Tree time!

The Meaning of Christmas Tree

Evergreen coniferous trees stand for the ever-burning fire of life. The evergreen attribute signifies abundant life throughout the year. According to some, a Christmas tree represents the Paradise Tree in the Garden of Eden. The triangular shape is believed to symbolize the holy trinity and the trees branches that point upwards are believed to point to Heaven. Then again some believe the evergreen attribute symbolizes man's everlasting hope in Christ and the branches pointing to the sky symbolizes man's thoughts turning to heaven.

True Meaning of Christmas Tree Ornaments and Decorations

Star: God promised the World a Savior, who would come and set humanity free. The star on the tree represents God's fulfillment of the promise He made ages ago. It also represents the shining hope of mankind that first shone in Bethlehem leading the three wise kings to the manger.

Decorative Balls: The decorative balls represented the planets of the universe. The tree and its ornaments are believed to witness to the Incarnation that happened centuries ago.

Bells: Bells hung on the Christmas tree are objects that remind us of who our Savior is! The tinkling sound of bells help guide the lost. In the same manner, when we see the bell on the Christmas tree we should be encouraged to walk in God's ways.

Candles: Candles or lighting on the tree stands for Jesus Christ who died at Calvary on the cross for the salvation of mankind. He came as light and hope into a dark and doomed world.

Candy Cane: Candy canes represent the shepherd's crook, which helps the shepherd gather his lost and strayed sheep. The candy cane can also be turned upside down, wherein it stands for the letter 'J' in Jesus. The red and white sugar coloring stands for Christ's blood and purity, which when brought together make us holy before the Father's eyes.

  Wreath: Christmas wreaths represent the unceasing love of the Father. It shows how God's mercy's are new every morning and how true love has no beginning or end! Wreaths remind us of how privileged we are to have a Father whose love is never ceasing!

Gifts: Gifts hung on the Christmas tree serve to remind us how we have received the greatest gift on earth, which is 'eternal life' through the blood of Jesus Christ. It reminds us how God gave His all for us.

Red and Green Colors: Red stands for fire of the spirit, while green stands for nature and one's life on earth. Red along with green symbolizes the Holy Spirit's union with nature to be incarnate on Earth and save the world.

Now that we know the meaning of Christmas tree decorations, we can look at the tree and understand how it actually fits into Christmas. The Christmas tree and the decorations on it serve the purpose of reminding us of how God, the Father sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ to come to earth in human form in the womb of a virgin Mary, then to be crucified on the cross for the salvation of mankind! Tree or no tree, it is important to never forget the great price Jesus paid, just so that we could be saved! 

Make sure you don't allow the shadows of Santa's and glittery Christmas trees to obscure your vision of God's light!

 We were beyond excited to get our first Christmas tree, we actually wanted to get it the first week of December, but weren't sure it would last until Christmas, so we waited patiently until it got closer to Christmas :) After walking around the Christmas tree lot for what seemed like forever, we had found the perfect tree at last!

Beyond shocked that we got our sweet Emme girl to sit infront of the tree for a picture :)

Our first attempt at a "family picture". We were laughing hysterically, she did not like being held!

This is probably the best one we took :)

The Richards :)

 Our stockings hung by the chimney with care :)

 J for Jordan annnnd Jenna ;)

 Jenna won this ornament at a Christmas luncheon, so cute!

 Our very first married ornament!! Too cute!!

 Richards mantel, love these!

 We saw this one & couldn't resist! It's perfect!

 R for Richards, of course!

 Jenna's Mom & Grandma hand painted this ornament among many others on our tree 30+ years ago, they definitely hold a special place in our hearts :)

Christmas is now just 8 days away! It seems like the last few months have just flown by! With the wedding, Nanny passing away & all of the holidays... Christmas seems to have just snuck up on us!


We have been trying to watch at least one Christmas movie each night, to get in the spirit of Christmas. The other night we watched Fred Claus & after it was over, Jordan shared with me how he hadn't really felt like it was Christmas this year... he said with the hustle & bustle of life, the stigma that the "gifts" are what it's all about & just everyday things, had lead him to feel like it wasn't really Christmas & that had been weighing on him. The weird thing, I felt exactly the same way! At the end of Fred Claus is a beautiful rendition of Silent Night by Sinead O'Conner. Jordan told me how he had caught the end of Fred Claus the night before we watched it & the lyrics really spoke to him, he told me how they had been on repeat in his head all day. So, after the movie was over... we sat in our family room & he played the song for me on the computer... it brought me to tears... it definitely reminds you what the REAL meaning of Christmas is... the fact that we wouldn't even have a "holiday" to celebrate, if Jesus had not been born. What a beautiful gift we have all received. Our prayer this Christmas if that all of you don't lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas & its enormous significance in each of our lives.

We wish everyone a blessed Christmas!
Hopefully we'll find time to blog one or two more times before then :)

Love & Blessings,
J & J

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I sometimes think people are almost more friendly this time of year, as if something is in the air that is making people more cheerful :)

It has been waaaay too long since we've last blogged! With Thanksgiving, family coming in from out of town & birthdays, there just hasn't been much time. Tonight, I decided to make time before it gets closer to Christmas & life gets even crazier! Now to post some pictures of our recent adventures...

We started out Thanksgiving Day morning with the annual La Loma Grace Church football game...

Members of both families played & had lots of fun. Jenna was their cheerleader :)

After the football game we went home & got ready to head to Mom & Dad Richards house. We were excited to celebrate our first Thanksgiving meal as Mr. & Mrs :) After celebrating there we headed to Jenna's Aunt & Uncle's (The Schott's) house for more family fun & food... we were stuffed by the end of the night... and needless to stay... in a serious food coma!

Pictures from our Thanksgiving Day photoshoot...

Such a goofball!

Ms. Annie Rose & Jenna :)

Love love love!

Definitely most thankful for each other this year.

Thanksgiving 2010

Before, during & after Thanksgiving Day, Jordan & I couldn't help but reflect & be so thankful for all of the many blessings we have received within the past year. God has provided us with so much & continues to meet our needs each day. We thank Him daily for providing us with a roof over our heads & not just any roof, a beautiful first home that most people would give their right arm for... for providing us with food in our bellies, not just any food, but cupboards & a refrigerator full of food... for blessing us with a family that loves us & not just any family, but a family that is always there for us, always loves & supports us in all we do... for blessing us with the love we share with each other & not just any love, but a love that grows stronger each day, a love that allows each other to grow, a love where we can be ourselves, a love where laughter is a daily ritual :), a love that some people never find. And most importantly the loving relationship we share with Him as our Lord, a relationship that is unending, a relationship that in some countries is forbidden, but that we can share freely... a love that is forgiving, selfless & the truest form of love we will ever know.

 The day after Thanksgiving I had to work, Jordan could hardly wait for me to get home so that we could decorate the house for Christmas!!

Our beautifully decorated mantel...

Stockings hung with care :) We need to get one for our Emme girl!

Just some of our cute decorations around the house.

Christmas is fastly approaching & we are so excited to celebrate our 1st as husband & wife :)

 P.s. We can hardly believe we have been married a little over 3 months! Where has the time gone?!

Love & Blessings,
J & J