December 17, 2021
It’s Beginning to Look a LOT like Christmas
This year, the staff of MM kept our Christmas party in house. That means we have 3 floors of opportunities to decorate! And not just buy a bunch of stuff, but bring in items from our own homes and apartments. Some people were intrigued by this idea, and some intimidated. But guess what? It all worked out great!
Plus, since we are fortunate enough to create a winter wonderland in a three-story building, we knew this was also a great opportunity to give back. So, along with our Christmas décor, staff were encouraged to bring in donations of hats, gloves, and toiletries for a local women’s shelter. And they did not disappoint on that front either!
MM Staff Favorite Ways to Deck the Halls
Going along with the theme of decorating, we asked our staff their favorite items to deck to halls.
“I absolutely love decorating for Christmas!!! My favorites are decorating the tree of course, with each ornament carrying sentimental value and memories, and setting up our Nativity Scene. My husband gifted me with a Willow Tree Angel set about 10 years ago. Shortly after that, we began a tradition of setting it out in November before Thanksgiving to remind us of who we are most thankful for, Jesus!” – Ileah
“My favorite Christmas decoration would have to be the Christmas tree. On the dark nights of winter, the soft glow of a Christmas tree is able to warm any heart and any room.” – Tyler
“We have a life-sized skeleton, named Skeletor, that we decorate with for Halloween. Every year my adult daughters beg me to leave him out for Christmas. And actually, they beg me to leave him out all year! Currently, Skeletor resides in my dining room wearing a knit stocking cap, lights around his neck and holding a present. He’s a conversation starter!” – Angie
“My favorite Christmas decoration is a nativity scene. Specifically, one that my grandparents just gave Delaney and I. A missionary from their church spent some time near Bethlehem and purchased a hand carved wooden nativity scene while she was there. She gifted it to my grandparents a while ago, and they decided to give it to us :)” – TJ
“Lights on the outside of our house. I love coming home in the evening and seeing the house lit up.” – Chris
“I love nativities. That includes full ones, non-traditional ones (I have one that has buildings with it like a Christmas village), and the small ones that are one piece that are just Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.” – Ashley
“Classic red Christmas tree ornaments have always been a favorite of mine. They remind me of our trips to grandma’s house. They always had a classic tree with red ornaments.” – Glenn
“When I was a little girl my mom took a ceramics class (I think most moms did in the 70’s). She made Christmas trees and gave them to relatives. I have my grandmothers which I got after she passed. It means so much to me since my mom made it and it was displayed in my grandmothers home for so many years. It is my favorite Christmas decoration and I can’t wait to display it every year!” – Kerry
“Lighting our Advent wreath each night at dinner to help us focus on the true reason for the season. Also any way to get twinkling lights and greenery into our home. Makes it that much cozier for me. That and hot chocolate. I know you can’t really decorate with chocolate, but I can’t decorate without it!” – Meagan
“One of my favorite Christmas memories was opening our beautiful handmade stocking on Christmas morning. It was red velvet with shiny sequins and pearls in shapes of snowmen, mittens, a sleigh, an angel, a tree, whatever my grandmother thought should be on the stocking, and silver bells sewn at the foot of the stocking. Not only was there the largest apple and orange, mixed nuts and candy, but also a few surprise treats and a little wrapped present. I thought my stocking was beautiful and as I grew older I would anticipate what the stocking held on Christmas morning! As the years passed, my mother took over the tradition and made 8 grandchildren’s stockings between my siblings’ children and myself. Now it is my turn to keep the tradition going. With two granddaughters and a grandson on the way, I hope to keep our family tradition going for several years to come!” – Angela
We also encourage you to check our Facebook stories next week to see some more behind the scenes photos from our Christmas party!
Stay Connected