Last time I wrote about my first Christmas in Japan.
Today I will write about my Christmas tree this year.
I put up my Christmas tree on Saturday. This is always pretty fun.
Someone asked me where I buy my Christmas ornaments. We have slowly accumulated (積み重ねる）these ornaments over the years.
They aren't especially fancy (豪華), but they are my treasures. The 3 ornaments on the left (red, gold and green) are ornaments that my youngest daughter and I made together. It was her idea. She wanted to make ornaments with our pets' paw prints (足跡）. We used clay to make them. This will always be a good memory of my daughter and my pets.
The cross-stitched rabbit ornament was made by my best friend from high school. She made it and mailed it to me when I spent my first Christmas in Japan. It is a treasure for sure!
My oldest daughter and I made the heart ornaments together when she was 8 years old. I remember sitting with her at the kotatsu sewing them by hand. What a nice memory.
The colorful ornaments made with the beads that you iron are from my niece and nephew in Texas--my sister's children. They are grown up now, but they made these for me when they were children.
Do you see the stained glass type ornaments (the angel, Santa, train and snowman)? We made those when my two older children were very young (2 and 5). They are clear plastic, and you paint them. It was a fun family project. My children are all grown now, but I remember when they were very young. (At that time, my younger daugther wasn't even born yet!)
The lacy ornaments are from my sister and from a student. The green, white and red ones are from my sister. The pastel colored ones are from a student.
And the two Christmas trees (red and green) are from another dear student.
One of my favorite store-bought ornaments is this one.
It's a lamb (子羊) and a lion lying together. This image is a very meaningful and beautiful image for Christians. If you have ever seen the Narnia (ナルニア国ものがたり) series, or read the Narnia books, you will understand. I love this ornament.
These are also favorites--cowboy boot ornaments. My grandmother gave them to me many years ago so that I would have something "Texas" on my tree.
So, here is my tree decorated.
I think it looks prettiest at night.
