My favorite ornaments are a counted cross stitch tree skirt, bell pull, and three ornaments. They were acquired in 1990, 1991, and 1992 as a Christmas gift from my mother, Sug Zowarka. She handmade the counted cross stitch tree skirt out of counted cross stitch cloth and embroidery thread.

This is one of my favorite ornaments because it depicts the story of Christmas, the reason we celebrate. The ornaments are usually front and center, the bell pull is at the front door, and the skirt is at the bottom of the tree.

~ Jane West

Matthew 2:19-23

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and told him, “Get up and take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” So Joseph returned immediately to Israel with Jesus and his mother. But when he learned that the new ruler was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid. Then in another dream, he was warned to go to Galilee. So they went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah. “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Prayer

Wonderful God, we pause now as we reflect back over the past few weeks of Advent and the Christmas season. We stop and reflect on the ways the season has touched our hearts and how we were able to reach out to those in need. Help us always to seek the true meaning of Christmas in our lives all year long. To You we give all glory and honor, Amen.