Mini Christmas Tree Lights a Holiday Tradition By Barbara Redding
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hen Jaris, my daughter-in-law, asked my youngest son if there were any family traditions, he would like to share with their 17-month-old son, the answer brought back a ood of holiday memories. Evan said he wanted son Barrett (we call him “Bear”) to have a small lighted Christmas tree in his bedroom in Dallas—just like the one he had growing up.
Like most youngsters who still believed in Santa Claus, Evan and older brother Jason loved the twinkling lights and colorful ornaments on the Christmas tree in our new home in Austin, Texas. But that tree was downstairs, awaiting Santa. They wanted trees in their bedrooms upstairs.
Tiny Lights and Ornaments And why not? I bought two inexpensive miniature trees, white lights, and tiny ornaments. After I kissed them good night, I turned on the lights and their rooms glowed warmly. Unlike many of our friends and neighbors, we had no close relatives in Austin with whom to spend the holidays. Yes, we baked Christmas cookies, roasted a plump turkey, and rarely missed Christmas Eve church services. Sometimes we drove to Houston to open presents with their closest cousins. But those little Christmas trees lit up their bedrooms well into the temperamental teenage years. This new grandmother was overjoyed to learn that our special holiday tradition will be passed along to the next generation in 2021.
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Photos, from top: 3. Tree lights up bedroom. @EvanLowery; Barrett and his mini-Christmas tree in Dallas. @JarisLower
