We usually start our Christmas decorating right after Thanksgiving but this year we waited another week so the dust could settle from having a house full of people. I also thought it might be a good idea to wait until my brother had headed back to Iraq so he would not have the pulls on his heart strings that are associated with the season. Our mother made Christmas a very special time each and every year of our lives. One of her many hobbies was painting ceramics. There are many brown and black ceramic hound dogs that she painted curled up in a ball laying on the floor in the homes of friends and family.
Over the years she painted many ceramic houses and shops for a Christmas village that would be set up in the dining room. The display was spread out over two eight foot tables and included a working skating rink, a choo-choo train and everything you would expect in a quaint mountain village at Christmas time. It was always a lot of work to set up but it was worth it to her so her grandchildren could ooh and aaah at the detail in each piece.
As for our house, we have divided the tasks up the same for the last 24 years. My job has been to put the lights on the tree and decorate the outside of the house. We graduated from live trees to an artificial one around 10 years ago. I would wrap each and every limb with strand after strand of lights and the better half would put on the ornaments. Thank you Walmart for making my job easier by providing a tree last year that you take out of the box and plug in. Lights, Tree, Action and my job inside is done.
We have accumulated many strands of lights for the outside of the house over the years which has added to the “fun” that me and the boys have had. Each year the chore of putting up the lights outside has become more and more how can I say this, NOT FUN!!! I have struggled with my attitude about this and found myself wanting to procrastinate which led to the lights getting up later and later in the year.
This year as the youngest J and I were dragging our bottoms outdoors last Saturday and he said “Dad, we aren’t going to put the lights up around the tree trunks this year are we?”. I have dreaded that part of the job each and every year. We would wrap 6 or 7 trees with 15 or 20 strands of lights as high up as 15 or 20 feet. When it came time to take those lights down each year, I was tempted to take a machete and cut them off.
I realized that his level of frustration with that task was equal to mine. I thought about his question for a minute or so and asked myself, “self, who is putting up the lights outside the house?” . My answer to myself that it was my son and I. I made a decision that has not come back to bite me yet and declared, “We are not going to wrap the trees this year”. There was so much freedom in making this statement that I leapt with joy. Jay got a smile on his face and said “YES”. All of a sudden the job of putting up the lights outside became something we actually wanted to do.
You see, we were wrapping the trees because the better half liked it. We both decided that if “Mom” wanted lights around the trees that she could put them up herself. Not in an “in your face” way, but in a polite one.
We used only white lights this year and the yard is amazing. Cyndie bought an angel and a white tree for the yard after the holidays last year and they look great along side the rain deer we have had for some time now.
I learned a great lesson last weekend that bleeds over into each aspect of my life. If I am having trouble getting motivated about something I have to do to, simply ask myself what is it about the task that I am not wanting to do and evaluate the value of said task in the overall project. Funny thing is that I told this story to a manager at work and he said that he loves wrapping lights around trees.
When we ran out of time on Saturday, we had done more than we have in many years. And to think that we still have 3 tubs full of lights that could still be put up. We may put up some more before Christmas but there are enough up right now so that you could go out into my next door neighbor’s yard and read a book by the light coming from my yard.
Comments (8)
I wish you had some pictures of your mother’s village to share. Do you? It was sweet of you to withhold the decorating until John left.
I love Christmas lights. I wish I were going to be around more this year and I’d put some up, but I’m off to Texas for vacation over that time period, so I’m not even getting a tree. I’ll just have to enjoy everyone else’s.
Thanks for stopping in at my site.
ryc: What does that say? Umm, that I was as bullheaded at 5 as I am now. *grin* Ouch, poor dog, that had to have hurt so badly. Bet he’ll never do that again either.
Wrap the trees – Goodness you getting lazy – Sure wish I were there to take the girls looking at lights – The small amount we saw – They went crazy((hint hint)) – Its alot different but I decided to show them they can not over burden me and the Lord and I am going to do both jobs temporarilly and set them up – Funny how i know more than my bosses on the new ordering technique – Love yall and don’t worry I am ok – But May is it so don’t have all my money tied up – I might just buy a lot and travel trailer – Yes That will do till the money hits – Love
As children we don’t realize that our parents hate doing things as much as we do. Now that I am an adult, I realize how my parents felt. Not only because I too am an adult, but because they tell me now!
I may try that out some night during the break. And yeah, it is good to recognize unecessary stuff and to be rid of its burdens. And if you ever need any help with lights or decorations or anything, let me know and I’ll be glad to come help.
God bless,
-Alex
Actually I’ve tried wrapping gifts at the table and it hurts my back also. I can’t sit at the table to wrap the presents (something about the height of the table or chairs is off) and standing up at the table doesn’t work either coz I have to bend over….oh well…
I miss her everyday but, it never really really bothers me until Christmas and Easter. It’s just like you said… she always made it so special and fun. No matter how hard I try it’s just not the same without her there. What would you say to ya’ll coming over to dad’s Saturday evening and helping me and the kids put up his tree? If ya’ll don’t already have plans. I know what you mean about the lights. I would like to do more for the kids but, it really can be a pain. Miss you bunches. So glad I got into this. I don’t feel quite so far away now.
My mom used to make ceramics, too. I guess she got too busy after I was born because doesn’t anymore. We still have a bunch of her Angels and a nativity scene that the cats haven’t managed to destroy yet.
I’m so glad you got to see me at the concert, too.
haha Maybe you’ll get to see me again before next year. Wouldn’t that be nice?