Christmas trees around DC

This evening I finally made it down to see the NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE. It's pretty big and quite colorful. There are several train sets set up around the bottom of the tree. Folks can walk all the way around it And then there are small trees about 5 feet tall set up along the walkways representing all the states and territories.

Here you can see the National Christmas tree, some small state trees, and the Washington Monument.

The National Christmas tree is set up in the eclipse, if you look one way...you see the back of the WHITE HOUSE and the other way...you see the Washington Monument.

The lights and decorations are a net laid over the whole tree.

Overheard while at the National Christmas tree................. A young dad says to his young son,,, okay son, now it's time for us to start saying goodbye to the tree because it's just about time for us to go. Son: no daddy no and he starts to cry. Dad: we don't have to go just yet. Let's go ask mommy how we'll say goodbye okay. Son: okay dad. And thankfully mommy had an idea and a short time later I saw this little family walking away and the son was smiling and skipping.

Here is a huge christmas tree set up in front of the US capitol building. This year, this tree comes from the state of Wyoming and all the decorations were made by school children from Wyoming. The day I saw it we were having 30 - 45 mph winds...it WAS cold and windy...I could "hear" the tree before I got near to it. Many of the ornaments were made of tin or metal etc and they clanged and banged and jungled in the wind.

Inside the US Botanical Gatdens near the Capitol building, there was another very decorated Christmas tree. It was SO cold and windy outside, and inside, well...I could NOT get my jacket off quick enough! It was warm and toasty and the displays were lovely.

Here's the full tree... lovely.

And here is the Christmas tree in the front of a Lutheran church that I visited recently.

a close up of a dove ornament.

Wishing you all a joyful and blessed 2011. Happy New Year!!

A Christmas Memory

Last sunday I decided to attend a nearby Lutheran church service.... I was wanted to see an Advent wreath and sing some christmas Hymns.
Well I was definitely NOT disappointed AND..... I got a little trip down Memory Lane when I saw their Christmas Tree.
One of my favorite memories from my childhood is making Christmons to decorate the huge tree at the church we attended. "What's a christmon you ask?????"
Well they are symbols from the christian faith. We always made them from sheets of white styrofoam. My dad would use his exacto knife to cut them out and then we kids would cover them in glitter!!!! We would have a family gathering at church where we'd make these sparkly decorations, the Pastor would explain the meanings behind each symbol and then we'd hang them on the tree. And then every sunday I'd sit and stare at "MY" ornaments on the tree....So beautiful.
So this last Sunday I was thinking about my dad and the joyful times we spent making these unique ornaments for the tree..... and I discovered that a tree decorated with Christmons is still just as lovely today as it was in my memory.
Merry Christmas and Joy to the world the Lord has come!!!

blessings,

Pam