Decorating for Christmas

When we were first married I made a decision that each Christmas I would add one thing to our Christmas decorations. That way I would build up a good assortment of things for the tree or for the house.

It was such a good idea --except that after 59 Christmases we now have so many Christmas decorations that I find it hard to find a proper place to put them all.

I know. There is a good solution to the problem. Just throw away some of them. But in each parsonage where we lived, or our earlier homes, we always put certain ornaments in similar places. It doesn't seem right if the plastic nativity set we got when Shirley was two isn't arranged on the table that we inherited from Aunt Lyle. It is a cheap set and has had 50 years of children arranging and re-arranging it, but I don't think I could feel right about not using it again this year.

Another nice problem is that I wasn't the only one who added to our stash of pretties. Members of churches Lester served were always generous in their gifts. Often these were handcrafted Christmas decorations. Some were carved from wood, some used stained glass, and many were sewn. The joy I get each year when I take these things out of the big box labeled "Christmas" is worth every effort I must make to find a suitable spot to display our treasures.

Sadly some things have given way to time. A nativity set made from tree bark only lasted for about ten years before it got so dried up that it shattered when it was handled. A wreath made of braided twine was used by an industrious mouse for a nice nest for her young.

The little Santa and Mrs. Claus heads are still with us, but they have lost their hangers. Now they smile at us from a table rather than hanging from a window.

Then there are the things our own kids and grandkids have made. Mark's burned out light bulb that was converted into a Santa head still graces our tree long after even his sons are too old for Cub Scouts where he created the gift.

Kevin's picture of a burning candle has had a place on the refrigerator for more than 20 years. Susan's felt animals made in a youth-group adorn the lower part of the tree where small hands can investigate without danger of breakage. Michael's wooden soldier candle that he gave my mother sits among the family pictures on the piano along with a book of carols that Shirley saved from a church program.

I could go on and on but you get the idea. We have been blessed with creative and generous friends and family members. They share each Christmas with us even though many are no longer living. Throughout the whole holiday season they live in our thoughts as we notice again and again the pretty things they created for us.

I have been able to get all of my things arranged this year and have even put the storage boxes back out of sight.

But now a new problem has come up.

I did much of my shopping this year by telephone and Internet. Now the boxes are arriving daily. The neighbors probably think the Fed-X man is one of my family since he comes to see me more often than our real family does.

This is a great way to relax about shopping, but there is a problem in that everything comes in a box.

Now what do I do with all those boxes?