Christmas Spider

My mother made this beaded spider ornament. It is to be the last ornament on the tree. I love bringing out that fragile little beaded spider. It is such a calming feeling to see it and know that my mother's crafty hands created it. And, I love that my girls are as eager as I am to see it on the tree.


The spider legend:

On Christmas eve, a long time ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year... Christmas day, the day on which the little Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling. They had fled to the farthest corner of the attic.







The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little Christ child's visit. Then the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could wait until everyone went to bed and then get a closer look.






When the house was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place. When they neared the Christmas tree, they were delighted with the beauty of it. The spiders crept all over the tree, up and down, over the branches and twigs and saw every one of the pretty things.






The spiders loved the Christmas tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the little Christ child came to bless the house, he was dismayed! He loved the little spiders for they were God's creatures, but he knew the mother, who had worked so hard to make everything perfect, would not be pleased when she saw what the spiders had done.






With love in his heart and a smile on his lips, the little Christ child reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The spider webs started to sparkle and shine! They had all turned into sparkling, shimmering silver and gold.






According to legend, ever since this happened, people have hung tinsel on their Christmas trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the Christmas tree.

The Christmas Lists



When I was young (in the 70s) my mom created a variety of Christmas related items on which we would put our Christmas lists. Each year was a different theme---trees, candles, wreaths, gifts, etc. Each person had their own tree (or other symbol for the year) and we would put our Christmas wish list items on the cut out. My mom posted the lists on the wall in our kitchen and we could read them for ideas for one another. Even the dog, Lucy, had her own list. It was such a memorable holiday tradition.





One of my favorite gifts---the Pentel Markers---I used those for years after that Christmas

 

Can you believe my mother saved these lists in a box with the Christmas items? Loved to reminisce while reading each of the lists. Fun to see what I wanted and what was popular each year.



Loved my Sunshine Family and the fact that I specified a "nice" camera in my list


I think this is such a fun idea and a special way to remember those Christmas lists. So, we (Lily) created snowman to start our new holiday tradition this year.



Baby Tender Love was such a cool doll---loved her







DC Part III

And more:

FDR Memorial




Dinosaur at the Museum of Natural History


Lily's Class at the Capital





View of the Capital from the Old Post Office



The Gun Used to Assasinate Lincoln



Soldiers at Arlington





Bethany 5th Graders on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial



Lily in DC!!!

Thankful

Without question, the thing I am most grateful for today: MY FAMILY!!!

Love each and everyone of them. Thank you, God, for putting so many wonderful family members in my life. I don't know what I would do without them!

More from DC

Here is another round of DC photos:

Area where Lincoln was killed at Ford's Theater


Lincoln Memorial


Lily on the bus---heading to DC



Lily at the Smithsonian


Lily and Olivia


Lily at Ford's Theater




At the FDR Memorial






JFK---Eternal Flame




Jefferson Memorial




Soldiers at Arlington

Random DC Pictures

Just want to share some photos from our trip. So, here is a little sampling of random pictures:

Friends on the National Mall


Wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from Bethany


WWII Memorial


Lily (torn between North Carolina and Virginia) at the WWII Memorial


The Tomb


Arlington National Cemetery in the Sunlight


Laying of the Wreath


Soldier






Air & Space Museum


The Peterson House (home where Lincoln died)


Air & Space Museum



Spot at the Lincoln Memorial where MLK spoke


Friends at the FDR Memorial

Back from DC

We are back from our DC adventure. Wow, we did it all---the White House, the Capital, 4 Smithsonians, 7 memorials, the Arlington Cemetery! Amazing. Lily and I had a good time together and got a chance to share this experience. So fun to see her reaction to all of the well-known spots in DC.


Will be back with more photos.

Donate

Just wanted to let others in the area know about a terrific place to donate items...At Teen Challenge. They accept larger furniture and even made the long trek out to our home to pick up the heavy dining room table and a rocking chair. So, great to purge, have someone pick it up, and help a good cause.

DC Here We Come

In a little over 24 hours, eighty children and their parents will descend upon the nation's capital. Ever since Lily started Kindergarten she and her friends have been discussing the DC trip. The time has come. The fifth graders are preparing for an adventure that will include visits to the memorials, the capitol building, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House and much much more!!! Lily and I are so eager for this time together. I'm sure we'll be worn out and tired upon our return, but we are looking forward to having tons of fun with one another and, of course, taking many pictures. Look out Washingtonians---we're on our way!!!