Every year since as long as I can remember my family has always had two Christmas trees in our house. One is the fake tree that is in the formal living room. This is the tree with all of our ornaments on it that each of us 'kids' get every year from Bronners. (the worlds largest Christmas store...a different post for a different time) The other tree we have always had is a real tree we put up in the family room that is supposed to be similar to the Charlie Brown type of tree, that for some reason gets bigger and bigger every year. This is the tree that has the theme of snowmen/snowflake ornaments on it.
This year however we are doing something different with the real tree in the family room. Instead of getting a tree that would be thrown out after Christmas we have decided to get a small potted Blue Spruce that we can than plant in the yard in memory of Shawn after Christmas. Everyone in the family thought that this would be a good idea not only as a wonderful way to honor Shawn, but also because can you imagine a Christmas tree with breakable ornaments on it with Bo ramming around all over the place? I can and I think that Bo would win and the tree would come crashing down.
So this year we will still have our family tree with each of our special ornaments on it. (I'm not looking forward to putting that tree up...seeing all of Shawn's ornaments) Then in the other room we will have the potted tree for Shawn. This year the tree will have small ornaments on it. Then as soon as Christmas is over it will be planted in the yard. I think this is a great idea and then in the summer or when ever for that matter people will have a place to go to spend some time with Shawn when they want.
It was hard today going to pick out the tree, not actually picking out the tree, but just facing the fact that Christmas is right around the corner and Shawn will not be here this year. I know Shawn will be with me, but it won't be the same and I can't stand that, it hurts bad. Christmas was his favorite time of year. It makes my heart hurt knowing that he won't be here. I hope he has an awesome Christmas in Heaven this year.
Ok....well I'm off to see a movie with Sarah we are going to see 4 Christmas's. I hope it is funny after picking out the tree this afternoon I could use a good laugh.
I do like the thought though of having a tree just for Shawn. I hope he likes it.
13 comments:
Jen,
I'm praying that you have a good Christmas even though Shawn is not here with you.
Cheryl
the memorial tree is a great idea!! and 4 christmases is really funny..i saw it yesterday!! hope you enjoy your night!
Wow, that is a great idea! I'm so glad that you'll have the tree to plant in memory of Shawn.
I hope you had a good time at the movies.
Hugs and many prayers,
Amanda
Jen,
I love the idea of the memorial tree!
I hope you ended with a
better day at the movies :)
Jen
Jen,
Thanks for mentioning the blog Bring the Rain in your post on Thursday. I'm just now catching up on reading what's been going on since Thanksgiving, but I just wanted to say thanks. Angie's blog has really been encouraging to me. I have had 2 m/c's now and the last one happened to be a 2nd trimester m/c, so it's encouraging to hear other's stories as well. To me it is all a part of the healing process. I hope you are doing well. I have been thinking about you a lot lately and praying for you as you go through the holidays. May God be an encouragement and a comforter to you as you go through this time without your best friend by your side.
Karen
A few days ago I stumbled onto your blog from the My Charming Kids site(www.mycharmingkids.net)and have finally caught up. I just wanted to say that while I have never been in the exact position you are in, I have been crying with you through this. As you face these next round of "firsts" with no doubt a broken heart, I believe that you will come out the other side stronger than you ever thought you could be. I really hope that you are able to find moments of joy in the midst of the pain. My prayers go out to you and everyone who misses and grieves for your Shawn. Thank you for sharing your heart in such a public forum!
Oooh... I really wanna see that movie. Let us know if it's any good.
The tree sounds like a great idea!
E x
A memorial tree sounds like a wonderful idea! Are you thinking of having a plaque made to place near the tree? I'm just thinking that 70 years from now it would be kind of neat if someone came along and read the plaque and knew that that tree was really special.
Hope you enjoyed your evening out.
That sounds like a great idea. Then you have something to always look at when you go outside. As you watch it grow you will be so happy you did this.
Be sure to take a picture by it when you take it outside and do it every year. It will be neat to see the changes the tree has.
That's awesome. I think Shawn will be smiling down from heaven on "his" tree!
(hey, can you email me your address? I promise it's not to stalk you.)
Great idea! 4 Christmases was just what I needed as a laughing fun thing to do.
Hello,
I just wanted to check in on you and see how you are doing.
I hope you are doing great.
I don't even know you, but have read many of your posts. When I read your Christmas tree post, I thought I would share with you what my family does. My father passed away 6 years ago...and now each year, all of us buy the same ornament (we find it together)...and it has special meaning to us of my dad. One year it was a camera (he was a photographer)..one was a grill because he loved grilling, etc. As the years go by, you will still find great joy in the memories you have - and have lots of reminders of what a great husband you had!
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