ornaments

Every Christmas, from the time they were born until they graduated from college, my parents gave each of their grandchildren a Christmas ornament. Through the years I used some of my kids' ornaments to decorate our family tree. As each child moved away from home, I packed his or her ornaments so they could decorate their own tree.

I picked up where my parents left off. I've purchased ornaments for my children and their spouses and now for my grandchildren. This year Owen got his third ornament and AJ got his "Baby's First Christmas" ornament.

My older daughter, Sara, lived in New York City for four years and then moved to Chicago. She loves Chicago but NYC still holds a special place in her heart. This year, while scrolling through the Rookwood pottery catalog, I saw an ornament commemorating the oak leaf and acorn motif in Grand Central Terminal. Aha...the perfect gift for Sara!

The Vanderbilt family financed the construction of GCT and their family motto is "Great oaks from little acorns grow." When we were in New York at the beginning of December and walking through Grand Central, I told my friends and Sara, "I want to find the Vanderbilt oaks and acorns." I got the oh-here-comes-the history-lesson look. 

When Sara opened her ornament, she got a big smile and said, "The Grand Central leaves and acorns." She remembered the history lesson.