God Bless Us Everyone

I started the tradition of the Dickens Village in the early 90’s with one building, the church. Each year, I and the kids would choose one more building to add. The kids enjoyed the village so much, their Oma (grandmother) would help them buy the people as gifts for me, and the village scene started to come alive with activity. Every year we enjoyed setting it up and inspecting all the different pieces. Eventually, it became a lot of work setting up and taking down, but the fruit of the labor is seeing family (especially grandchildren) and visitors enamored by searching the scenes and looking for the 12 days of Christmas pieces hidden throughout.

The front of house (Entry, Living Room, Staircase, Hall to Master) is decorated in traditional red and green for cohesiveness with the village theme. As you enter the home, Father Christmas greets you at the bottom of the staircase. Two 15′ real touch Norfolk pine garlands drape the bannister. I have been looking for the right garland for years, and these are exactly what I hoped for. (Available at Afloral.com or The Christmas Palace, but are often out of stock.)

For a few years I have celebrated Christmas with friends on a progressive decor and appetizer event. If you have never done so, it is a fun way to celebrate the season and experience each other’s take on Christmas. It is also an opportunity to learn about other family traditions. Last year I was asked when I developed my passion for Christmas decorating and I told my story. I started playing trumpet at the age of 8 and it defined me as I grew up, eventually getting my music degree, playing some professionally and at church. In high school, my great aunt placed a trumpet ornament on my gift wrap and it was the start of a collection. When I had enough, my parents let me decorate an entire tree all with my trumpet ornaments. When telling this story to my friends, they encouraged me to include trumpet ornaments this year. So, Father Christmas holds a tree decorated with some of my trumpet ornaments. I actually kept a log book of who gave each one and the year received. Placing each ornament on the tree brought back many memories. Not just the memories of Christmases past, but fondly remembering the loved ones who gave these ornaments and who are no longer with us on earth.

I hope you are inspired to start a Christmas decor tradition or collection for yourself, a child or grandchild, other family member, or a friend. You will experience the joy of giving and they will receive the blessing of memories of you for years to come.

Merry Christmas and God Bless Us Everyone!

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