I can still see, in my mind’s eye, the sidewalk outside of my third grade classroom. I can still see the twenty or so macaroni picture frames laid out in a line on the sidewalk. It wasn’t the elbow macaroni, that would have been SO 1987. This was 1989 and we were using the ones that look like seashells. Cause we were modern. And sophisticated.
They were spray-painted an overly metallic gold color that somehow made me feel rich and made my eyes hurt at the same time. I liked it. The golden seashells were glued to a square made of popsicle sticks and a six-inch piece of green yarn was attached at either end to make for easy hanging on the Christmas tree.
Pop a third grade picture of Annie in the middle — seriously awful haircut, crazy crooked teeth, and a bright striped sweater — and you’ve got yourself one fine Christmas ornament.
That still, to this day, twenty {wowsa} years later, still hangs on the Downs family Christmas tree.
As an adult, I taught school for five years and one of the highlights was the Christmas craft. I wanted those children to take home an ornament that would last for twenty years. That would remind them of elementary school. Of the safety of childhood. Of the security of being nine years old. {I also needed an excuse to spray paint macaroni. Are you sensing a theme here yet? I. LOVE. CARBS.}
Do you remember that childhood feeling? For some reason, it always comes back to me around Christmastime — maybe because I see the homemade ornaments. That feeling that says, “If I could just go back to when I used to spray paint macaroni, my life would be SO much easier.” Because for most of us, it is true that elementary school was an easier time of life — I didn’t pay any bills back then, I wasn’t worried about getting the oil changed in my car or whether the towels needed to be washed. I didn’t wonder if and when I would get married.
My biggest worry that day, in 1989, was making sure I didn’t break any pieces of macaroni on the bus ride home.
Tough life.
And sometimes, I’ll be honest, I would give anything to go back there {minus the poodle haircut because y’all have NEVER seen a thing like it on a human — plain awful}. I want to feel that I still have the comfort and safety of that home and life I knew as a kiddo. I know in my heart I don’t really mean that, but there are days when I wish my deepest concern involved pretty pasta, not the size of my bank account or the condition of my heart.
I’m reminded of one of those scriptures that people plaster on every object possible {probably even Christmas ornaments}:
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I think I need to remember how true this verse is. TODAY is the day that the Lord has made. Today I am an adult. Today I am blessed beyond measure. Today I get to rejoice about that and be glad.
Christmastime always brings a sense of nostalgia and allows us to reminisce about times {bad haircuts} gone by. But I hope and pray for you, this holiday season, that when you hang that old elementary ornament on the tree, that you will take a minute and be glad for today. Whatever your today looks like.
Rejoice in today. Fondly remember yesterday. And spray-paint macaroni whenever you get the chance.
Resources…
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24
Something else…
Want to make your own macaroni ornament? Check out this link to Cut Out and Keep that will show you how. Please PLEASE send us a picture of your ornament and see other ornaments from our readers.
Check out what Mandisa has to say about her Christmas memories under Explore Culture.
Annie Downs has a stash of seashell pasta and popsicle sticks, should the need ever arise to get crafty. Read more at annieblogs.com.
Leave a comment for Annie and be sure to check out our special Christmas Ornament page and submit a picture of one of your ornaments!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this week’s blog. Yes, today I will celebrate that I am an adult and CAN have cookies before dinner and can stay up as late as I want and can get a shower when I am ready.
P.S. Thats pretty awesome you posted a link on how to make a macaroni frame ornament…lol
Rachel, thanks to google, you can find anything these days.
Don’t forget to send us a pic of you with your favorite ornament!
I love this! I have vivid memories of spray painting around a fall leaf in 4th grade. And yes, the spray paint was obnoxiously glittery gold! And, there’s an ornament that somehow makes it on my tree today (I’m married and my husband still makes sure it’s there) with a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad picture of me circa 6th grade. Think mushroom haircut. Terrible. Annie, you are precious! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog lately!
Since i am 20 years old and am in the first year of taken distance learning classes from moody bible institute. I am excited to help decorate Christmas tree again this year that we cut down. I enjoy looking back at the ornaments that i make and i make sure there are some glittery ornaments that are up on the tree always.
Today as I head to the first week of my new job after being unemployed for 4 months, I can say that I will rejoice in the day that the Lord has made. I have been stressing over finances, jobs, and the rest. This article was the perfect thing to remind me that I need to savor the firsts in life and the opportunities that I have been given. Thanks, Annie!
My favorite crafts were painted macaroni necklaces. I remember one year making a pencil holder for my mom out of an empty can and gold macaroni. She used it forever. I was so excited when my children were old enough to start using their painted pasta skilz.
Childhood passes by so quickly. I strive to let my children be children for as long as possible. Grown up concerns come soon enough.
Don’t even talk about hair. You’ll have to see it to believe it:
http://itwasbroughtonbylove.blogspot.com/2009/10/hair.html
I have a paper Christmas angel that my son did when he was four years old. A Sunday School teacher had cut out large (12 inch.) paper angels for the children to colour and add gold glitter. Much of the glitter is gone now but I cherish it year after year because when I hang this angel on our Christmas I still recall the look of pure joy on his little face when he gave it to me and said here mommy, here’s your first angel. This was the start of my angel collection. My son is now 22 almost 23 years old.
Hey ladies,
I am so excited about today’s message. I started crying when I read the scripture that went along with this. I was raised in a christian home so I know all to well the scripture This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. This past weekend I was struggling not only financially, but physically. I said to myself I am sick and tired of being sick and tired so I got down on my knees and did something about it. I began to thank God for all that He is to me…my Father, my Savior, my Healer, my Provider. Then I stood up and started praising the Lord and I said out loud This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it…no matter what my situation is no matter how I’m feeling right now, I will rejoice and be glad in this day. I tell you what, the Holy Spirit came over me and I received healing and a miracle financially, so every day I have been waking up and saying This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. There is so much power in this verse and I pray that each and every one of you experiences that awesome power of the Lord the rest of this year and many more years to come. He loves us more than we can ever imagine!
Many Blessings,
Jess
That is very encouraging. Could you pray for me i have felt that God is directing me to go on a mission trip for guidance and direction where to go and that i will be obediient and follow God’s direction in my life.
Your comments are beautiful, ladies. It’s amazing when God takes such a simple idea and explodes it into our day.
Nicole, I will absolutely pray. Mission trips are awesome- I can’t wait to hear what you decide.