Scaled down decorations

Christmas is about beauty....be it music or scents or pictures or memories....connecting with people-close at hand or further away.  Enjoy this beautiful tree that my friend Maurine took in SLC...

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Things don't have to be lavish to be beautiful.  It's an individual thing because we know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The Stake Christmas Concert was beautiful on all counts.  They used the cultural hall to the max.  I loved how they set it up.  Orchestra, Choir, hand-bell ringers on the floor to the right. Marvelous singing and playing.  All dressed white and black.  Red Poinsettia corsage/red ties.  Bethlehem, Camels, sheep, donkey, water well, building ...all amazing!  the costumes...breathtaking.  Mary...heavenly.  the casting superb.  Yes, I loved it. 

I thought about why it impacted me so powerfully.  Partly because it was so well produced and evenly excellent.  no high or low.  all on the same level of excellence.  Also because of the simplicity of it.  All about the Savior and His Birth.  Later it dawned on me that events like this, where someone gives (everyone involved in the production)  and someone receives (those of us in the audience)  are on the same wave length.  We are all being taught.  We are all being edified.  We were unified.
Just like in...

Doctrine and Covenants 50:22 Wherefore he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.

It was a time of celebration, not only for what was performed in such a tender touching real way, but also of feeling love for the Savior and the joy of knowing about Him and enjoying the Gospel.    

Doesn't do any justice to the reality of it!!!

So here is our tree for this year....

It's handmade macrame.  By my Dad.

it has lights and bows and is perfectly done.

I never called him Dad in his life.  It was always Daddy.  Anyhow...he had retired, my Mother was trying to find things to keep him busy (as his health wasn't real good but his brain was always whirring as happens with workaholics sometimes)  so macrame was one thing she got him interested in.  he was great at tying knots so it was a good match.  he made all sorts of things...end tables, wall hangings, lamp shades and then one year in late 70's, he made this tree.  It's been stored for years (it collapses within itself and all the lights and ribbons stay on as is.)  and right now...it really smells and not so good.  We are thinking of hanging it outdoors and seeing if fresh air will outdo our attempts with air filters we have in house.

We aren't going to put up our tree that we love and enjoy.  Nor the houses.  We will put out the Nativities, get a wreath for the door, put a garland over the mirror and that will be it for this year.

This last week, I've realized how much our life has changed and how we need to simplify on so many counts.  I need to pick up my pace and do more.  When Terry said...We can't do Christmas decorating as we have before and then said...I'm going to give the houses away...I knew that he was speaking his truth.  That just isn't going to happen.  A friend offered to come pull boxes out and do it all- and another would do it also but you know what?--in life's scheme, being very independent folks, we want to do what we can for ourselves and that is what we decided on.  It's time for us to step up to the plate and make some rather drastic changes for us.

All of these decorations are about shared memories with adults, that were one time our young children, filled with the wonder of Christmas.  They all now have their own young and not so young children, at home.  Sad to say we don't live near each other.  I'm just saying these things served us well and now we need to cut back.

I'm so sentimental and always talking traditions and making memories.  That has been done at various times on many levels.  So I sent a note to the family and told them Dad is going to give the houses away.  You get first pick. I just sent the note and our sweet Granddaughter-in-law is very sentimental also and she wants a couple for her little ones.  Our Granddaughter Grace had some that got broken and she would like a couple.  Remember...all 5 of our children have been gifted with houses and also remember...they finally asked if the gift houses could please be stopped!   Terry will gift remaining houses to friends.  Well, some friends as there aren't a hundred or so houses.

It was a tough week in letting go but I found the answer in the scriptures.  This applies at different times to different situations but for me, this week, it rang true...

Ecc. 3:1,6 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:....A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. 

I'm thinking cast away is give away!!!

My sweet husband and I have intact, the most precious thing of Christmas...our love of the Savior and our testimonies.