As I sit her drinking a cup of hot tea I am dreading taking all the ornaments down off the tree and packing it all up and putting it away. It always makes me a little bit sad to take it all down. All the hubbub of the holidays is over and I always feel a little let down about this time every year.
I find myself being a bit reflective as well at this time of year. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January and all this cold weather always brings it all back. I am happy to say though that I will be celebrating my two year cancerversary this year in a week or so. I am really jazzed about that! In the next month I have several milestones to celebrate. So instead of feeling let down like I usually do I am feeling grateful for those two years that I have had been gifted.
Every year when I take down the tree I try and put a piece of artwork or card that my kids have made on the top of the decoration box, so that is the first thing I see when I open it back up the next year. I always wonder when I put it in the box and seal it up and carry it downstairs what this year will bring. What will our lives be like when I open the box back up? How much will the girls grow and what will they be doing next year? It's like a little time capsule to look forward to every year.
Every year when I take it down, I tend to have a moment with the tree, silently thanking it for having adorned my living room, spirited my family, wafted its scents throughout the space. Then we put it outside the front door in the yard until it's time to take give it away for mulching. That part saddens me, but then I'm reminded of how it goes back to the Earth, repeating the cycle of life.
Congratulations on your milestones, Sarah!
Posted by: Virginia | January 05, 2010 at 12:10 PM
I used to get seriously depressed after the holidays until I decided to take on a project each year. That helped alot. Now I can say goodbye to holidays while looking forward to redecorating or painting or organizing something.
The ornaments are beautiful and I'm so happy for you and your cancerversary!
Love your pics too. That type of photography is called Bokeh right? It's beautiful!
Posted by: Evilstepmomster | January 05, 2010 at 12:25 PM
After just getting home from two weeks of traveling, our tree will stay up for another week. I wasn't able to sit with a cup of hot cocoa and knit, so I'll look forward to that before our beautiful tree comes down. And when I put away this year, I'll add something special to the top of our box as a special surprise next year. thanks for the idea.
Blessings as you begin another cancer free year!!
Posted by: kristyn | January 05, 2010 at 04:44 PM
It is a bittersweet feeling isn't it - the baubles and the decorations and the lights are so pretty and cheering.
Solar lights are huge here at the moment and so we are leaving up the little lights that glow in the trees and help us retain that feeling of festivity...
Posted by: mary | January 06, 2010 at 06:55 AM
Congrats on the cancerversary!!!
Posted by: Michele | January 06, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Nostalgic time of the year, but to be honest, I am generally very ready to take down the decorations and put them away. Besides, it's been so cold outdoors that taking them down gave me something to do indoors.
It will be fun to take them out again next November!
DI
The Blue Ridge Gal
Posted by: Di | January 06, 2010 at 10:46 PM