Welcome to Powell! I was excited about participating in Show Me Your Christmas Tree, a blog hop featuring Christmas trees from around Missouri, and made sure ours was decorated in time to share. I want to thank our hostess, Terri Steffes, of Our Good Life, for organizing this fun holiday event.

We have an artificial tree that is pre-wired with white lights. Once my husband assembles it, I decorate it in the traditional colors of red and green, silver and gold, and then add the special ornaments. We top it off with a bright shining star.
Decorating Hint
I have some plain old red, gold, and green glass ornaments. They have some wear such as scratches, so I put them near the center of the tree to reflect the lights, help hide the wires, and give depth.

We’ve had our Christmas tree skirt for about twenty years, or so. It’s hard to believe, but I ordered it and had it monogrammed soon after we were married.
Annual Tradition
When our kids were young I started an annual tradition of buying a Christmas ornament for each of them. I tried to find one that corresponded to something special about that year. Someday I will give them their ornaments so that they’ll have some memories to warm up their new home. I have also bought some for my husband and I so that when that time comes we’ll have some left for ourselves.
Memory Lane
Decorating the tree each year becomes a walk down memory lane. As I get out each ornament out and hang it on the tree, I can’t help but think back about what it memorializes. Here are a few of them:







Christmas Village
While you’re here, I thought I’d share my Christmas village, too. It was accumulated over a long period, and a few pieces were gifts. I especially like the animated skating pond. There is a counter across the back of our den where I’m able to set it out. There’s even a short video if you’d like to see it in action.
Homecoming
There have been years when we were planning to travel so we didn’t get as many decorations out, but this year my attitude towards decorating is a little different. Now that both of our kids are adults, I want to make our home a place that they look forward to coming back to.
Thank you for hopping by to see our Christmas tree. You can continue the fun by clicking the link below. Merry Christmas from Mid-Life Blogger!
Comments
Beautiful! I love the ornaments and the memories each one holds for you!
Author
Thank you! Me, too! It adds a lot to our decor, especially now that they’re not around near as much.
What a gorgeous tree, and I love the memories behind it. I agree with you about making home a place our grown children want to come home to. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Thank you for visiting! Merry Christmas!
I loved reading about your tree and the memories you have. Our daughter is grown, too. I know it changes how we see things, but I do it for me, as well. Love the village.
Author
I do it for us to some extent, but I don’t think I’d do as much.
Very pretty tree Michelle! Enjoyed you sharing your special memories with the pretty ornaments!
Author
Thank you for visiting, Sheri! I enjoyed sharing them.
This is so cool! I love trees that tell the family’s story. Our own tree always had more homemade and ‘special’ ornaments on it. This year I’m running two tiny trees. The 3′ tree is well off of the floor to protect all my precious (and breakable) keepsake ornaments. Each year my Mom gives me an ornament as a gift, but as I look over at it, I find myself wondering, “What ornaments could I add to finish telling my families’ story?”
Author
That’s nice that your mother is doing that. I’m still trying to figure out what to get my kids for this year.
I’m an empty nester too, and there have been some holidays when I knew my children/grandchildren wouldn’t be able to come home to visit for a few days. It’s depressing. One year, I didn’t even decorate, I felt so sad. That was awhile ago, but I still sure do miss the kids around during the holidays! Your article was very helpful!
Author
Thank you, Heidi! I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you’ll be able to see them this year!
Very nice, Michelle. Enjoyed the Christmas tour of your home. It’s as though you welcomed us into the spirit of your family!
Author
Thank you for coming and letting me share!
What a beautiful tree you have! And that is a fabulous tip … I do the same thing with some of my ornaments too!
Happy to be on the Christmas tree tour with you!
~Kimberly, Rhubarb and Honey
Author
The Christmas Tree Tour has been great fun! Thanks for visiting me!
That’s a beautiful tree and I love all your ornaments. Those ones we’ve had for years are what Christmas is all about…our memories.
Author
I think so, too. It wouldn’t be the same if they were all brand new.
Your tree is beautiful…and I love your memory lane ornaments…we have the exact same baby’s first Christmas. Perhaps we have babies who are the same age!! 😉
Author
I bet we do, then! Thanks for visiting! Merry Christmas!