Anyway, she did a great "memories" post of ornaments she and her love, Joe, have collected during their time together. I wanted to do one for our Christmas memories as well. Christmas reminds me very much of Eid-al-Fitr, which is what we Muslims celebrate after the fasting month of Ramadan. I'm always awe-struck by the religious similarities and shared ideologies of our two great holidays, and yet on the world stage the two faiths cannot find common ground and get along. I'm glad that my Catholic Belov-Ed and I found each other. I love that we live and love in our commonalities and that we respect and learn from our differences.
But, I digress! I'd like to now share with Blogistan my Christmas memories with Belov-Ed and the traditions we've grown into over the last few years. I'd like to then tag Laura, Chi-town, Linnea, Monica, Crystal, Mindy, Mary Beth, Helen, and Amanda to do the same! You're "it" ladies!!!
Here goes...
I've always wanted a house with a red door, so my darling bought a wooden door, sanded it down, and painted it red for me. At Christmas time I love our front door even more. (Hey, that rhymed!) The color goes with the season. We like to put a wreath by the front door, decorate it, and use branches from the Christmas tree to make a "bed" for other decorations and poinsettias.
Closer view of wreath at front door.
Angels are a large part of Islamic teachings and lore. I bought this angel for our first wreath in 2003. I got bells to hang around it as well. He watches over all that pass over our threshold. Someday I'll tell you how our Christmas angel was accosted by a slightly jealous ex-girlfriend. Quite a funny story actually.
Our tree after 36 hours in its special spa treatment. It's been drinking water by the daily gallon. That tree solution works wonders AND it makes your tree fireproof, which is definitely a plus out here in SoCal.
The first manger scenes I had ever bought in my life. I remember standing in the checkout line wondering what my Muslim grandmother would think if she saw my purchase. Probably the same thing she thought when I told her I'm marrying a non-Muslim. Ha!!! Anyway, I got it for us at Target for $14.99. Since then I've seen much fancier manger scenes, but this one is so special to us. Ed built a light into it that plugs in and gives the scene a nice, warm glow. It'll always be front and center under our tree.
The *B*E*S*T* Christmas ornaments we can ever have. Our Golden sweethearts, warming our home with their love and honoring our lives with their precious, loyal presence. I love you sweet boys so very much. I'm so glad you're here with us this Christmas.
Ed's Aunt G gave him this angel over 15 years ago. It's watched over the holidays from the tree top all those years, and will continue to do so for always.
The first ornaments we ever bought together. We saw the two little personalized snowman and snowwoman at a Christmas store here in San Diego. There was one with Ed's name, but SURPRISE, there wasn't one with my Muslim name on it! Go figure. So, the lady at the counter said "no worries" because they could put my name on a snowwoman. You know what she did? She pulled out a magic marker and handwrote my name on it in cheesy handwriting. I thought she was going to stencil it on nicely like Ed's snowman. Not! Thanks lady in Christmas store!
I found a lady on Ebay who made this ornament of Captain Morgan. She shaped him out of clay and put a Santa hat on his head. So cute. We're supposed to put some of his feathers in the ball, but can't bring ourselves to pluck the poor bird's pretty feathers for an ornament that comes out once a year.
My first ornament gift. Linnea gave it to me in 2003 because I told her Ed had so many ornaments. She didn't want me to feel left out. It's a Christopher Radko tree.
I gave Ed this Naval Academy Bill the Goat ornament as a gift in 2004. Another Ebay find.
Got this Navy Football ornament during my first trip to Annapolis back in July of this year.
I love lighthouses. I always have. I didn't know what a lighthouse was until I arrived in the USA given that Afghanistan is a landlocked country. We bought this lighthouse ornament at the Christmas Bear in Newport, Rhode Island just this past vacation. It's beautiful.
I got this "Woof" ornament last year at the Michael's after Christmas sale. I wanted to put Nick's picture in it for this year's tree. I didn't think Nick would leave us so soon and not be here now. It was so hard for me to put his photo in it this year. I miss you sweet boy. This photo was taken at Thanksgiving 2005 and he's wearing his Navy bandana and sleeping on his brand new doggie bed. We'd only had him a couple of weeks at that time. It's my favorite photo of him. He looks so peaceful and content. I made sure to put his ornament next to his momma's snowwoman. That's where he always loved to be.
Ok, the rest are Ed's ornaments from before us. He made this cloth ball ornament as a child. Behind it is a golden replica of the New York Yankees stadium.
You can see Ed's little wooden sailboat, his teddy bear angel, and the little student mouse on a swing. The little wooden and felt drum was Ed's first ornament.
Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins, Ed's favorite football team. Glad they won at least ONE game this season. Whew!
Ed's nephew, JL, made this little clay snowman for him last year. Behind it is a golden United State Naval Academy seal.
Edward the teddy bear Navy sailor.
Edward the the wooden Naval Officer.
I could go on forever with Ed's ornaments from Christmases past because he has so many of them and he has preserved them all so well. But, these are just some of my favorites.
I have to find some ornaments for Achilles and Milo this year. I've been looking and haven't found anything I like yet. Maybe Jenn could help?....:-) Just teasing!
2 comments:
beautiful.... My tree may make it up tonight...
Girlfriend, as much as I'd like to step up to your challenge, with this basement-remodel-from-hell going on, I don't even know where my ornaments are right now :( I promise that next year, I will show you everyone of them. Brace yourself, though, cuz I have about 5 huge storage crates filled with Christmas stuff, and probably one whole box is just ornaments. Lex has a fairly large collection already, as everyone in my family gives him a personalized ornament every year, and I always get him one as well. Next year, I plan to give him his own tree in the basement to decorate. I'm sure he'll have enough ornaments to do it, too! Loved the picture of all your pretty ornaments, BTW!
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