my own "memory balls," but they are STILL in the attic! We are planning a special tree-trimming night when my niece and nephews arrive, so the ornaments won't come down for another week or so...so just close your eyes and imagine! You get the picture...