Ugh…I miss my mom.
I always miss her…but I really miss her during Thanksgiving and Christmas time.
She always loved getting ready for holidays. While my favorite part of the holiday season is cooking and baking lots of yummy food…her favorite part was always making fun and beautiful crafts. She’d sit for hours on winter evenings working on homemade ornaments and gifts for her co-workers and for our family. She loved it.
Thanksgiving weekend as I was getting out all of our Christmas decorations I really took note of all of the beautiful handiwork that was hers. I am SO thankful we have so many decorations that she made.
It’s like hanging beautiful precious memories all over my home.
I already shared with you about Malachi’s quilt from his Grammy. Today I’d really like to share some of the Christmas treasures around our house…
The first year Matt and I were married, she hand-quilted us our very own Christmas tree skirt. It is so, so pretty. I stare at it for a long time when I put it at the base of our tree.
Every single year…until she was just too sick to create any more…Mom made all of her grandchildren their very own hand-made ornament.
I am SO glad she put the date on them. The boys love hanging their very own “Grammy” ornaments.
Malachi doesn’t have any “Grammy” ornaments…so he gets to figure out where to put her pillow…
I was around ten years old or so when Mom first learned how to do counted cross stitch. One of her first big projects was to make stockings for all of us. She made a “Mom” “Dad” “Kevin” and “Laura” stocking.
When my brother and I got married…she made one for our spouses. As we started having kids…she made a stocking for each of them. (Giggle…Each time she found out my sister-in-law or I was expecting, she requested that we please name our new baby something with seven letters or less…so that their name would fit on a stocking!)
Mom didn’t plan on getting sick. But she was always planning for the next craft. That’s why there was plenty of stocking material in her “stash” even after she was too sick to make things anymore. And that’s how…even though she’s gone…all of my kids and all of my brother’s kids still have stockings from Grammy.
There’s a lot of comfort in memories.
What my mom created to be small Christmas gifts…turn out to be our biggest Christmas treasures.
The most beautiful decorations of all.
What sweet memories Laura! I have a special ornament that my sister painted for me. She passed away 5 years ago in February. I cherish that ornament.
I miss my mom too. She always made the holidays so special. Thank you for sharing your memories. :)
BEAUTIFUL!! Everything is so festive.
mY tOUR iS nOW sHARED….come by, if you can, to visit. Happy Holidays!
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Thank you for sharing your heart Laura.
My mother died before I ever knew her but she made me alittle blanket and a Christmas stocking. I still hang it all of these years later and I didnt even know her.
Your Mom was wonderful Laura. Your memories are your gift from God, those are a real treasure.
My mom passed away 4 years ago in October, just before the holiday season so we always get to remember her and the traditions she passed down, I have to make her stuffing each Thanksgiving for my brother :-) That is so sweet how unpacking your Christmas decorations is a wonderful walk down memory lane, giving you time to focus on each thing and share your memories with your family. May God bless your Christmas with your treasured memories as you make new ones.
You have touched my heart. I love hand made craft from Christmas. My mom has bought me and my brother an ornament each year. We also collect ornaments from our vacation spots. I still have all the handmade ornaments from my childhood.
I am a newly wed and I am starting to make our own family traditions. I am making felt stocking for hubby me me. Next a tree skirt and matching ornaments.
This will be my first Christmas with out my Grandma. I have several of her ornaments on my tree and they are precious memories.
You nailed it when you said “There’s a lot of comfort in memories.” THAT IS OHH SO TRUE.
Thanks for that heartfelt post. Sometimes it’s painful to remember all those wonderful times because you know they’re gone forever; but I, too, totally relish the memories and gifts from dear ones who have died.
And I’m so sorry that your mom isn’t around anymore. I can’t imagine not having my mom. :-(
-Lindsey @ The Herbangardener.
Awww…that is so true. Your mom did a wonderful job on everything and you can tell those are truly treasured decorations.
Just touring with the NEster and came across yours….
I lost my mom when I was 18, it will be ten years this year. The holidays remind me of her also and I miss her most this time of year. I have a very special tree-skirt that she made and it’s the last thing I put in place when I decorate. She loved to make things beautiful and lovely and I like to think in doing some of the same things, I am carrying on the legacy of who she was.
Thanks for sharing your story. It brought tears to my eyes.
My mom has been gone for seven years now but sometimes it still hurts so much it feels unbearable. I don’t have crafty things from my mom to put around the house but I do have tons of books she gave us:) I like to talk of her often to my kids.
very sweet! saw you at the nester. love these little homespun treasures.
So touched by your post, what beautiful visible memories you have of your Mother, She was a gifted lady, i so enjoyed all of her handiwork, thank you for sharing.
Sue
Wow, reading the first line of today’s blog really got to me. I just lost my Mom on November 24th. So the grief and loss is still very fresh. I am comforted in knowing others still feel their grief, even after many years. I was feeling like a big baby, lately, for allowing the tears to fall; but now I know I’m just one of many.
I know we don’t know each other, but I just wanted to let you know what a blessing you are to me. I enjoy reading your blog so very much! I have loved the many recipes I have tried; and the laughs that you have shared….even as much as your LOVE for JARS, has brought me JOY!!
You are truly a SWEETHEART!!!
God Bless You!!
Laura! you have inspired me! i am going TODAY to get the things to make my little boys the first of hopefully many annual ornaments! i love to cross stitch and i wish i had some things like this from my childhood and my husbands, but our mothers werent very sentimental… so we dont have any. but i am sure that their future wives would love to have things like this, and i will date them! yay! im so excited! maybe they will be part of our stocking stuffers this year!