• Home
  • Our Authors
  • Blog
  • Events & Giveaways
  • Privacy Policy

Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Trimming the Tree

December 18, 2017 By Lynn Austin

My publishing company, Bethany House, recently asked their authors to send a picture of their favorite Christmas ornament to post on their Facebook page. I had a very difficult time deciding! Let me take you on a tour of our Christmas tree so you can see why.
These beautiful crocheted ornaments came from my sister-in-law, Marion Engel, who gave them to me a few years ago when she was down-sizing. She hand-made many of them. I loved them so much that they’ve become the theme for my tree.
I have ornaments from my family when I was growing up, purchased at Woolworth’s 5&10 cent store. Remember Woolworths? They were the Dollar Store of the 1950s. Our family couldn’t afford more expensive ornaments.
I also have some that belonged to my husband’s family when he was growing up. They are fragile and fading a bit, but I love them. Very vintage!
A friend of mine made this Pooh Bear for our son Joshua when he was a baby. Poor Pooh Bear is looking a little tattered after all these years, but he’s still a well-loved favorite.
My husband Ken is a professional trumpet-player, and many of his students have given him trumpet ornaments as Christmas presents. I add more musical ornaments to his collection whenever I find some.
Every year since our granddaughter was born, I’ve purchased a small picture-frame ornament so we can watch her grow through the years.
This mailbox ornament that a Canadian friend made for us reminds me of Christmas when we lived in Canada. The mailbox provides a perfect place to hide a clue leading to a present that’s too big to wrap and put beneath the tree.
I have beautiful Delft ornaments that were given to me on my book tours to the Netherlands.
And olivewood ornaments from our trips to the Holy Land.
But my favorite ornaments? It has to be these two:
My son and daughter made them out of Styrofoam and yarn when they were in kindergarten more than thirty years ago.
Every year, our family relives many great memories when we decorate our tree. And now, my wish for you and your loved ones is for a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

Lynn Austin

Lynn Austin, a former teacher who now writes and speaks full time. Lynn was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall for Fame for winning eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction. One of those novels, Hidden Places, has also been made into a Hallmark Channel movie. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and make their home near Chicago, Illinois.

Latest posts by Lynn Austin (see all)

  • Can An Old Dog Learn New Tricks? - November 15, 2021
  • A 1951 Christmas - November 1, 2021
  • Researching? - October 18, 2021
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...
«
»

Filed Under: Assorted & Sundry, Family, House and home

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

LINKS IN COMMENTS

Please note: If you include a link or links in your comment (URLs or email addresses), your comment will not post right away. It will wait for a moderator to approve it, which may take some time.

Comments

  1. Sherri G says

    December 18, 2017 at 6:56 am

    That Delft ornament is so beautiful! I like your crocheted angel. I have quite a few crocheted snowflakes that I made years ago. They’re the only thing I ever successful crocheted! Thanks for sharing your tree and ornaments. And that fireplace…oh my!

  2. Becky Wade says

    December 18, 2017 at 7:31 am

    I enjoyed your tour of ornaments, Lynn! Merry Christmas!

  3. Betty Strohecker says

    December 18, 2017 at 7:42 am

    Beautiful ornaments and memories! Merry Christmas.

  4. Kay Garrett says

    December 18, 2017 at 8:02 am

    Isn’t it wonderful out the ornaments on a tree are like a time capsule that can take you back to different points and events in our lives!

  5. Hilda says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:29 am

    HI, Ruthie. Thanks for the ornament tour! I’m glad to meet someone who has so much history and sentiment in her ornaments. I too have quite a few from my childhood, those fragile ones, and some that were gifts from loved ones, and some that are souvenirs of my travels. The tree is merely a foundation to display the ornaments and those all-important lights this dark time of year! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    • Hilda says

      December 19, 2017 at 9:09 am

      Sorry, Lynn. I knew that was your blog. I had just read a blog by Ruth Logan Herne, probably my brain didn’t catch up with my fingers.

  6. Jen says

    December 18, 2017 at 10:06 am

    I can see why this was a hard decision. The ornaments and memories are lovely. Thank you for sharing your tree.
    Merry Christmas!

  7. Lynne Hess says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:51 pm

    Oh, Lynn – I love the crocheted ornaments from your sister-in-law – my mother made quite a few just like them and I have treasured them for years. I love your tree as it’s a bit like mine – an assortment of memories in different styles and colors collected over the years. Thanks for sharing! (I’m having a little fireplace envy right now – your is just beautiful!)

Search Site

Monthly Archives

Blog Categories

Recent Posts

  • Happy Birthday to Deb! June 3, 2025
  • And the wheels on the vac go round and round . . . June 2, 2025
  • Dani’s Favorites June 1, 2025

Disclosure

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the pages on this site may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, someone will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Copyright © 2025 Inspired by Life & Fiction | Website Design by Robin

%d