to face unafraid the plans that we made

i always dreaded that section of the ornament box.

on the very bottom level, covered with a thin sheet of tissue paper--the same sheet mama had folded and refolded for 20 years in the very same box--were the homemade ornaments. ones my grandma and great grandma had made so long ago. to my childhood self, whose sole enjoyment and satisfaction in life came in the form of the entire collection of the babysitter's club books, these crocheted ornaments held no significant value. little doilies with metal hooks. little red and white rings with fraying edges. and it always seemed we had so.many.of.them. i always tried to congregate them in the back, hidden behind my handmade paper mache crosses and stuffed little mermaid figurines.

when i got married and we moved into our first home, along with my suitcases of clothes and books, mama handed me a tupperware container. not too large, with a red plastic lid. i didn't open it until i was alone in the kitchen. with half-empty boxes of dishes at my feet and an empty, undecorated house in front of me, i carefully pried open the lid. there, nestled sweetly between crinkled tissue paper, were the ornaments. of course, the usual suspects were in there too--mama had kindly remembered to sneak my "baby's first christmas" ornaments and tiny cheerleading pendant in there--but on the bottom were the handmade ones. however, this time it was different. instead of nonchalance, these ornaments stirred within my newfound vintage-loving heart a simple kind of joy, and they quickly became my favorite christmas decorations.

we're just starting out. still newlyweds even though it's been two years, we don't have many holiday garnishes. at least it certainly felt that way when robert and i drove to one of our town's oldest and most upscale neighborhoods wednesday night to look at christmas lights. three story houses decked out in garland, wreaths and stories-high trees and candles in every window. but when we came home, i was happy to be in our cottage. we only have six rooms in our house, but every one is filled with love.

but our ornaments are displayed proudly. and isn't that how it always is? things that you once turned up your nose at or couldn't care less about, at some point in your life-come to be the things you most treasure? life has a beautiful way of coming full circle. i treasure these ornaments more than anything now. here's a little peak:

things like boys and vegetables won't always seem disgusting. as our tastes grow and mature, so do our likes and dislikes. in that essence, i love these ornaments, but i haven't picked up a babysitter's club book in years. and i'm glad. it means i'm getting older, and hopefully, a little wiser too.