Another tradition we have is our journal tree. Every year, we find ornaments that represent our family's year. If we go to Yellowstone, California, or anywhere else, we get ornaments that we date if they don't already have dates on them and at least once a year sit together as we put them up to talk about what and whom they represent. Each child also picks out an ornament per year, representing what they love at that time. When they move out to go to college, they get to take those with them.
We have ornaments to represent their Christmas prebirth and one to represent them on their first Christmas.
For our angel, we also have one to represent her growing wings the year she passed away. We have an ornament as well to represent the angels we lost during pregnancy. Every year, those ornaments feel particularly poignant because they, plus the angel at the top of the tree, are the stand-ins for those who can only be there in spirit. I love our journal tree because it represents our life together, our loss and pain, and the love we have as a family. I think we grow together each year as we reflect on the years we had together. I recommend this tradition for anyone looking for a way to remember times together and those you have lost.
