Surfing the internets, I have found a TON of blog carnivals where people link up their posts about Christmas decor.

Lots of beautiful garlands, hand-tied wreaths, and themed Christmas trees.

Now I admire all those bloggers, really I do. The art and beauty of their homes amazes and impresses me. I WISH I could create a gorgeous table centerpiece and mantle and tree.

Sometimes.

But usually I’m really happy with the decorations that we do have. Nothing says “us” like the way we do Christmas.

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And we do have some pretty stuff.

Like this Nativity Set we got on a trip to Israel. We love it because it reminds us of the trip.

And of the tour guide who convinced us to spend too much on it in a Bethlehem warehouse before we saw hundreds for sale on every corner later in the week.

This guide also managed to make every day’s lecture about ancient bodily functions.

Good times.

(Note to self: Must find way to post THAT story.)

***

So that’s the key for me and Charlie: meaning. Every decoration in our house means something to us. And we’ll display it even if it’s not typical “Martha Stewart” classy.

Witness:

Hannah made these out of toilet paper rolls and paper and paint (and lots of tape) about three years ago.

And this: our Playskool nativity set.

It’s on a low end table, and the kids play with it all the time. As a result, it’s always missing a few props or people. (And this time the poor donkey is apparently indisposed.)

We’ve had this conversation lots of times:

“Kids, did you lose the nativity people again?”

“I saw Abby playing with them and my Barbies in the Christmas tree.”

“It’s okay Momma. I found Jesus.”

(And it makes me laugh every time.)

And here’s the last stop on the tour for today:

Every year, my kids bring home from school a stack of handmade decorations. I love them, and I used to tape to the kitchen window. But I finally decided that was just a little TOO trashy even for me.

So this year, I gave the girls all the stuff they made and turned them loose in the hallway. The above is only a sample of the collection.

And speaking of sample,

Come back tomorrow for the next installment of…

“A Redneck Christmas”

This time on video!

That’s right: My first vlog. With sound and everything!