On a snowy November day, in Powell River, B.C., Lana Cullis and her daughter Kit were dividing four boxes of Christmas tree ornaments. Kit, now living independently, wanted to decorate her own Christmas tree. For Lana, unpacking the ornaments brought back memories of past losses and grief from fostering 23 children over eight years.
Most of the foster placements were temporary, but Lana’s two children came to them through adoption. Sorting through the ornaments, Lana was surprised to see Kit remembering the stories behind each handmade ornament, even from makers she never met. It became evident that Kit’s holiday memories differed from Lana’s in many ways.
As Lana uncovered a tree topper received during her first Christmas with her husband, she noticed the crack on the angel figurine, held together by Krazy Glue. Reflecting on her failed marriage, Lana hesitated about giving the fragile angel to Kit. However, Kit’s excitement at the prospect of having the angel brought a smile to Lana’s face.
Recalling the backstory of a Santa sleigh and reindeer ornament made by an eight-year-old foster child, Lana felt a mix of emotions. The child, who had a special place in their hearts, was no longer with them due to legal circumstances. Kit, sensing Lana’s emotions, took the ornament and shared her fond memories of playing with it.
Lana and her former husband made Christmas inclusive for their foster children by adjusting the family dinner dates to accommodate the children’s time with their families. They also started a tradition of giving each child a unique ornament, allowing them to keep it as a memento when they left their care. The Santa and reindeer ornament crafted by the foster child remained with Lana as a reminder of their time together.
Discovering a reindeer ornament made of pompoms, Lana recalled her son’s playful nickname for it. Reflecting on past divisions of ornaments during her divorce, Lana appreciated Kit’s attachment to the decorations regardless of where they spent Christmas.
As they decorated the tree together, Lana realized that Kit’s positive outlook was overshadowing her own sadness associated with the ornaments. She looked forward to seeing Kit’s tree and the new memories they would create this year.