Grandma’s Family Tree

Twenty one years ago, when my husband and I had just met our little newborn first grandchild, a whole new world opened up to us. We were GRANDPARENTS! There is nothing quite as wonderful as that! I proudly made a Christmas ornament with his sweet little picture wearing his Christmas outfit and hung it in a prominent place on my tree. From that time forward, my Christmas tree has never been the same. I have made it a family tradition to add a new ornament per year–per grandchild. Let’s see:

Nathan is 21, so he has 22 ornaments now. Megan is 18, and has 19. Lexi is 19 and has 12. Austin is 16 and has 10. Ryan is almost 11, and has 10. Jayden h 8 and has 8. All represented each year that they have been a member of our family. That makes 81 ornaments featuring photos of my grandkids. My tree is full! It has come to the place where those ornaments are the only ones I hang, with few exceptions. (Goldilocks and the 3 bears made by a favorite aunt, a wedding ornament for each child, and a remembrance of each of our parents.) (When I take them down this year I am going to count them, as my totals are a bit off, for the couple of years where they got more than one, or had an ornament before their “Gotcha Day”.)

Grandma’s Family Tree. Every year it becomes more wondrous to me as I count my blessings and proudly display the miracle of their growth. Even more precious than their physical growing up has been, their spiritual growth is the biggest gift of all for us as Grandparents. All have asked Jesus to be their Savior, and all of them are walking with Him. They are shining brightly among the branches of my family tree.

“… that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky  as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Phil 2:15-16)

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3) This is our prayer for our grandchildren.

There’s something special about Christmas Lights. In the shortest and darkest part of winter, they cheerfully “poke holes in the darkness” as Robert Louis Stevenson put it. My grandchildren are the light of my life, and they are carrying the Light of Life to the dark world around them. What greater treasure could I possibly ask for?

Edited May 13,2025 to add the answer to that question. We are now great grandparents! My oldest grandson Nathan and his wife Anna gave birth to the greater treasure–Bridger Adeline, born on April 24, 2024. She is a miracle baby who survived open heart surgery right after her birth and has no lasting effects from it at all! We love her and treasure her so much!