There's no place like HOME~

We have a CHRISTmas tree tradition that every year I buy a new ornament or two for each of us that has some memory of an event or activity or accomplishment for that year. As you can imagine with 5 people it has grown rather large.
I love to see the anticipation from the kids as they each are given their ornament. Tonight we followed in our tradition as it seemed that CHRISTmas had come early by the kids excitment when they found out that I did indeed already have their ornaments for this year.
Each one was carefully wrapped & passed out. We each took turns opening our ornaments beginning with the youngest. Each ornament was met with surprise and discussion about the stories & events behind each one. Perhaps my favorite this year was our Family Ornament. I try to find one ornament that represents something significant for our family that year. Past ornaments have included a skiing Santa, a new school and my favorite a new church. But this years ornament was simple to decide on.
We each carefully unwrapped the layers of paper to finally discover a beautiful home. Indeed this is the year of having our first real home as a family. A place to call our own. A place to raise our family in. A place that protects & shelters. A place to dream in. A place to laugh in. A place to share with friends. A place to host our families. A place of rest.
My hope for you is that your home, whether new or old, large or small, owned or rented is a place that comforts you, draws you close, and provides a place where life long memories are created.

There's no place like home,
~A